Page 8 - Aerotech News and Review, May 18 2018

SKYSHARK, from 7
Skyhawk to fill their requirement for a carrier-based attack aircraft. A total of 10 Skysharks were produced and flight tested at Douglas, which eventually trans- ferred the flying examples to Allison where they were used to develop turboprop engines that would end up powering everything from Huey Helicopters to C-130 transports.
For a period of time the Skyshark was a fixture in the Antelope Valley skies. Its sound was one that al- ways had people looking to the air as those big coun- ter-rotating props and turbo engines would shake the spectator’s soul. It was a failure as an aircraft, but a success in the development of technology that would benefit aircraft of the future.
Today only one of these remains — it was last seen in 1996, sitting unassembled alongside a hanger in Idaho Falls. Its colorful and tragic operational life as a test aircraft is an example of what makes the his- tory of flight test at Edwards such a powerful subject matter. I was thinking, wouldn’t it be great if that if that airframe still exists, if it could find its way to the new Flight Test Historical Foundation Museum at Edwards? There is so much more to this story and aircraft that I wish I could go on. For now all I can say is the skies of the Antelope Valley once paraded some really interesting aircraft for us gravity-bound earth walkers to see in flight, and they really did shake our souls!
Until next time, Bob out ...
The Douglas A2D Skyshark sits on the flightline at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
Courtesy photograph
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May 18, 2018