Douglas A2D Skyshark
Douglas A2D Skyshark
The Douglas A2D Skyshark was a turbo-prop powered attack aircraft designed for the US Navy. At the time it was thought that the Casablanca-class escort carriers in service were too small for jet aircraft. As a result, a request was made for a turbo-prop powered aircraft. Delays in the delivery of the Allison XT40-A2 engine resulted in the first flight not taking place until 28 March 1950, while the initial request was received on 11 June 1947.
One of the two prototypes was lost in a fatal crash delaying the program further. By this time, the Cassablanca carriers were being retired, so the need for a specialised aircraft for them disappeared and the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk was showing great promise. The program was cancelled with only an additional ten pre-production A2D-1s being built, four of which never flew.
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