Bobdaeronort

The Douglas F4D Skyray (later redesignated F-6 Skyray) was an American carrier-based supersonicfighter/interceptor built by the Douglas Aircraft Company. Although it was in service for a relatively short time and never entered combat, it was notable for being the first carrier-launched aircraft to hold the world's absolute speed record, at 752.943 mph,[1] and was the first United States Navy and United States Marine Corps fighter that could exceed Mach 1 in level flight. It was the last fighter produced by the Douglas Aircraft Company before it merged with McDonnell Aircraft and became McDonnell Douglas. The F5D Skylancer was an advanced development of the F4D Skyray that did not go into service.
The F4D Skyray was a wide delta wing design with long, sharply swept, rounded wings. The design was named for its resemblance to the manta ray.[3] The thick wing roots contained the air intakes feeding a single turbojet engine. Fuel was contained both in the wings and the deep fuselage. Leading edge slats were fitted for increased lift during takeoff and landing, while the trailing edges were mostly elevon control surfaces. Additional pitch trimmers were fitted inboard near the jet exhaust, and were locked upwards on takeoff and landing.

The Westinghouse J40 turbojet was the intended powerplant, but Douglas took a conservative view and designed in contingency options for other power plants. The J40 proved troublesome and was eventually cancelled, and the Skyray was fitted instead with the Pratt & Whitney J57, a more powerful but larger engine.

Production aircraft were not delivered until early 1956, while the United States Marine Corps received their first in 1957. In total, 419 F4D-1 (later designated F-6 in the unified designation system) aircraft were produced.

Its unique design also played a part in making the Skyray one of the best-known early jet fighters. Affectionately known as the "Ford" (after the "Four" and "D" of its designation).[4] In 1953, Edward H. Heinemann was awarded the Collier Trophy in recognition of his design work on the F4D.[5]

From Wikipedia.

So with this in mind here is my "Five Easy Piece" Douglas F4D SKYRAY first foam mock-up. I glides good too.

Bobdaeronort

Maiden and crash.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_QWsYprq3c

Bobdaeronort

Skyray Returns…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYcNk8M3uho

Bobdaeronort

I've rebuilt the Skyray fixing the problems with the first pattern. I think I've improved her.

Bobdaeronort

SkyRay II the new build

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxXfdmhBtqI

Bobdaeronort

Here is her PDF Plan:
http://www.mediafire.com/view/7vcv9n...A4D_SKYRAY.PDF

Mthomas

All of your designs look great but I really love the Skyray..

Might have to make time this summer to build one.
Mark

ROCKETCHRIS

Hi Mr. Daeronort:

My son and i couldn't resist your F4D Skyray. We had the full plans copied today after re watching one of your videos. Wow that plane flies well. We are hoping to try it with a rudder whenever we get it finished. I'm excited to try one of your trident tale designs. Could I impose on you to ask where the CG is at on the F4D. As long as I am imposing , could I also ask you where the CG is for the YF60 "Black Mamba" 6th Gen fighter jet . We did a rough build of the YF 60 out of green fan fold so we could figure it out a little better before cutting it out in model plane foam. Thanks in advance for any information you could spare .

Bobdaeronort

I don't remember where i found the COG on the Mamba.
On the skyway i just placed the battery just aft of the intakes.

Don Sims

Bob you build some great looking planes.

Bobdaeronort

Thanks DON!

Due to continuing problems with MEDIA-FIRE Links going bad I have closed out that drop-box.
At this point i don't have an alternate cloud site.
The individual PDF's aren't all that big, a few kb.
So I may just post the individual PDF plans to each WATT-FLYER related thread instead.
Any thoughts on this?

Bob

Don Sims

Try it Bob but file uploading is funky here.If you get a security token error message the file is too large.

me262

Hello Bob,
Is it possible to send me the plan files of Skyray as I can't download them from Media-Fire?
Thanks in advance.

Bobdaeronort

Here is my v1 of the Douglas SKRAY.
I dod not have the v2 ready to publish as yet.

me262

Thanks a lot!