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[1969.036.002] Aircraft - 'F4D-1 Aircraft, Bureau Number 134806' |
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F4D-1 Aircraft, Bureau Number 134806
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| Accession Number |
1969.036.002 |
| Accession Date |
25/11/1969 |
| Creator |
| Creator |
Creator Role |
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Manufacturer |
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| Date Created |
1956 |
| Object Desciption |
Accepted by the Navy on 21 July 1956, the museum's F-6A (F4D-1 until 1962) Skyray entered operational service with Fighter Squadron (VF) 141 and over the course of the following six years it served in five additional Navy and Marine Corps fighter squadrons, including VF-23 and Marine All-Weather Fighter Squadrons (VMF(AW)) 542, 513, 314, and 114. While with VMF(AW)-314, the aircraft deployed to Naval Air Station (NAS) Atsugi, Japan. In May 1962, the aircraft was transferred to Naval Air Test Center (NATC) Patuxent River, Maryland. Initially assigned to Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, in 1963 it became part of the aircraft complement at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, where it served until 1969.
On 25 November 1969, Captain George Watkins, the Chief of Staff at NATC Patuxent River, flew the aircraft on its final flight for delivery to the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola. This also marked the last flight by a Navy Skyray. The aircraft was not placed on display until the opening of the museum's new building adjacent to Forrest Sherman Field. It is currently displayed in the museum's South Wing. |
| Notes |
Appropriately nicknamed given the rounded stingray like shape of its wings, the F4D took shape in 1947 when the Navy initiated a design study for an aircraft incorporating delta wing technology. Though in final form the aircraft did not feature a true delta wing, the projected performance of the aircraft, particularly a speed over Mach 1 and time-to-climb of over 18,000 ft. per minute, impressed the Navy and resulted in a contract for two prototypes. Making its maiden flight on 23 January 1951-its early navy test pilots included future astronaut Alan Shepard-the aircraft displayed its phenomenal performance capabilities quickly, becoming the first carrier aircraft to hold the absolute world's speed record by achieving a mark of 752.943 M.P.H. over a 3-kilometer course on 3 October 1953. In 1958, the aircraft would also establish five world time-to-height records in two days.
With the Cold War threat of nuclear attack by aerial fleets of Soviet bombers very much a part of the defense psyche, the performance capabilities of the Skyray made it an attractive platform for service in the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) with its performance and arsenal that included 20mm cannon and AIM-9 Sidewinder missile. All-Weather Fighter Squadron (VF(AW)) 3 thus became the only Navy squadron assigned to this Air Force command, winning an award as NORAD's top squadron in two consecutive years. Douglas Aircraft Company delivered a total of 420 F4Ds and at the height of its service, the Skyray equipped seventeen front line Navy and Marine Corps squadrons.
Specifications
Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company
Dimensions: Length: 45 ft., 8 ¼ in.; Height: 13 ft.; Wingspan: 33 ft., 6 in.
Weights: Empty: 16,024 lb.; Gross: 25,000 lb.
Power Plant: One 9,700 lb. static thrust Pratt & Whitney J57-P-2 or 10,500 lb. static thrust J57-P-8B turbo
-jet with afterburner
Performance: Maximum Speed: 695 M.P.H. at 36,000 ft.; Service Ceiling: 55,000 ft.; Range: 1,200 miles
Armament: Four fixed forward-firing 20mm cannon and up to 4,000 lb. of ordnance carried externally
Crew: Pilot
Aircraft in the Museum Collection
F4D-1 (BuNo 134806)- On indoor static display
F4D-1 (BuNo 134748)- On loan to Pima Air and Space Museum, Pima, Arizona
F4D-1 (BuNo 134764)- On loan to Naval Test Wing, Atlantic, Patuxent River, Maryland |
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