The Skyraider's Failed Turbo-Powered Brother: Douglas A2D Skyshark

Video Description

In this video, we take a look at the Douglas A2D Skyshark, a turboprop attack aircraft from late-World War II and the Korean War. We first talk about the state of the world near the end of WWII and how that impacted military's research and production. We then talk about the increased research into and development of jet power, and how this was a major problem for the US Navy. We talk about the problems of early jet engines, and how the Navy attempted to, temporarily, work around those problems through tech like Turboprop engines. We then talk about Douglas' research into turboprop attack planes and how that led to the A2D Skyshark. We talk about how the Skyshark differed from the plane it was based on in the A-1 Skyraider. We talk about the incredible boost in performance the Skyshark offered, and how that performance was very difficult to achieve due to engine problems. We talk about the problematic, sometimes fatal, testing of the Skyshark, before ending on its eventual cancellation due to improving jet and aircraft carrier technology.