Douglas AD-7 Skyraider, the 1st and the last ...

[Mark Allen M]

The AD-7 was the final production version of the Skyraider. It differed from the AD-6 in having an R-3350-26WB engine instead of a R-3350-26WA. It also had a strengthened undercarriage, more robust engine mountings, and stronger wing outer panels. Otherwise, it was much the same as the AD-6 which preceded it.

72 AD-7s were built, the last one leaving the production line on February 18, 1957. This brought Skyraider production to an end. A total of 3180 Skyraiders of all versions had been built. Two further batches of 84 AD-7 aircraft each were cancelled.

In September of 1962, surviving AD-7s were redesignated A-1J.

Specification of Douglas AD-7 Skyraider

Engine: One Wright R-3350-26WB Duplex Cyclone 18-cylinder air-cooled radial engine rated at 2700 hp for takeoff and 2100 hp at 14,000 feet. Performance: Maximum speed 343 mph at 20,000 feet, 316 mph at sea level. 195 mph cruising speed, initial climb rate 3230 ft/min, Service ceiling 30,650 feet, Combat range 1300 nautical miles with 2000 lbs of bombs, 12 HVAR and 2 150 gallon drop tanks. Weights: 12,100 pounds empty, 22,800 pounds normal loaded, 25,000 pounds maximum. Dimensions: Wingspan 50 feet 0 1/4 inches, length 39 feet 3 inches, height 15 feet 8 inches, wing area 400.33 square feet. Armament: Four 20-mm cannon in the wing.

Serial Numbers of Douglas AD-7 Skyraider

142010/142081 Douglas AD-7 Skyraider

http://www.joebaugher.com/usattack/newa1_21.html




Final AD-7 built at Douglas Aircraft, 1957


Last AD-7 Skyraider manufactured by Douglas Aircraft. Pilot LT Fowlerr of Attack Squadron Two Hundred Fifteen (VA-215).

[Ken]

Missed this the first time around, thanks Mark!

Ken

[Mark Allen M]

Mucho welcome Ken, I was surprised you missed this one as well. I was looking for your expert Skyraider feedback as usual.

M

[Chris Brame]

The Registry lists only one survivor, 142072 on display in Thailand - are there any others?

[Ken]

A-1J 142072 was damaged 12/27/68 and used as a static at NKP until its move to the museum in Bangkok. It is the only known surviving J model.

Ken

[Fouga23]

I've always wondered. What does the inside of the Skyraider look like? looks like there is space for several people in that fuselage!

[Snake45]

I've always wondered. What does the inside of the Skyraider look like? looks like there is space for several people in that fuselage!

There is. The -3N and -4N versions had two radar operators in the rear fuselage.

And then of course there was the -5 version, which could carry up to 10 people, if eight of them were VERY good friends....

[Larry Kraus]

To add to Snake 45's post, here are a few shots from some flight manuals:

This one will work for the single seat version of the AD-4 and the AD-6 and AD-7. The page is from the Natops A-1J (AD-7) Flight Manual



This one is from the AD-4N multi-seat All Weather attack version. You can see the two extra crew mwmbers in the rear fuselage



The AD-3W and AD-4W Radar versions had a somewhat different pilot's canopy due to the extra avionics and cooling fans behind it







And,as Snake also mentioned, the AD-5 was redesigned as a muli-place airplane with a slightly wider fuselage among other changes

This is the AD-5N All Weather attack version



And, finally, the AD-5W Radar version



The full page pictures give a lot of information, but are hard to see the interiors, so here are cropped versions

The AD-4 through AD-7 Single Seaters



The AD-4N with extra crew members



The AD-5N



The AD-5W

Last edited by Larry Kraus on Thu Apr 07, 2016 6:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[bdk]

Where were the Skyraiders built?

[DH82EH]

Wiki says El Segundo.

Andy

[Fouga23]

Thanks for those images!

[Scott Rose]

Thanks for the images Mark, and thanks Larry for the manual pages. The SPAD is one of my favorite Vietnam era planes.