The Douglas F3D Skynight was designed and produced by the Douglas Aircraft Company as a twin-turbojet, mid-wing fighter aircraft introduced in the early 1950s. It was in service with the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps as a carrier-based all-weather night fighter with its primary mission to spot and destroy opponent aircraft at night.

Manufacturer:
Douglas Aircraft Co.
Country:
United States
Manufactured:
1947 to: 1952
ICAO:
F3D
Price:
Avionics:
Engine:
2x Westinghouse J34-WE-36
Jet
Power:
3,600 pound-force
Max Cruise Speed:
491 knots
909 Km/h
Approach Speed (Vref):
80 knots
Travel range:
1,338 Nautical Miles
2,478 Kilometers
Fuel Economy:
Service Ceiling:
38,200 feet
Rate of Climb:
4000 feet / minute
20.32metre / second
Take Off Distance:
Landing Distance:
Max Take Off Weight:
12,556 Kg
27,681 lbs
Max Landing Weight:
11,100 Kg
24,471 lbs
Max Payload:
2,456 Kg
5,414 lbs
Fuel Tank Capacity:
1,350 gallon
5,110 litre
Baggage Volume:
Seats - Economy / General:
2 seats
Seats - Business Class:
Seats - First Class:
Cabin Height:
Cabin Width:
Cabin Length:
Exterior Length:
13.84 metre - 45.41 feet
Tail height:
4.9 metre - 16.08 feet
Fuselage Diameter:
1.9 metre - 6.23 feet
Wing Span / Rotor Diameter:
15.24 metre - 50.00 feet
Wing Tips:
No Winglets

In 1945, the Douglas Aircraft Company designed a night fighter to meet the requirements of the United States Navy for a carrier-based night fighter powered by jet engines with a built-in powerful radar system. The sizeable air intercept radar system fitted on the aircraft was designed by Edward Henry Heinemann and his team.

It featured tandem seating for the pilot and the radar operator. The outcome was a fighter aircraft with a spacious and deep fuselage. In lieu of ejection seats, the Skynight was designed with an escape tunnel, the same with the one used in the A-3 Skywarrior.

On March 23, 1948, the prototype aircraft XF3D-1 took to the air for the first time at Douglas’ El Segundo facility piloted by Russel Thaw. Additional flight testing took place at El Segundo until October of the same year. Three prototypes were brought to Muroc Air Force Base in Southern California to perform service trials.

The prototypes were fitted with two Westinghouse J34-WE-24 engines rated at 3,000 lbf each located under the wing roots. In June 1948, a production contract for twenty-eight F3D-1 was secured. On February 13, 1950, the first production aircraft F3D-1 conducted its maiden flight. After a year, on February 14, 1951, the second production version designated as F3D-2 took its first flight.

The F3D-2 had an exterior length of 13.84 meters, a height of 4.9 meters with wing spread and 5.03 meters if wings were folded, and a fuselage diameter of 1.9 meters. The wingspan is 15.24 meters and 8.18 meters if folded while the wing area is 37 square meters.

The version featured wing spoilers to reduce lift, and an autopilot. The American manufacturing company Westinghouse had a contribution to the version by supplying an enhanced AN/APQ-36 aircraft fire control radar and J34-WE-36 turbojet engines. The engine was a turbojet type with a single-spool 11-stage axial compressor, annular combustors, and 2-stage turbine.

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All Douglas Aircraft Co. Aircraft