Donald's Skyraider

[Rich46yo]

Where do you see a B61?     ....and no.

The "Doomsday" implication. And yes it does look like a B61. Im assuming you know what a B61 is. Its not an airplane.

[icepac]

Skyraider carried the MK7 nuke.

The "doomsday" loadout was a toilet in that I was implying germ warfare.

What's really funny is that the guy who developed the "labs" or "lob bombing" was named "Jack Ryan".

Here is a picture of it loaded under a A4 skyhawk much like as depicted at the beginning of "the sum of all fears"..........a movie who's main character was "jack ryan".

coincidence?

[Puma44]

Wow!  Never heard of the Spade carrying a nuke.  As great of a plane that it is, it wouldn't be able to get out of its own way after delivering a nuke.  Nukes are best delivered at 500kts plus.  

[icepac]

You get a protective eye patch you wear before the blast.

A few guys discussed simply moving the patch over the other eye on the way home.

Some of the helmets had gold mirror and some canopies were gold.



They found the easily scratched gold goggles to be a better idea as you could lift you normal visor and put the much cheaper goggles on for a nuke specific mission.



Now they use gold canopies to reflect radar because the round surface of the canopy gives a smaller radar signature than if the radar gets into the cockpit and bounces around before exiting.

[Puma44]

I'm not so sure an eye patch would be much help for a Spad pilot after delivering a nuke.  The EMP and shock wave would be the issue. 

[icepac]

The nuke the A1 carried was a "dial a yield" weapon.

It was designed to take out the biggest air bases and military complexes and detonate at 200 feet from the ground.

The skyraider had much of it's pylons and other drag inducing equipment removed and was to perform a descent to net near 400mph as it egressed until it reach NOE which allowed it to break line of sight to the nuke.

[Puma44]

Did you fly or crew them, Icepac?  You've got a lot of great info.  400 kts in a prop driven ride just doesn't sound comfy.  We did B61 deliveries at 500kts and once it was away planned on max burner in run away mode.   

[Puma44]

The "Doomsday" implication. And yes it does look like a B61. Im assuming you know what a B61 is. Its not an airplane.

What is it that looks like a B61?  Not sure what you were referring to.  Yes, I'm familiar with B61s.

[icepac]

Dad flew them in combat and was also in a skyraider nuke squadron before he was in a A4 skyhawk nuke squadron.

[Puma44]

Dad flew them in combat and was also in a skyraider nuke squadron before he was in a A4 skyhawk nuke squadron.

Cool, he got fly some great rides.  Any idea if they ever did any live drop tests?

[BuckShot]

What's that side door all about? If it's for access only, why put in a window?