Header
Site Map Link

Douglas XBT2D/AD Dauntless II/Skyraider 

The Douglas XBT2D Dauntless II was a prototype design for a large, single seat, carrier-capable naval dive bomber/torpedo bomber designed in the second half of WWII.  It took its first flight on 18 March 1945, and would be further developed into the AD (later A-1) Skyraider that would serve with the US Navy and US Air Force through to the end of the Vietnam War.  The XBT2B was a prototype aircraft and the AD-7 was the final variant of this type aircraft produced, and was redesiganted the A-1J in 1962.

Per Reference [8] a total of 3,180 AD/A-1 aircraft would be built between 1945 and 1957, including some configured as Airborne Early Warning (EAW) aircraft, with a large belly mounted radar and radome.  AD/A-1 aircraft would serve not only with the US Navy and US Airforce but also the UK, France, Sweden, South Vietnam, Cambodia, the Central African Republic, Chad and Gabon.  

As shown in the images below distinguishing features of this aircraft including;
XBT2D-AD-7
[Image Sources: Image 1 - US Government/Public Domain via Ref [8] - as annotated by this site
Image 2 - US Government/Public Domian via Ref [9] - as annotated by this site]

XBT2D-1_3-viewAD-4_3-view
                          [Source: Ref [4] - Public Domain]

The table below summarizes the current data collected on this type aircraft, identifying sources for the data

    AD-7 XBT2D-1 Source  Notes
Primary Source   2 2 3, 8 
No of Crew   1 1
Engine:    
   Qty   1 1
   Model   R-3350-26W R-3350-24W
   Displacement  (cu in) 3350 3350
   Power    
     Military (HP)  
     War Emergency (HP)  
    Normal (HP) 2300 2100
    Take Off (HP) 2700 2500
   Eng Dims    
     Length (ft) 6.72 6.72
     Width/Dia (ft) 4.51 4.51
     Height (ft)  
   Base Engine Wt (lb) 2822 2822
Propeller    
   # Blades   4 4
   Dia (ft) 13.5 13.5
   Manufacturer    
   Type    
Wing    
   Span (ft) 50 50
   Root Thickness (%) 17.2% 17.2%
  (in) 22.1 22.1
   Total Area  (sq ft) 400 400
     Wing (less Ailerons & Flaps) (sq ft)  
     Ailerons (sq ft)  
     Flaps (sq ft)  
Tail Area (sq ft)  
   V Tail Area (sq ft)  
     Fin (sq ft)  
     Rudder (sq ft)  
   H Tail Area (sq ft)  
     Stabilizer (sq ft)  
     Elevator (sq ft)  
Total Control Surf Area (sq ft)  
Length    
   Overall (ft) 39.17 39.67
   Fuselage (ft) 34.8 34.1
   Body  (ft)  
     Body Depth (ft)  
    Body Width (ft)  
Fuel Tank Volume (gal)  
   Wing Tanks (gal)  
    FuselageTanks (gal)  
Oil Tank Volume (gal)  
Water Injection Fluid Tank Volume (gal)  
Wetted Area (sqf) (sq ft)  
Pwr Ldng (lb/HP) 6.64 6.13
Wing Ldng (lb/sq ft) 44.82 38.32
Struct. Des. GW  (lb) 15595 15600
Ultimate Load Factor (G's) 10.5 10.5
Design Speed (mph) 500 500
Not to Exceed Speed (mph)  
       
Total Struct Weight   5641 4746  
   Total Wing   2589 2011
     Wing        
     Ailerons        
     Flaps        
     Fuselage Carry-Through        
   Tail   484 504
     H Tail   342 367  
       Stabilizer        
       Elevator        
     V Tail   142 137  
       Fin        
       Rudder        
   Body + Eng Section + LG    
   Body + LG   2421 2162
   Body   1510 1218
     Fuselage        
     Engine Section        
   Landing Gear   911 944
     Mn Landing Gr   800 845  
     Tail/Nose Aux LG   111 99  
   Tail Hook   147 69
   Booms    
   Nacelles        
Total Propulsion Weight   4173 3996  
   Engine w/ Accessories   3072 2921
   Engine(s) as Installed   2949 2812  
     Accessories   123 109  
    Turbocharger(s)    
   Controls   11 42
   Propeller(s)   543 510
     2-Blade        
     3-Blade        
     4-Blade   543 510  
   Starting System   41 44
   Water Injection System   29 32
     Tanks        
     Piping Etc        
   Cooling System    
   Lube System   135 123
     Tanks        
     Piping Etc        
   Fuel System   342 324
     Tanks        
     Piping Etc        
Total Sys. & Eqpmt.   2258 1417  
   Instruments   152 45
   Surface Controls    387 303
   Hydraulics   140 144
   Electrical Equip   441 207
Electronics (Purple means incl in Furn/Gray in Useful Ld)   393 292
   Arm Prov/Equipment & Armor   587 363
    Furnishings   144 55
   Anti-Ice (If not in Furn)   14 8
   Other /Misc    
     Hoisting Gear    
     Floatation Gear    
     Armor Plate        
       
Empty Wt   12072 10159  
Basic Mission Useful Load   5857 5168 0
   Crew   200 200
   Equipment    
   Oil   251 210
   Fuel   2280 2100
   Fuel & Oil Trapped in Systems    
   Water Solution for Engine Injection    
   Bombs/Torp Etc   2000 2000
   Radio (if Not Included in Empty Wt)    
   Nav Equipment    
   Oxygen System  
   Armament   976 508
     Guns & Ammo   976 508  
       Guns   480 240  
       Ammo   496 268  
     Pyrotechnics        
     Camera        
     Other        
   Other Useful Load   150 150
Basic Mission GW   17929 15327

Notes: This website has been developed with a number of low cost or free programs including Hot Metal Pro, KompoZer, MicroSoft Designer and Da Button Factory.com

Rev 3-13-25

Home