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AD/A-1 Skyraider

Throughout its long life, the Skyraider, in addition to earning many nicknames, including Able Dog and Spad, was produced in a wide variety of models calling for a regular alphabet soup of designations. The AD-1’s and AD-2’s were also produced with ECM equipment, and had an operator behind the pilot as the AD-1Q and AD-2Q. The AD-3 came in four basic variants: AD-3, AD-3N, night attack; AD-3Q, electronic countermeasures; and AD-3W, an AEW radar-toting model. AD-4’s and AD-5’s were also built in N, Q and W versions.

AD-4B’s, with a tactical nuclear weapon capability, were produced and some AD-4’s were modified to AD-4L’s (winterized). AD-4N’s saw modification to AD-4NA (day attack) and AD-4NL (winterized). The lengthened AD-5 featured side-by-side seating in the cockpit. Other variants were produced over the years in small numbers. AD-6’s and AD-7’s completed the series. The last of 3,180 Skyradiers was built in 1957. With the redesignation of naval aircraft in 1962, AD-5’s became A-1E’s and AD-6’s and -7’s became A-1H’s and J’s, respectively.

There were numerous variants of the AD series.

AD-1Q: AD-1 with countermeasures unit.

AD-2:Powered with an improved 2,700 hp Wright R-3350-26W engine.

AD-2Q: An AD-2 with countermeasures equipment.

AD-3: Stronger fuselage, improved landing gear, new canopy design.

AD-3N: Equipped for night attack.

AD-3Q: Countermeasures equipment improved and relocated to provide better operation and crew comfort.

AD-3W: Airborne early warning equipment.

AD-4: The AD-4 was equipped with a strengthened landing gear, improved radar, G-2 compass, anti-G suit provisions, 4-20 mm cannon, and Aero 14 rocket launchers capable of carrying up to 50 pounds of bombs.

AD-4W: Airborne early warning equipment.

AD-1N: The primary mission of the AD-4N airplane was night attack and radar countermeasures.

AD-4Q: Countermeasures equipment.

AD-5 (Redesignated A-1E): A redesign of the aircraft. The AD-5 incorporated side by side seating for an assistant pilot. The revised crew arrangement facilitated all-weather operation and permitted utilization for long range navigation, radar search, spotting and observation, air support coordination, instrument training, pilot familiarization and other operations requiring a second crew member. Controls, armament and tactical equipment were located for single pilot operation. A single dive brake was provided for dive bombing and manuvering control. The AD-5 could be converted rapidly aboard a carrier for operation as a passenger, cargo, ambulance or long range airplane by installation of appropriate conversion kits supplied as alternate equipment.

AD-5N (Redesignated A-1-G): Night attack version with radar countermeasures.

AD-5W (Redesignated EA-1E): Airborne early warning version.

AD-6 (Redesignated A-1H): The single-place airplane is conventional in design and structure, landing gear, canopy, flaps, wing folding and three fuselage dive brakes are operated hydraulically. Capable of low level-bombing, the centerline bomb station of the AD-6 was capable of carrying external stores up to 3500 pounds weight and 30 inches diameter. A combination 14 and 30 inch suspension bomb ejector was installed. A bomb director suitable for either high or low altitude bombing was also installed.

AD-7 (Redesignated A-1): The improvements in the AD-7 over its predecessors include the use of the R-3350-26WB engine and structural improvments in the wing to improve fatigue life.