Douglas A-1 Skyraider
The first prototype of the A-1 was flown on March 18, 1945. It would have been a major contributor in WWII if it had been made a few years earlier. It was designed as a multi-purpose attack aircraft, and the carrier-based plane could carry a wide variety of weapons on various hard-points. The "Sandy", as it was called, proved to be a reliable close support aircraft in the Korean War, and went on to serve in the Vietnam War as well. It's long loiter time and its ability of heavy-load hauling gave it a distinct advantage over the jets of the time.
Dimensions:
Length: 39.37 ft
Width: 50 ft
Height: 15.75 ft
Performance:
Maximum Speed: 321 mph
Max Range: 1,553 miles
Rate-of-Climb: 2,300 ft/min
Service Ceiling: 26,001 ft
Armament:
4 x 20mm cannons
12 x Rockets
7,000 lbs external ordnance
Structure:
Accommodation: 1
Hard-points: 14
Empty Weight: 10,470 lbs
Max Take-off Weight: 18,029 lbs
Powerplant:
1 Wright R-3350-24W air-cooled radial engine generating 2,500 hp
Douglas F-3D/F-10 Skyknight
The F-3D was the Navy's first carrier-based jet night-fighter. The F-3D flew March 23, 1948. The large looking fuselage underside that held the radar equipment gave it the nickname "Willie the Whale", only this whale flew. Along with being the fist carrier-borne jet night-fighter, it also got the first jet-on-jet night-fighter kill against a Yak-15 in 1952. Here are some videos from the wonderful show "Dogfights".
Dimensions:
Length:45.44 ft
Width: 50 ft
Height: 16.08
Peformance:
Max Speed: 529 mph
Max Range: 1,374 miles
ROC: 2,970 ft/min
Service Ceiling: 36,745 ft
Armament:
4 20mm Hispano-Suiza M2 cannons
F-3D-2M/MF-10B:
4 Sparrow air-to-air missiles
Up to 2,000 lbs external ordnance
Structure:
Accommodation:2
Hardpoints: 2
Empty Weight: 15,020 lbs
Max TO Weight: 26,788 lbs
Powerplant:
2 Westinghouse J46-WE-36 engines generating 3,400 lbs of thrust each
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