AD Skyraider

[proparc]

 There should be no suggestion that the amount of dihedral that would be appropriate for a semi scale rendition of this aircraft would have any adverse affect on performance for CLPA. Several semi-scale stunt ships with dihedral have successfully competed at the highest levels as aptly demonstrated by Al Rabe and his masterpieces where he has two National Stunt Champion titles as well as a second place at the one World Championships where he flew.

Keith

I am not aware of anyone mentioning that dihedral would have an adverse affect on performance. We all know about Al's work. What I said is that, I am not going to do it on this ship. Between myself and the people over at John Millers CAD forum, we have enough muscle to do anything we want!! If we decide to collaborate, we can make the cats over at the Top Gun RC contest realize just what time it is! I simply don't want to.

As I stated before, please feel free to crank up your copy of Draftsight and gets to steppin on the version that's going to light you up. In addition, this version is STRICTLY for the Saito 4 stroke as per Bob Reeve's suggestion,(that's what got me going on this). But, don't hesitate to raid our CAD "parts bin" and install the electric motor and PA motor drawings and drop those babies into place.

Also lets not forget, if you want to channel up some Vic Macaluso like Larry Fernandez, get busy with the drop tanks and full on ordinance on this sucker. I can draw those for you if you are somewhat CAD challenged and place them in our "parts bin".

As for me so far, I have a top fuselage view that I like, and I have a wing planform that is right in the pocket for the 62\72 at 708 SQ. Stabilizer is got the muscle to lever the big block, so at this point it's just straight engineering work. Gotta make sure I have a structure that can withstand the power and the stress of the 72.

I will continue to place the screenshots over at the CAD forum so as not to hijack Ryan's thread and get busted here.

[Will Hinton]

Hey Milton, how about the bottom radome the ASW units sported.  Man, they looked like flying saucers!  We deployed with four of them belonging to VAW 12 on the Essex.

[proparc]

Hey Milton, how about the bottom radome the ASW units sported.  Man, they looked like flying saucers!  We deployed with four of them belonging to VAW 12 on the Essex.

I know that radome was so cool. You know Will, I had my hands on two actual Skyraiders a couple of times. Two different ships. When you stand next to it, they are very, very big. My understanding is that the Skyraider is the first plane in history to be able to lift and fly with it's own weight in payload.

I especially loved the episode of "Dogfights-Gunkills of Vietnam" where the two Skyraiders teamed up to shoot down a Mig 19.

I've got the wing and stab screenshot posted at the CAD forum.

[Will Hinton]

When I went through aviation prep school in Norman, OK, we had to climb in and start a Skyraider.  What a thrill for a skinny kid right out of high school with a deep desire to fly!!!  Then we moved on to stand fire guard and watch those huge plumes of smoke try to hide the bloody thing.  Love those "round" engines!
We were told the same thing you were about them being the first to carry such a load.  As I watched them deck launch from the carrier, they were airborne waaaaay before they reached the forward elevator.  Wow, those big 12 foot props looked wicked while turning on the deck!

[Trostle]

Those props were almost 13' in diameter.

KT

[Juan Valentin]

Here is a Side view of a profile Midwest Skyrider  I think it was drawn by Vince micchia.
                                                                                                           Juan

[Ara Dedekian]

    So here's my way too premature vote on a color scheme, and a possible solution to the disproportionate canopy.

    The A1E had the elongated canopy to house the crew of four and carry electronic equipment. To my eye, it's more in proportion to the length of the fuselage than the single place A1J. The rear portion was tinted blue to keep the aforementioned electronics from frying. It's a much more attractive blue than shows in the photo and combined with the International Orange would give judges an easily visible reference.

    When I modeled the 1/48 scale plastic model I had the totally uninspiring Glossy Sea Blue scheme, the overdone Bumble Bee, Gull grey and white, and the Int'l Orange scheme to choose from. I went for the Flash!

     I believe I read in Capt Rosario Rausa's book, 'Skyraider', that the range of the Skyraider was determined not only by the fuel load, but by it's oil capacity. I have a photo of a 'Spad' from the China Lake Naval Ordinance test center which shows why it needed so much oil and reproduced it on the model.

     Ara

[Ara Dedekian]

   

      Don't have this process down pat yet.
      Here's the plastic model.

[Randy Ryan]

I've got it!!!! I'm going to be building a Legacy that I planned to bash, wing shapes right, I think the Legacy is about to become an AD. (sorry Allen)

[Norm Faith Jr.]

Interesting comparison. I have some reference material that gives the specifications on these two aircraft.  According to the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft, the Skyraider could carry 8,000 pounds of external stores, the Mauler could carry up to 4,500 pounds of external stores. 

This reference lists the empty weight of the Mauler is 14,500 pounds and the maximum take-off weight as 23,386 pounds.  Of the 8,874 pound difference between empty and max weight, I would assume some of that weight would have to be fuel, thereby making the specification that the Mauler could carry over 12,000 pounds of ordinance questionable.

There is some interesting information on the Mauler in the above referenced listing.  The short desriptions given states that the two prototypes of this aircraft were powered by the PW 4360-4 engines, the 4-row monster that powered some other notable aircraft from that era.  But the specification block in this reference lists the Wright  R-3350-4 Cyclone which is basically the same engine as the Skyraider.  I am sure that with the PW 4360, the performance of those prototype Maulers was quite impressive.

Now, if we look at Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation, it list the Mauler powerpland as the PW 4360.  It lists some different weights but not in the realm of 12,000 pounds of armament.

I would be interested in the source of that information.

In either case, these are remarkable aircraft and illustrate the developments from WW II that led to these aircraft.  Each could carry a bomb load almost matching the B-17, and could fly higher and faster from the deck of an aircraft carrier.  However, they did not have the range. of the B-17.

Keith

Hi Keith, when I was first introduced to the A1E and the A1H at Hurlburt Field 1971, the crew chiefs were quick to proudly point out that "the A1 could lift its own weight in bombs." The PW3350 bit many a VNAF trainee (who we were training) in the rear end on take offs and touch and go's, they ran one off the runway at least once a week. Too fast on the throttle and not enough right leg. BTW...as I remember it was also one of the first "recips" with an "E seat."
Norm

[Wayne J. Buran]

   So here's my way too premature vote on a color scheme, and a possible solution to the disproportionate canopy.

    The A1E had the elongated canopy to house the crew of four and carry electronic equipment. To my eye, it's more in proportion to the length of the fuselage than the single place A1J. The rear portion was tinted blue to keep the aforementioned electronics from frying. It's a much more attractive blue than shows in the photo and combined with the International Orange would give judges an easily visible reference.

    When I modeled the 1/48 scale plastic model I had the totally uninspiring Glossy Sea Blue scheme, the overdone Bumble Bee, Gull grey and white, and the Int'l Orange scheme to choose from. I went for the Flash!

     I believe I read in Capt Rosario Rausa's book, 'Skyraider', that the range of the Skyraider was determined not only by the fuel load, but by it's oil capacity. I have a photo of a 'Spad' from the China Lake Naval Ordinance test center which shows why it needed so much oil and reproduced it on the model.

     Ara

I was so enamored with that paint job, I campaigned a Class 2 Guardian, Rossi 60 powered for many years. I love that paint job.
Thanks
Wayne

[proparc]

Randy

        The old Midwest series of Warbird profile stunters included a Skyraider. I saw one flying at Flushing Meadows, N.Y. back in the 1970's and seem to remember it did OK as a sport stunter.

Ara Dedekian 

That was probably me LOL. I had a Midwest Skyraider back then in New York.

[afml]

"I had a Midwest Skyraider back then......."

Also had one and painted it like the box pic.
Yea...I'm TERRIBLE at original paint schemes.
Was getting back into C/L and was practicing for the Beginners event at the Nats hosted, (Still is), by Allen Brickhause. The night before leaving for the Nats, the OS 35 suddenly quite during the overhead 8.
DIRECTLY overhead!
ALMOST (Isn't that always the case... )ran fast enough to pull it out.....
Still have the remains....
Van was already packed, reservations made etc... So I went to the Nats anyway.
Had a SUPER time!
Came back next year and won the event.
The rest is history.....
"Tight lines!"
Wes