A-3 Douglas Skywarrior

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The Douglas A-3 Skywarrior was a strategic bomber built for the United States Navy, and among the longest serving; it entered service in the mid-1950s and was not retired until 1991. For many years after its introduction, it was also the heaviest aircraft ever flown from an aircraft carrier, earning it the unofficial nickname "The Whale". Its primary function for much of its later service life was as an electronic warfare platform and high capacity tanker. A modified derivative also served in the USAF until the early 1970s as the B-66 Destroyer. The Skywarrior is the only Navy strategic bomber to enter service, (the Martin P6M SeaMaster tested well but never entered service due to the Navy fearing loss of funding for surface ships and subs if it encroached on the Air Forces' strategic bomber role and the pending elimination of the flying-boat platform). Later multi-role aircraft like the A-5 Vigilante could also go on strategic missions. The US Navy published its requirement for a long range, carrier-based bomber with a 10,000 pound bomb load in January 1948. The contract was awarded to Douglas Aircraft on 29 September 1948 and the first flight of an A-3 was 22 October 1952. The first A-3 was assigned to VAH-1 Squadron on 31 March 1956.
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Type: Carrier launched strategic bomber
Crew: 3
Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company
Models: see variants
Maiden flight: Oct. 22, 1952
Service Delivery: 1956
Retired from Service: Sept. 27, 1991
Production span: 1956-1961
Number built: 282
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Specifications: A3D-2/A-3B Skywarrior
Powerplant:
Model: Pratt & Whitney J57-P-10
Type: Turbojet
Number: Two
Thrust: 10,500 lb
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Dimensions:
Length: 76 ft 4 in (23.27 m)
Wingspan: 72 ft 6 in (22.1 m)
Height: 22 ft 9.5 in (6.95 m)
Wing area: 812 ft² (75.4 m²)
Weights:
Empty: 39,400 lb (17,900 kg)
Loaded: 70,000 lb (31,750 kg)
Max takeoff: 82,000 lb (37,200 kg) Performance:
Maximum speed: 610 mph (980 kph)
Cruise Speed: 520 mph (840 kph)
Range: 1,325 mi (2,130 km)
Service ceiling: 41,000 ft (12,500 m)
Rate of climb: N/A
Wing loading: 86.2 lb/ft² (421 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 0.30
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Armament:
2× 20 mm cannon in tail turret
Bombload:
12,000 lb (5,400 kg) of free-fall bombs,
including any combination of
12× 500 lb (230 kg) Mark 82 bombs or
6× 1,000 lb (450 kg) Mark 83 bombs or
1,600 lb armor-piercing bombs or
500 lb Mark 50 bombs or
1,000 lb Mark 36 bombs or
2,000 lb Mark 25 mines or
1× Mark 15 free-fall nuclear weapon
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Sources:
Wikipedia: A-3 Skywarrior