The Skywarrior has a long history, having come from a 1947 Navy requirement for a carrier-based attack aircraft combining jet power with the ability to deliver nuclear weapons. The first prototype flew in October 1952, and the Skywarrior entered Navy service in March 1956.
Douglas Aircraft Company produced 280 Skywarriors including attack, photo-reconnaissance, electronic counter-measures, training, transport and refueling tanker versions. The A-3 was the largest and heaviest aircraft designed for operation from an aircraft carrier.
During the 1960s, the A-3's role in nuclear deterrence began to fade with the introduction of Polaris fleet ballistic missile submarines. By 1971, the Skywarriors still in service were employed primarily as tankers or in the electronics reconnaissance role in Vietnam.
The last A-3 Skywarriors retired from active service with the Navy at Key West, Florida in September 1991.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Wingspan - 72'6"
- Length - 76'4"
- Height - 22'10"
- Maximum Weight - 82,000 lbs
- Armament - Two 20mm guns
- Bomb Load - 12,000 lbs internal
- Engines - Two 12,400# static thrust Pratt & Whtney J57-P-10 turbojets
This A-4 is on loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Pensacola, Florida.
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