Aircraft: Douglas F4D-1 (F-6A) Skyray

Douglas F4D-1 (F-6A) 'Skyray'

Description

Manufacturer: Douglas

Base model: F4D

Designation: F4D

Version: -1

Nickname: Skyray

Equivalent to: F-6A F6AF-6A

Designation System: U.S. Navy / Marines

Designation Period: 1922-1962

Basic role: Fighter

Crew: Pilot

See Also:

Specifications

Not Yet Available

Examples of this type may be found at

Museum City State

Fred E. Weisbrod Museum / International B-24 Museum Pueblo Colorado

Patuxent River Naval Air Museum Patuxent River Maryland

F-6A on display

Recent comments by our visitors
Allison Lindberg
, IA Good Feedback & Information. Thank You.
03/19/2008 @ 04:42 [ref: 20142]

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12/22/2007 @ 00:40 [ref: 19006]

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12/22/2007 @ 00:39 [ref: 19005]

Jim Zalanka
aurora, CO Wouldn't you guys just love to have known what the F6A could do if it had a decent engine? How about a J79 with AB. GE used the F^A as its flight test aircraft during the devlopment phase involving high altitude accelleration and high mach inpingment on the IGV system. Archival data suggests interesting performance numbers , fuel consumption without AB, supercruise wasn't a term used back then. Rate of climb was classified so as not to embarass the new kids on the block. What a rip snorting machine it must have been.
11/05/2007 @ 17:49 [ref: 18413]

Chuck Van Winkle
Congress, AZ HISTORY OF VF(AW)-3
Decommissioning 1 April 1963

Eight years ago in 1955 All Weather Fighter Squadron THREE (then Fleet All-Weather Training Unit, Pacific) based at HAS, North Island, San Diego, California, assumed the responsibly it of air defense for the southwestern section of the United States under the Continental Air Defense Command. The aircraft employed were Douglas F3D Skyknights, brandishing 20MMcannons. These planes were later replaced for air defense duty in 1958 by the Douglas Skyrays and equipped with the Sidewinder missile.

!n 1959, VF(AW)-3 was awarded its first Air Defense prize, the Western Air Defense Force "A" for Achievement. The award was won again in 1960. The squadron won the highest award in "Operation TOP GUN", the Navy Weapons Meet in 1959, taking the James Forrestal Memorial Trophy. The Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award was earned by the squadron for the years 1960 and 1961. In 1961, VF(AW)-3won the highest award in the Continental Air Defense Command, the ADC"A". During the 1962 Hughes Night Fighter Association competition VF(AW)-3 completed the greatest number of high speed, high altitude intercepts of any squadron in the world.

Military preparedness dictated that VF(AW)-3should extend its protection of the skies to the southeastern shore of the nation. Accordingly, in July 1961, Detachment ECHO was formed and deployed to the southeastern tip of the United States. VF(AW)-3was spread across a continent at battle stations, in the fog of North Island and the tropical heat .of Key West, alert and ready to protect our country against the threat of enemy air attack. This expanded alert posture was maintained continuously for eighteen months through calm and crisis, during which time a total of 551 active scrambles were flown under every conceivable condition. It is with pride that we point to the record of Detachment ECHO during the Cubancrisis. For 27 days, with an average availability of six aircraft, a total of 36 sorties and 600 flight hours were accomplished with a perfect safety record.

April 1963 will bring to a close the brilliant career of All Weather Fighter Squadron THREE with its distinctively marked aircraft, excellent radar, and expert pilots and ground crews. It stands now at the top of the heap, a standard for other units to follow. Wherever we go, whatever we shall face, out motto is ever this, "With a steady hand, a stout heart and God's help we shall always be on alert, ready to race to the challenge whenever destiny sounds a horn for us."

10/28/2007 @ 09:48 [ref: 18327]

Don Rehg
Overland park, KS A fine airplane that rewarded you if the effort was made to master it and the several built-in quirks. Of note would be that crazy wing down approach to the wires. Nothing, in its day, could handle the "Ford" in a vertical executed encounter. It had short "legs" with a lot of the fuel carried externally. Attempts were made to add air to air refueling capabilities. The example housed at the Pima County museum in Tucson has the probe attached under the starboard wing similar to the one developed for the FJ series. A F4D-1(F-6A) is in the Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola. Additional sites include Bristol(?),CN, and a F5D in Indiana. VFAW-3, VF-141(CVA-61), VX-3,
04/04/2007 @ 07:52 [ref: 16086]

cal berry
port st lucie, FL I was with VMF(AW)114 from mid 1958 thur July 1961 as a plane captain and later in the engine shop. We made a Med cruise in 1958-1959 aboard the Franklin D Roosevelt CVA42. It was a great squadron with a great plane and great pilots.
02/04/2007 @ 09:00 [ref: 15411]

cal berry
port st lucie, FL I was with VMF(AW)114 from mid 1958 thur July 1961 as a plane captain and later in the engine shop. We made a Med cruise in 1958-1959 aboard the Franklin D Roosevelt CVA42. It was a great squadron with a great plane and great pilots.
02/04/2007 @ 09:00 [ref: 15412]

cal berry
port st lucie, FL I was with VMF(AW)114 from mid 1958 thur July 1961 as a plane captain and later in the engine shop. We made a Med cruise in 1958-1959 aboard the Franklin D Roosevelt CVA42. It was a great squadron with a great plane and great pilots.
02/04/2007 @ 09:00 [ref: 15410]

cal berry
port st lucie, FL I was with VMF(AW)114 from mid 1958 thur July 1961 as a plane captain and later in the engine shop. We made a Med cruise in 1958-1959 aboard the Franklin D Roosevelt CVA42. It was a great squadron with a great plane and great pilots.
02/04/2007 @ 09:00 [ref: 15409]

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