Trae 1 #1 August 25, 2005 If you recognise yourself there G'day . Perhaps some -one could share what is was like to fly such a big oiler. Apparently the Skyraider (Douglas AD7) was the last single engined fighter/attack plane on the US inventory. Sort of shows why turbines beacame so popular. This thing could lift more than its own weight in fuel and ordnance. initial climb 3200ft/min max weight 25000 lb (11350kg) Serv ceiling 25000' max speed 343mph What a wild jump ship it would have made with a few mods Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jtval 0 #2 August 25, 2005 well I certainly wouldnt want to land in it. LOL but if you call it a big oiler because it spits oil lilke a dc3 than maybe I would just enjoy the incentive flightMy photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Trae 1 #3 August 25, 2005 Thought with a match or two the oil bird would become...... the.... FIREBIRD..... Nice web site building by the way ...I want to do something similar but'm not sure which program to use. Any suggestions?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites bozo 0 #4 August 25, 2005 Apparently the Skyraider (Douglas AD7) was the last single engined fighter/attack plane on the US inventory. ------------------------------------------------------------ That appears to be a Skyraider A1E bozo bozo Pain is fleeting. Glory lasts forever. Chicks dig scars. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 6 #5 August 25, 2005 Quote Apparently the Skyraider (Douglas AD7) was the last single engined fighter/attack plane on the US inventory. ------------------------------------------------------------ That appears to be a Skyraider A1E bozo Quote Sandy? ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites markd_nscr986 0 #6 August 25, 2005 Sure............just watch me...........of course I would probably have him invert it firstMarc SCR 6046 SCS 3004 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites bozo 0 #7 August 25, 2005 QuoteQuote Apparently the Skyraider (Douglas AD7) was the last single engined fighter/attack plane on the US inventory. ------------------------------------------------------------ That appears to be a Skyraider A1E bozo Quote Sandy? yup thats a Sandy...also known as a "Spad" by the go fast zoomie flyers. bozo bozo Pain is fleeting. Glory lasts forever. Chicks dig scars. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites lawrocket 3 #8 August 25, 2005 Yep - that bird was in many respects the top choice close air support up into the Vietnam war. It could carry plenty of fuel and ordnance and could lumber over the potential battlefield for hours. I had a tabbed out E-7 who said that the A1E was his favorite airplane. He thinks those planes saved his life a few times. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Andrewwhyte 1 #9 August 25, 2005 Sure! As long as it is the wider version with the aft cabin big enough for a couple of radar operators. That version has a nice (albeit small) personnel door just aft of the wing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Trae 1 #10 August 25, 2005 in reply to all th replies Cheers you guys ..............must be a heap of memories floating around from flying beasts such as these . Perhaps some of the sweeter ones can be extracted some how......... painlessly. Looking at pictures and reading the common books about such events gets a bit repetitive . I wonder if there's any military aircrew from the 50's & 60's & 70's still kicking about doing the odd skydive.? Must be I'd suppose. I'm sure I'm not the only one that'd be interested in a yarn or two.What if I asked 'Please Sir(s) can you tell us a story?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites stratostar 5 #11 August 26, 2005 And can carry the same payload as a B-17. ~you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites NoMMO 0 #12 August 27, 2005 You Bet! I'd jump out of a Spad - would even just like to get a ride in one !! bg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites mjosparky 3 #13 August 27, 2005 QuoteYep - that bird was in many respects the top choice close air support up into the Vietnam war. It could carry plenty of fuel and ordnance and could lumber over the potential battlefield for hours. It could carry more ordinance than an F-4 and like you say, the on station time was great. For close air support it was the best thing going in Vietnam. Sparky, 2nd. Batt. 3rd. Marines, 1967/68My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites riggerrob 558 #14 June 8, 2007 I doubt if any military personal ever jumped from AD1 Skyraiders. AD-1 Skyraiders were only mentioned briefly in Bruce F. Meyers' "Fortune Favors the Brave" (a first-hand account of USMC Recon HALO and SCUBA development during the 1950s). Meyers never jumped a Skyraider, preferring to prefect techniques for jumping from Douglas RD-4 (US Navy version of Super DC-3 transport), Grumman Trader (Carrier Onboard Delivery version of Tracker), Douglas Skyknight (twin-jet, night-fighter) and Douglas Skywarrior (twin-jet bomber). Meyers also tracked USMC Recon operations during the Vietnam War, but never mentioned combat jumps from Skyraiders. So it is safe to say that USMC Recon never jumped from Skyraiders. It is possible that British or French Special Operations might have jumped from Skyraiders, but those Spec Ops types are notoriously tight-lipped about their insertion methods. I suspect that a few (British) Royal Navy anti-submarine AD5 Skyraiders were gutted for the COD role. The AD5 version had a wider fuselage - that looked almost as big as a Trader (or single Otter)fuselage - one of the largest fuselages ever pulled through the air by a single engine! That huge fuselage could hold a pair of pilots up front, a pair of electronics operators in the upper, rear cockpit and two more operators in the lower, aft compartment. That lower, aft compartment was accessed by a small, oval door (similar in size to a Beech 18 door, the smallest version) just aft of the wing. So it would have been possible to bail out of a Skyraider, but only wearing a parachute. That door is far too small to jump with rucksack, rifle and snowshoes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Krip 2 #15 June 9, 2007 Trae There's still lots of us military aircrews around from "back in the day"' C-130 1966-1970 USAF Loadmaster If you want a seldom told story about the C-130E back in the day google the USAF C-130E stolen from mildenhall england around 1968-1969 by the crew chief.True story except the offical explanation the plane went down in the english channel is questionable IMO. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites kkeenan 13 #16 June 13, 2007 Quote There's still lots of us military aircrews around from "back in the day"' I had about 300 jumps when I became a B-52 Tailgunner (Defensive Fire Control Operator) in the USAF in 1973. I spent a lot of time flying in those babies with a rig on my back, but never had occasion to leave in flight. Kevin K. BUFF Gunner Models D, F & G USAF 1973 - 77_____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites riggerrob 558 #17 July 24, 2007 I got a closer look at an AD1 Skyraider during the recent EAA Fly-In at Arlington, Washington. That aft compartment door is tiny, way smaller than the smallest door installed in any Beech 18. Even trying to squeeze out of it with a chest-mounted reserve would be a challenge! Forget about the rucksack, rifle and snowshoes! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Trae 1 #18 July 29, 2007 It's good to know you guys are out there. It can be a bit difficult to track down different stories from the guys that were there for real. So much flying but mostly invisible behind the scenes military stuff. The best stories include those little niggly things that only the flyers and their buddies knew about. Hopefully not all the detailed info concerning so many airmen and aircraft is lost in time. One of my favourite recently found aircrew stories involves grease monkeys that liked to fly the planes a bit. This particular crew (WW2pacific) used to check their jobs by flying at low level (5 feet) instead of taxiing them. The photo is somewhere showing several of the ground crew lying on top of the wing while the crew chief 'taxis' at about 5' altitude. Can't let those pilots have all the fun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
jtval 0 #2 August 25, 2005 well I certainly wouldnt want to land in it. LOL but if you call it a big oiler because it spits oil lilke a dc3 than maybe I would just enjoy the incentive flightMy photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trae 1 #3 August 25, 2005 Thought with a match or two the oil bird would become...... the.... FIREBIRD..... Nice web site building by the way ...I want to do something similar but'm not sure which program to use. Any suggestions?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bozo 0 #4 August 25, 2005 Apparently the Skyraider (Douglas AD7) was the last single engined fighter/attack plane on the US inventory. ------------------------------------------------------------ That appears to be a Skyraider A1E bozo bozo Pain is fleeting. Glory lasts forever. Chicks dig scars. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #5 August 25, 2005 Quote Apparently the Skyraider (Douglas AD7) was the last single engined fighter/attack plane on the US inventory. ------------------------------------------------------------ That appears to be a Skyraider A1E bozo Quote Sandy? ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markd_nscr986 0 #6 August 25, 2005 Sure............just watch me...........of course I would probably have him invert it firstMarc SCR 6046 SCS 3004 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bozo 0 #7 August 25, 2005 QuoteQuote Apparently the Skyraider (Douglas AD7) was the last single engined fighter/attack plane on the US inventory. ------------------------------------------------------------ That appears to be a Skyraider A1E bozo Quote Sandy? yup thats a Sandy...also known as a "Spad" by the go fast zoomie flyers. bozo bozo Pain is fleeting. Glory lasts forever. Chicks dig scars. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #8 August 25, 2005 Yep - that bird was in many respects the top choice close air support up into the Vietnam war. It could carry plenty of fuel and ordnance and could lumber over the potential battlefield for hours. I had a tabbed out E-7 who said that the A1E was his favorite airplane. He thinks those planes saved his life a few times. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrewwhyte 1 #9 August 25, 2005 Sure! As long as it is the wider version with the aft cabin big enough for a couple of radar operators. That version has a nice (albeit small) personnel door just aft of the wing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trae 1 #10 August 25, 2005 in reply to all th replies Cheers you guys ..............must be a heap of memories floating around from flying beasts such as these . Perhaps some of the sweeter ones can be extracted some how......... painlessly. Looking at pictures and reading the common books about such events gets a bit repetitive . I wonder if there's any military aircrew from the 50's & 60's & 70's still kicking about doing the odd skydive.? Must be I'd suppose. I'm sure I'm not the only one that'd be interested in a yarn or two.What if I asked 'Please Sir(s) can you tell us a story?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #11 August 26, 2005 And can carry the same payload as a B-17. ~you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NoMMO 0 #12 August 27, 2005 You Bet! I'd jump out of a Spad - would even just like to get a ride in one !! bg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 3 #13 August 27, 2005 QuoteYep - that bird was in many respects the top choice close air support up into the Vietnam war. It could carry plenty of fuel and ordnance and could lumber over the potential battlefield for hours. It could carry more ordinance than an F-4 and like you say, the on station time was great. For close air support it was the best thing going in Vietnam. Sparky, 2nd. Batt. 3rd. Marines, 1967/68My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 558 #14 June 8, 2007 I doubt if any military personal ever jumped from AD1 Skyraiders. AD-1 Skyraiders were only mentioned briefly in Bruce F. Meyers' "Fortune Favors the Brave" (a first-hand account of USMC Recon HALO and SCUBA development during the 1950s). Meyers never jumped a Skyraider, preferring to prefect techniques for jumping from Douglas RD-4 (US Navy version of Super DC-3 transport), Grumman Trader (Carrier Onboard Delivery version of Tracker), Douglas Skyknight (twin-jet, night-fighter) and Douglas Skywarrior (twin-jet bomber). Meyers also tracked USMC Recon operations during the Vietnam War, but never mentioned combat jumps from Skyraiders. So it is safe to say that USMC Recon never jumped from Skyraiders. It is possible that British or French Special Operations might have jumped from Skyraiders, but those Spec Ops types are notoriously tight-lipped about their insertion methods. I suspect that a few (British) Royal Navy anti-submarine AD5 Skyraiders were gutted for the COD role. The AD5 version had a wider fuselage - that looked almost as big as a Trader (or single Otter)fuselage - one of the largest fuselages ever pulled through the air by a single engine! That huge fuselage could hold a pair of pilots up front, a pair of electronics operators in the upper, rear cockpit and two more operators in the lower, aft compartment. That lower, aft compartment was accessed by a small, oval door (similar in size to a Beech 18 door, the smallest version) just aft of the wing. So it would have been possible to bail out of a Skyraider, but only wearing a parachute. That door is far too small to jump with rucksack, rifle and snowshoes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Krip 2 #15 June 9, 2007 Trae There's still lots of us military aircrews around from "back in the day"' C-130 1966-1970 USAF Loadmaster If you want a seldom told story about the C-130E back in the day google the USAF C-130E stolen from mildenhall england around 1968-1969 by the crew chief.True story except the offical explanation the plane went down in the english channel is questionable IMO. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkeenan 13 #16 June 13, 2007 Quote There's still lots of us military aircrews around from "back in the day"' I had about 300 jumps when I became a B-52 Tailgunner (Defensive Fire Control Operator) in the USAF in 1973. I spent a lot of time flying in those babies with a rig on my back, but never had occasion to leave in flight. Kevin K. BUFF Gunner Models D, F & G USAF 1973 - 77_____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 558 #17 July 24, 2007 I got a closer look at an AD1 Skyraider during the recent EAA Fly-In at Arlington, Washington. That aft compartment door is tiny, way smaller than the smallest door installed in any Beech 18. Even trying to squeeze out of it with a chest-mounted reserve would be a challenge! Forget about the rucksack, rifle and snowshoes! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trae 1 #18 July 29, 2007 It's good to know you guys are out there. It can be a bit difficult to track down different stories from the guys that were there for real. So much flying but mostly invisible behind the scenes military stuff. The best stories include those little niggly things that only the flyers and their buddies knew about. Hopefully not all the detailed info concerning so many airmen and aircraft is lost in time. One of my favourite recently found aircrew stories involves grease monkeys that liked to fly the planes a bit. This particular crew (WW2pacific) used to check their jobs by flying at low level (5 feet) instead of taxiing them. The photo is somewhere showing several of the ground crew lying on top of the wing while the crew chief 'taxis' at about 5' altitude. Can't let those pilots have all the fun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
