Subject: Douglas F5D-1 Skylancer

From: [email-masked] (joseph.f.baugher)
Date: 19 Aug 94 00:29:41 GMT

The F4D-2N Skyray was a 1953 proposal for an all-weather capable 
version of the F4D-1, which was at that time just beginning to enter 
production for the Navy.  The aircraft was also to be aerodynamically 
refined in order to take full advantage of the increased thrust made 
available by the replacement of the Westinghouse J40 engine by the 
Pratt & Whitney J57 in production F4D-1s.  

Two prototypes were ordered under the designation F4D-2N.  Serials 
were BuNo 139208 and 139209.  However, as engineering work progressed, 
the F4D-2N became progressively more and more different from the 
F4D-1, and the new design was redesignated F5D-1 and named Skylancer.  

The F5D-1 retained the general wing planform of the F4D-1, but the 
wings were much thinner and the fuselage was longer.  The internal 
fuel capacity was increased from 640 US gallons for the F4D-1 to 1333 
US gallons.  The fuselage of the F5D-1 adopted the Area Rule, being 
deliberately slimmed down in the region of the wing roots to improve 
the transonic flight characteristics.  The air intakes were 
redesigned, and a new V-edged cockpit windshield and canopy replaced 
the rectangular, flat-topped units of the F4D-1.  A taller fin and 
rudder was fitted.  The armament of four 20-mm cannon in the wings was 
retained, but the primary armament was to be a missile suite 
consisting of four Sidewinder or two Sparror air-to-air guided 
missiles and/or a battery of spin-stabilized unguided 2-inch rockets.  
An advanced X-24A radar fire-control system was to have been used.  

Nine service test machines (BuNos 142349/142357) and fifty-one 
production machines (BuNos 143393/143400 and 145159/145201) were 
ordered.  The prototypes and the service test machines were to be 
powered by the Pratt & Whitney J57-P-8, rated at 10,200 lb.s.t. dry 
and 16,000 lb.s.t. with afterburning.  Production machines were to have 
been powered by the J57-P-14 engine rated at 10,700 lb.s.t dry and 
16,900 lb.s.t. with afterburning.  It was planned that the Skylancer 
would ultimately be powered by the General Electric J79 turbojet.  

The first F5D-1 (BuNo 139208) took off from Edwards AFB on its maiden 
flight on April 21, 1956, with test pilot Robert Rahn at the controls.  
It easily exceeded the speed of sound on its first flight.  

The performance of the F5D-1 proved to be excellent.  The new larger 
fuel tanks endowed the F5D-1 with twice the range of the F4D-1.  A 
maximum speed of nearly 1000 mph could be attained at altitude.  
However, after two prototypes and two production examples had been 
constructed, the Navy decided to cancel its order for the Skylancer.  
The reason given was that the Navy had already decided to purchase the 
Vought F8U Crusader, and that they just really didn't need to have on 
their rolls another fighter with essentially the same performance 
characteristics.  Politics might also have played a role, since 
Douglas was already heavily involved in the production of the A3D 
Skywarrior, the A4D Skyhawk, the F4D Skyray, and the AD Skyraider and 
that it would not be a good idea for Douglas to be given a virtual 
monopoly on Navy combat aircraft construction.  

At the time of the cancellation of the Navy contract, two prototypes 
(139208 and 139209) and two service-test aircraft (142349 and 142350) 
had been constructed.  Following the termination of the Navy Skylancer 
contract, these four planes participated in various military test 
programs throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s.  139209 and 142349 
were grounded in 1961, but the other two were transferred to NASA's 
Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB.  139208 was renumbered 
as NASA 212 and was used in support of the US supersonic transport 
program.  For a while, it was fitted with wings of modified ogee 
planform.  It was transferred to the Ames Laboratory in 1963.  While 
there, it was renumbered 708.  708 was retired in April of 1968.  
142350 was renumbered as NASA 213 and was used for the simulation of 
abort procedures for the Boeing X-20A Dyna-Soar orbital spaceplane.  
Following the cancellation of the Dyna-Soar program, NASA 213 
continued to fly in support of lifting-body projects and SST studies.  
It was finally retired in 1970.  Both NASA F5D-1s were retired in 
1970.  

Serials of Douglas F5D-1 Skylancer: 

139208,139209 	Douglas F5D-1 Skylancer (originally designated F4D-2N) 
142349/142357 	Douglas F5D-1 Skylancer --141351/142357 cancelled 
143393/143400 	Douglas F5D-1 Skylancer - all cancelled.  
145159/145201 	Douglas F5D-1 Skylancer - all cancelled.  

Specification of Douglas F5D-1 Skylancer: 

One Pratt & Whitney J57-P-8 turbojet, 10,200 lb.s.t. dry and 16,000 
lb.s.t. with afterburning.  Maximum speed: 953 mph at 35,000 feet, 
990 mph at 44,000 feet, 749 mph at sea level.  Cruising speed 637 mph.  
Initial climb rate 20,790 feet per minute.  An altitude of 30,000 feet 
could be attained in 7.9 minutes.  Service ceiling 57,500 feet.  Combat 
ceiling 49,200 feet.  Landing speed 155 mph.  Stalling speed 112.7 
mph.  Combat range 1335 miles.  Weights: 17,444 pounds empty, 24,445 
pounds combat, 25,000 pounds gross, 28,072 pounds maximum takeoff.  
Dimensions: wingspan 33 feet 6 inches, length 53 feet 9 3/4 inches, 
height 14 feet 10 inches, wing area 557 square feet.  Internal fuel 
capacity was 1333 US gallons.  Two 150-US gallon drop tanks could be 
carried underwing, bringing total maximum fuel capacity to 1633 US 
gallons.  Armed with four 20-mm cannon in the wings.  

Sources:

  The Aircraft of the World, William Green and Gerald Pollinger,
  Doubleday, 1965.

  The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and Peter Bowers, Orion, 1987.

  United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911, Gordon Swanborough and
  Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.

  Flying the Frontiers--NACA and NASA Experimental Aircraft, Arthur
  Pearcy, Naval Institute Press, 1993.

  McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920: Volume 1, Rene J. Francillon,
  Naval Institute Press, 1988.

  American Combat Planes, Ray Wagner, Third Enlarged Edition,
  Doubleday, 1982.

Joe Baugher			**************************************
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