Douglas A-11 Skyraider Ii

[Archibald]

[PanzerWulff]

Hey archie I have one question What scale is it,if you want some better cluster bombs than the ones mentioned in the general forum and the kit is 1/72 I have several spare Hasegawa weapons sets with Vietnam era CBU 70 Rockeye Cluster bombs I could send you a bunch if ya want send me a PM if youre interested

SPAD's RULE!!!
"Panzer"

[Archibald]

1/72 scale (as usual). Thanks for your nice offer, but I already plan drop tanks, Sidewinders, and a ventral gun pod from a Viggen    (don't know exactly what is it, but it surely come from a Viggen, and now it's a gun pod).

I could also try some rocket-based weapon (considering that I've no less than 24 rockets left by the 2 Skyraiders Runway send me...)

Thank you again!  

[Dork the kit slayer]

That is one "ugly mother"....but I really like it.
Sidewinders??.. ..ok Ill go with that  

[Archibald]

For self defense    If a Skyraider managed to shot down MiG-15 and MiG-17 with its guns...  

[Archibald]

Planed armement is
- four SUU-64 thingy (in F-15's AIM-9 racks)
- two sidewinders
- four rocket pods (HIDRA -70)
- four drop tanks, of which one has an unknown M-61 like gun
- ventral gun pod (from a Viggen)

Lot of punch...    

A stock Skyraider flew at 350 mph or so. With 1500 more Hp and a refined nose, could it reach 450 or 500 mph, enough to chase slow jets with its sidewinders and gun ?

[Archibald]

This brute-looking model is near completion now. I've hanged a huge qeapon load below the wings







Armed to the teeth! Hmm I really think this monster would need a big sharkmouth...  

[B777LR]

Yes, sharkmouth it needs  Nice PSR job there  

[Archibald]

Thank you, glad to see you here again !

I'm trying to imagine a backstory for this one...  

[Brian da Basher]

Nice load-out, Archie! She looks very warlike. You can never have too many weapons.

Brian da Basher

[Archibald]

Let's try a backstory for this one    

In the glorious year 1952, the skyshark program ran into sevre troubles.
The XT-40 engine was totally unreliable, it broke out regularly, sending bits of transmission across the cockpit, leading to two crashes and incidents. The USN was already fed up with the program, and douglas was less and less confident. The end of the doomed machine happened on 27th October 1953 when test pilot Livingston was hurt after another engine failure. This was too much, even for Douglas. The Skyhawk was coming, so it seemed to be the end of the Skyraider / Skyshark family. But events rushed in 1954...

First, the T-56 turboprop ( a derivative of the highly successfull T-38) made its maiden flight on a Convair C-131.
The Key West agreement was modified by the Eisenhower administration, the US Army finally obtaining the right to have fixed-wing attack aircrafts.

In this context Douglas proposed its Skyraider to US Army, but the service replied that it wanted an improved variant, and asked about the Skyshark.
Douglas explained it was a lost cause because of the T-40. After some discussions in late 1954 a small batch of ingeniers was detached from the Skyhawk design team.
The team build a prototype in 180 days. A Skyraider was taken out off the production line, engine mount was quite similar to the C-130A, nosewheel was taken from an A-4A.
US Army proved enthusiast, and then USMC, too, interested in the aircraft.
So the Skyraider production line was kept open after the last AD-7 rolled out in 1957.

The plane was dubbed AD-8 Skyraider II, and after 1962 it become
A-11A Skyraider II (Or Skytank for its pilots thanks to its huge firepower and armor)

Performances of the T-56 machine were much increased. Top speed remained unchanged, but weapon load rose to 9 tons (against 6.5 for the piston-powered variant).

The AD-9 was a two seat variant, in fact a T-56 AD-5!

AD-8 and AD-9 were widely used in Vietnam by USMC and US Army for helos escorts, CAS, strike, ECM among other roles. the USN was skeptic at the beginning but in the end find a role to the Skytank.

In 1971 two Phantoms had been badly damaged during an air strike, their pilots had ejected off-shore the coast of Vietnam. But helos send to pick them up had been repelead and damaged by gunboats, small arm fire. A fierce battle had broke out and ended in victory for the USN, at the cost of two helicopters. Despite their protection by strike aircrafts, helicopters hovering over water were regularly targeted and damaged. A most efficient way of picking up pilots must be found...

Solution was found by mounting AD-8 and AD-9 on floats! The AD-9 would pick-up pilots while AD-8s (land-based and floats variants) would monitor and straff ennemies actions.

France also used the machine in Algeria.

After Vietnam war a vastly improved variant named A-11B entered service.
The aim was to fill the gap between the Bronco and Whartog. Us Army bought 450 aircrafts, of which 280 were upgraded in the mid-80's.

Today Us Army plan an A-11C able to carry SDBs, AIM-9X and AIM-92 Stingers, LGBs...
In 2002 a batch of 75 A-11B was taken out of storage at Davis Monthan AFB and sold to Columbia to complete the A-29 Super Tucano.

[anthonyp]

Ungainly is the word that pops to mind when I look at the thing...  but very cool!

Good one, Archie!

   

[kitnut617]

Really neat Archie, it's given me some ideas.

[Archibald]

Thank you!

I've added winglets on the tail to counter the torque (4900 hp and a single prop...)
I saw this on the Canadair CL-415 and thought it was a good idea  

I've painted it as a USMC aircraft. The service used Skyraiders many moons ago, then more recently Broncos. I've reading somewhere that Bronco were allowed to operate from LPA and LPH.
The Skyraider II would fill the gap between OV-10s and  Harriers on amphibious vessels (in this case I need to paint the underside in light grey...but I feel lazy!)

I'll probably build another T-56 Spad in the next future. This time a USN machine on floats, with an underside door, a ladder, two seats in the rear fuselage, and two windows (got a bunch of Caravelle windows thanks to the Sonic Cruiser build   )
This machine could be used along  the "brown water" navy, these boats could refueled Skyraider II...







 

[Brian da Basher]

Those low-viz markings are perfect Archie! This one's a real cracker!
B)
Brian da Basher