Aircraft/Loadouts Douglas F3D Skyknight

[CrosstheX 133]

I would like to apologize as the former thread that I suggested in already in development in the Japanese tech tree (I think), now I have double-checked the planes to be added into the game and I found out that the F3D is not introduced yet(I am not sure).

 

The Douglas F3D Skyknight (later designated F-10 Skyknight) was a United States twin-engined, mid-wing jet fighter aircraft manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company in El Segundo, California. The F3D was designed as a carrier-based all-weather night fighter and saw service with the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. The mission of the F3D-2 was to search out and destroy enemy aircraft at night.

The F3D Skyknight was never produced in great numbers but it did achieve many firsts in its role as a night fighter over Korea. While it never achieved the fame of the North American F-86 Sabre, it did down several Soviet-built MiG-15s as a night fighter over Korea with only one air-to-air loss of its own against a Chinese MiG-15 on the night of 29 May 1953.

The Skyknight played an important role in the development of the radar-guided AIM-7 Sparrow missile which led to further guided air-to-air missile developments. It also served as an electronic warfare platform in the Vietnam War as a precursor to the EA-6A Intruder and EA-6B Prowler. The aircraft is sometimes unofficially called "Skynight", dropping the second "k". The unusual, portly profile earned it the nickname "Willie the Whale".

 

 

Specifications (F3D-2)

General characteristics

• Crew: two
• Length: 45 ft 5 in (13.84 m)
• Wingspan: 50 ft 0 in (15.25 m)
• Height: 16 ft 1 in (4.90 m)
• Wing area: 400 ft² (37.16 m²)
• Empty weight: 18,160 lb (8,237 kg)
• Loaded weight: 21,374 lb (9,715 kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: 26,850 lb (12,180 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Westinghouse J34-WE-38 turbojets, 3,600 lbf (1635kg) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 495 knots (565 mph, 909 km/h) at 20,000 ft (6,095 m)
• Cruise speed: 454 mph (395 kn, 731 km/h)
• Stall speed: 93 mph (81 kn, 149 km/h)
• Range: 1,200 mi/1,000 nmi, 1,931 km internal (1,374 mi/1,195 nmi, 2,212 km with 2 × 150 gal/568 l tanks)
• Service ceiling: 38,200 ft (11,645 m)
• Rate of climb: 2,970 ft/min (15.1 m/s)
• Wing loading: 53.4 lb/ft² (383 kg/m²)
• Thrust/weight: 0.32

Armament

• Guns: 4 × 20 mm Hispano-Suiza M2 cannon, 200 rpg
• Rockets: 2 × 11.75 in (29.8cm) Tiny Tim (rocket)
• Bombs: 2 × 2,000 lb (900 kg) bombs

 

Reference at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_F3D_Skyknight

 

If it is added into the game, it would at Tier 5 facing off mig-15, Me-262, La-15, Yaks(jet) and other jet aircraft.

I would like to suggest that this aircraft to be added as the F3D did contribute in the Korean War even though achieve less fame than the F-86 Sabre.

Also, I think that the Navy should implement more early jet powered aircraft (straight winged, not swept winged) in the game, of course. (If someone else had suggested this aircraft into the game, I do sincerely apologize as I don't come to the forums that often). :yes:

 

 

Edited June 2, 2015 by CrosstheX

[CokeSpray 7,274]

Open for discussion.  :salute:

This aircraft has been suggested in the past,but since it hasn't been brought up recently,I'll leave this one up.

[CrosstheX 133]

Open for discussion.  :salute:

This aircraft has been suggested in the past,but since it hasn't been brought up recently,I'll leave this one up.

Phew, thanks ;)s , and i think that I would may be suggesting more aircraft into the game, but not sure which one yet :Ds .

[Naam54673 1,537]

Add a poll.

[CrosstheX 133]

Add a poll.

Polls have been added, it took a while as my internet connection is slow, feel free to submit your votes.

[Platnumsniper 423]

This has already been suggested

 

http://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/223282-previously-suggested-ideas-and-topics-archive-please-read-before-creating-a-new-suggestion/

[Z3r0_ 4,128]

Sure, why not?  I'm thinking it'd be after the Banshee and before the Panthers.

[GuiRitter 694]

Impressive operation history, and the armament we all love. I would definitely use it if it weren't for other jets. I support!

[Heinkel280 641]

EDIT: Different plane...  :facepalm:

Edited June 2, 2015 by Heinkel280

[theNEGUS 78]

I would love for this to be an intermediate between the Banshee and the Panther. Great looks, good performance. The armament is characteristic of the American Naval Line- extremely powerful.

 

I have a problem with putting the Tiny Tim Mod and Bombs, though. This was designed to be a night fighter. Thus, I do not think that it would be historical to turn it into a ground attack plane, though. 

 

Also, I do not think this would be a great addition until radar is introduced- half of the reason that the Skynight was even moderately successful was that it had radar. 

[Z3r0_ 4,128]

I would love for this to be an intermediate between the Banshee and the Panther. Great looks, good performance. The armament is characteristic of the American Naval Line- extremely powerful.

 

I have a problem with putting the Tiny Tim Mod and Bombs, though. This was designed to be a night fighter. Thus, I do not think that it would be historical to turn it into a ground attack plane, though. 

 

Also, I do not think this would be a great addition until radar is introduced- half of the reason that the Skynight was even moderately successful was that it had radar. 

 

It was also used as a fighter-bomber though, so that shouldn't be an issue.

[theNEGUS 78]

 

It was also used as a fighter-bomber though, so that shouldn't be an issue.

 

OK, I see your point. There's always the F-84 though.

 

I LIKE IT. +1

[Naam54673 1,537]

 

 

Also, I do not think this would be a great addition until radar is introduced- half of the reason that the Skynight was even moderately successful was that it had radar. 

It has 4x 20mm.That's reason enough to add this.

[Z3r0_ 4,128]

OK, I see your point. There's always the F-84 though.

 

I LIKE IT. +1

 

The F-84's for the Air Force branch, this is for the Navy/Marine Corps branch.

[Querulous1 3,276]

Useful plane, please for 2017

[Stuka_Hunter 3,408]

I noticed the poll has squares instead of circles...  :secret:

 

+1, nice plane. But why 2 X 900 kg, instead of 1800 kg?

[Heinkel280 641]

I noticed the poll has squares instead of circles...  :secret:

 

+1, nice plane. But why 2 X 900 kg, instead of 1800 kg?

It means the poll is multiple choice, don't know why the OP chose to do that in this case.

 

Also, the landing gear were too short to fit a single bomb underneath the aircraft.

Edited June 3, 2015 by Heinkel280

[theNEGUS 78]

 

 

It has 4x 20mm.That's reason enough to add this.

 

Not exactly. The Mig-9, Yak-15/17s, and Mig-15s all have better armament (x2 23mm NS-23 and x1 37mm NS-37). On top of that, the Me-262 and Meteor both have formidable armament, the former having x4 30mms which are terrifying, and the latter which has x4 20mms, which are relatively equivalent to the AN/M3.

 

So, armament is not the issue, but the performance. The performance seems good though, so I don't argue with you.

[Z3r0_ 4,128]

It means the poll is multiple choice, don't know why the OP chose to do that in this case.

 

Also, the landing gear were too short to fit a single bomb underneath the aircraft.

 

I see plenty of space under the wings.

[GuiRitter 694]

Not exactly. The Mig-9, Yak-15/17s, and Mig-15s all have better armament (x2 23mm NS-23 and x1 37mm NS-37).

The Yak-15/17 do not have better armament. All of their 1/2 cannons have a laughable amount of ammo. And the MiGs' armament are both better and worse, due to how hard it is to actually use the 37 mm.

[Z3r0_ 4,128]

The Yak-15/17 do not have better armament. All of their 1/2 cannons have a laughable amount of ammo. And the MiGs' armament are both better and worse, due to how hard it is to actually use the 37 mm.

 

^This: the only plane that's arguably even worse armed is the Kikka.  I mean sure those are 30 mm cannons, but they get only 50 shots each, and until you unlock the second one, you're stuck with one cannon with 50 shots total.  Low-velocity cannon + low ammo count = hair-pulling frustration.

 

Then again at least that thing gets a bomb payload, as it was designed as an anti-ship bomber.

 

 

Come to think of it, the F3D with a bomb payload could be considered almost an analogue to the R2Y2s, couldn't it?

Edited June 3, 2015 by Z3r0_

[Heinkel280 641]

I see plenty of space under the wings.

Too much weight probably, also I don't believe America had any 4,000 lb bombs in service at the time. I believe he was asking why have 2 x 900 kg bombs when you could have 1 x 1800 kg bomb.

[Z3r0_ 4,128]

Too much weight probably, also I don't believe America had any 4,000 lb bombs in service at the time. I believe he was asking why have 2 x 900 kg bombs when you could have 1 x 1800 kg bomb.

 

Oh, I see.

[Coldt 1,170]

There are plane I'd rather see before this, but it's acceptable in the tree.

[Target1331 3,055]

First flight 1948 and in actual service in Korea, good... but I fear it might be 2-OP... It shot down a PO-2 :Os

Air & Space article on the F3D
http://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/deadliest-night-fighter-korea-180951418/?no-ist

 

Although I would also say that it should be on the backburner until we see if and how night missions develop in WT, as the F3D was pretty much used only at night; Quote from the A&S article above:

 

Although no match for the MiG during daylight hours—Skyknight crews were even leery of flying under a full moon—when cloaked by darkness, their radar “eyes” made them killers.

 

Best regards,

 

Phil