(^52) UNITED STATES
T
he Douglas Skyray was named after
the manta ray it resembled. It was on
the leading edge of aircraft design,
could climb to 40,000ft (12,000m) in two
minutes and reach Mach 1 during a dive. It
also wrested the world air speed record from
the British Swift.
Analysis of data captured in Germany after
World War 2 indicated that the delta-shaped
wing would take the most advantage of
jet propulsion for fast-climbing interceptor
ghters. In 1948, Douglas signed a contract to
build the F4D-1, a ectionately known as the
‘Ford’ (after its designation).
The F4D Skyray was a wide delta wing design
with long, sharply swept, rounded wings. The
thick wing roots contained the air intakes
feeding a single turbojet engine. Its unique
design made the Skyray one of the best-known
early jet ghters.
Two prototypes were ordered and the rst
ew on 23 January 1951. The test programmeDouglas F4D Skyray
soon indicated the aircraft had excellent
performance and handling. The production
F4D-1 for the US Navy was powered by a single
Pratt & Whitney J57 turbojet giving 16,000lb
thrust in afterburner. Initial production F4D-1s
started to roll o the line in June 1954. The
F4D-1 was the only production variant, and
would equip numerous US Navy and USMC
units, with no fewer than 17 squadrons ying it
at the peak, and would embark in carriers with
both Atlantic and Paci c eets. While intended
primarily as an interceptor, production aircraft
had six external stores pylons for rockets,Below: Built for speed, the Skyray was an
interceptor through-and-through. Although
it was in service for a relatively short time and
never entered combat, it was the rst carrier-
launched aircraft to hold the world’s absolute
speed record, at 752.943mph. It was also the
last ghter produced by the Douglas Aircraft
Company before it merged with McDonnell
Aircraft and became McDonnell Douglas.bombs or Sidewinder AAMs. Over 400 examples
were produced, but as a dedicated interceptor,
the F4D was unsuited to the multi-mission
capabilities soon in demand, so it had a short
service career, the last aircraft being withdrawn
in 1964.Douglas F4D-1 Skyray
Max speed: 753mph (1,212km/h)
Powerplant: Pratt & Whitney J57
turbojet, 10,500lb dry or
16,000lb in afterburner
Wingspan: 33ft 6in (10.21m)
Length: 45ft 8in (13.92m)
Height: 13ft 0in (3.96m)
Max T/O weight: 28,000lb (12,700kg)
Ceiling: 52,000ft (15,850m)
Armament: 4 x 20mm canon plus
six under-wing stations
for rockets, bombs,
Sidewinder AAMs