Skyraider Interior Pictures?

Shay · **Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2008 6:10 pm

I've always been curious about the door on the side of Skyraider and thus the interior of both the A-1E and A-1H. So if anyone has pictures I'd love to see them.

Thanks

Shay
_____________
Semper Fortis

CAPFlyer · **Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2008 6:12 pm

Let's see if I can predict how this goes... One guy here owns an AD-4 and his mechanic is on here as well, another 2 members work/volunteer at a museum with an EA-1E, and another knows a guy who owns an A-1H... I think you'll get current pictures from one or all of them...

In the meantime I'll bet Jack has some pictures of them "in Service" and will post them.

If nothing else, I'll see if I can get pictures Saturday when I'm out at the middle location.

spookythecat · **Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2008 6:47 pm

This is all I can offer of the Heritage Flight Museums bird.

Ken · **Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:01 pm

That door is only found on the AD-4 - specifically a subvariant like the AD-4N. Someone correct me if I misspoke. Once the designations changed, any remaining birds would have been called the A-1D, I'm guessing, although the E, G, H, and J seem to be the only models left flying after "AD" gave way to "A-1".

tom d. friedman · **Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:20 pm

those seats look like they are out of an alien space craft or a sci fi movie!!! why are they so funky looking??

Robbie Roberts · **Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:47 pm

I'm confused- I thought the Skyraider was the one referred to as a "Sandy" during Viet Nam, which had a crew of 1, and a single engine... Am I mistaken, or just really messed up?(about the aircraft)

Robbie

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:55 pm

You are right the A-1 was a single seat aircraft named sandy, but there are also different versions of it, to be used for different roles. Some of the versions had more than one crew member.

gary1954 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:08 pm

I have also heard her referred to as a DumpTruck, as she could hang out for extended periods as ground support.

Mudge · **Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:21 pm

mustangdriver wrote:

You are right the A-1 was a single seat aircraft named sandy, but there are also different versions of it, to be used for different roles. Some of the versions had more than one crew member.

IIRC they also used Hobo, Firefly, and Zorro as call signs. I addition to Sandy

Mudge the memorable :roll:

ps. If some versions of the Skyraider have no door, how does the driver get to the cockpit? (Which appears to be about 12 feet AGL.)

Ztex · **Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:36 pm

Mudge wrote:

ps. If some versions of the Skyraider have no door, how does the driver get to the cockpit? (Which appears to be about 12 feet AGL.)

AD-1 Pilots don't need no stinkin' door, they're huge! (ego) :wink:

51fixer · **Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:46 pm

Ztex wrote:

Mudge wrote:

ps. If some versions of the Skyraider have no door, how does the driver get to the cockpit? (Which appears to be about 12 feet AGL.)

AD-1 Pilots don't need no stinkin' door, they're huge! (ego) :wink:

On the single seat models you can open the canopy just like a fighter and climb up and in.
An AD-4N has a fuselage station where 2 crew members can sit and ride while performing their electronics black magic.
The AD-5 had a pilot in the front left seat. Many were modified or built with a front right seat with dual controls. Others had an electronics crew station there. It also featured a large compartment with ample light from large canopies which also opened both for each front pilot and also for the rear hold. This gave rise to the 'dump truck' name calling.
AD-6 and -7 were pure bred attack machines. No passengers and large speed brake doors on the bottom and each side.
Rich

Hal B · **Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:53 pm

Spooky, you beat me to it

Any photos I could provide wouldn't show anything more than yours. And thanks for not showing all the "junk" back there.

Different models of AD were built for different missions. The HFM's is an AD-4NA which featured two GIB's. Only forward visibility was the radar screen and a periscope through the floor. Thats why they called the rear compartment the "vomitorium" or "puke pit"...

We don't have any of the radar or radio gear installed in the rear compartment, but we're always looking for bits and pieces. Someday.

And yes Mudge, it's a long way up to the cockpit on a Skyraider. Even further when the wing root is oily or you've just overfilled the fuel tank :shock: