1/72 Douglas XA2D-1 Skyshark

Anigrand Craftswork - 1/72 Douglas XA2D-1 Skyshark. In June 1945, with the success of the high performance Ad Skyraider, Navy asked Douglas to design a new version of the Ad with turboprop power, and selected Allison to design the power-plant. Allison proposed to install a pair of nose mounted engines to drive a pair of contra-rotating propellers. In cruise flight, one of the engine and prop could be shut down to increase its flight range. In 1947, two prototypes which designated XA2D-1 Skyshark were ordered. The first flight was made in 1950. Performance was satisfied but appeared engine vibration problem. With the Korean War outbreak, the A2D-1 pre-production was ordered as Navy needs a new carrier-based attack aircraft. However, the engine problem kept present and caused the first prototype crashed. The flight tests were continued until one of the pre-production aircraft crashed in 1954. Afterward, the A2Ds were never flown.