A2D
Skyshark was designed as a successor of the AD Skyraider with greater
performance of the turbine engine.
The development started in June 1945. The first flight was made on
26th May 1950.
The US Navy originally ordered 345 Skysharks, but the Allison XT40
turbine engine and its contra rotating gear box made a number of
problems and
caused serious accidents including a fatal one.
Due to the development delay with the unsolved gear box troubles and
successful development of the A4D Skyhawk, the Navy cancelled the order
in 1952.
A total of only 12 Skysharks were built, including 2 prototypes. Only
8 of them had flown.
If only the XT40 engine had shown such good reliability as the Armstrong-Siddeley
Double Manba which was of a similar design and was successful with the
Fairey Gannet, or Python with the Westland Wyvern, we could see this
beefy and gorgeous Skyshark wherever the American fleet went.
Only one Skyshark 125485 has survived, and is currently being restored.
This aircraft had been used for ground radar calibration tests with
a Skyhawk nose attached. The nose and airintakes were re-panelled but
differ slightly from the original.
The kit is of course designed for the original one, so the modeller
needs to be aware of this. If you are lucky enough to see the surviving
one you may find some odd panel lines.
Specifications;
Span : 15.24m (50ft)
Length : 12.62m (41ft 5in)
Weght ( loaded) : 11,225kg (24,780lb)
Max speed : 813kmph (439knots)
Ceiling : 14,752m (48,400ft)
The kit main parts are vacu-formed plastics.
The fuselage mounts on the single piece main wing. The all parts fit
very accurately. You will be surprised to find how little amount of
filler you have used.
The characteristic huge exhasuts, propellor blades, rockets and other
detail parts are coming as whitemetal parts.
Please note the sample model spinner is painted black but it shoul
be Navy Blue the same colour with the fuselage.
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