Ed Holmes' Soundings - A3D Skywarrior Picture Gallery Page

[Click here to view the source graphic generated from a 1963 LIFE magazine photo]

The Douglas A3D "Skywarrior" - AKA the "Whale"

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Preface
The hallmark of Naval Aviation is carrier operations. Day and night, aircraft are launched into the sky by catapults and, at the end of their cycle, recovered on the carrier's angled deck. The entire evolution is a remarkable test of men, hardware, and technology. It is carried out so professionally that the carrier aviation community enjoys an excellent safety record.
The majority of the below photographs (illustrating facets of carrier operations) are of Heavy Attack Squadron Five (VAH-5) A3D aircraft stationed aboard the USS Forrestal (CVA 59) during its Aug. 3, 1962 to Mar. 2, 1963 Mediterranean deployment. Noteably, during this cruise, the Cuban missile crisis occurred and the Forrestal Battle Group, as one of the closest strike forces to Russia, played a role in the tensions.
The Skywarrior is unique in that it is the largest naval aircraft to routinely operate from an aircraft carrier (length = 76' 4", wing span = 72.5', max gross weight = 82,000 pounds). The crew in the bomber version consisted of a pilot (left front seat), a bombardier/navigator (front right), and a third-crew/ECM operator (rear facing behind the pilot). The aircraft's large bomb-bay could house everything from heavy ordinance, a tanker refueling package, mines, to nuclear weapons. Missions were flown anywhere from 500 to 40,000 feet depending on the delivery mode. Ordinance was released at high altitude in level flight and by "lay down, pop up, or loft" maneuvers on low level runs.

The Carrier Launch
The following photos illustrate the catapult or launch process. During this evolution, the aircraft taxis to the catapult, unfolds it's wings, is hooked up to the catapult's "shuttle" with a bridle, and restrained with a "hold-back" assembly to insure proper tension. Both deck and aircrew check the plane's systems while at full throttle—a blast deflector diverts the jet exhaust away from anything to the rear. When the pilot signals his okay (hand salute during day-time or nav light flash at night), the catapult officer gives the launch signal. The A3D, weighing up to forty-one tons, is then accelerated from a standing position to 120 knots in about 100 feet! Once started, nothing will stop the shuttle and this launch.

Taxing to catapult
Being spotted on the cat
Bridle & hold-back being hooked up
...note a/c size re deck crew

The cat shot
...note the stress ripples on hull
Zero to 120+ kts.
...in 100 feet !
Almost airborne...

The Carrier Landing
In good weather, aircraft return to the carrier by entering a 600 foot race track pattern —eventually rolling out on a final approach path two miles astern the carrier. In bad weather, flights of aircraft are "stacked" astern of the carrier in race track patterns extending up to 20,000 or so feet. In tight sequence, they are peeled off their stack and brought down the "chute" to a final approach path. On final, the pilot uses a "meatball"(a horiz. reference bar w/ a moving ball that shows a/c status on, above, or below the glide slope), an angle of attack indicator, and voice prompts from the "LSO" (Landing Signal Officer) to fly the "glide slope". Typically, the aircraft has a sink rate of 500 - 600 feet per minute and closes on the carrier at about 120 knots (138 mph).
The below photos illustrate how small the landing area is—hooking the number three wire is the objective. If the aircraft misses all four wires, or is "waved off", it "bolters"—flies off the angled deck and re-enters the pattern. A carrier landing is said to be a "controlled crash"—it is significantly different than a land runway landing.

On final...
"Ball—fuel state..."
A little high
...better than low
120 kts. & closing fast
..."Angel" to starboard

Descending at 600 ft./min.
...stowing the camera now!
Doing good
...looking for # 3 wire
"a controlled crash"
Gotta wire—Power ! Brakes !

Close-up of a trap on #1
...note—LSO, wires, & tailhook Click here for an
illustrated graphic
showing the deck layout, ball,
LSO platform, arresting wires,
pri-fly etc.

In-flight Refueling during a NATO Exercise

While deployed, the carrier and its aircraft are constantly engaged in various exercises. In-flight refueling is a key maneuver often used to allow aircraft to extend their "cycle" or time aloft. The below photos illustrate this process. The pictured aircraft were participating in a NATO exercise—the British planes were from H.M.S. Hermes.

British Sea Vixen & Scimitar
approaching A3 & A4 for fueling
Another view of the flight
...4 US & 2 UK type a/c shown
An international "daisy" chain
Can that A4 top-off the A3 ?

The above photos were scanned from personal slides and USN prints. More pictures, including a low-level mission sequence, will be added when other slides are scanned.
Special Note: The Douglas A3D Skywarrior is featured on A-3 Skywarrior Association's A-3 Skywarrior "Whale" site. This is the only site dedicated to this venerable aircraft. It has an excellent and comprehensive photo gallery, detailed aircraft and squadron history sections, and serves as the host for the newly established national A-3 Association. It is a must for ex-Whalers as well as any Naval aviation buff!

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Preface The hallmark of Naval Aviation is carrier operations. Day and night, aircraft are launched into the sky by catapults and, at the end of their cycle, recovered on the carrier's angled deck. The entire evolution is a remarkable test of men, hardware, and technology. It is carried out so professionally that the carrier aviation community enjoys an excellent safety record. The majority of the below photographs (illustrating facets of carrier operations) are of Heavy Attack Squadron Five (VAH-5) A3D aircraft stationed aboard the USS Forrestal (CVA 59) during its Aug. 3, 1962 to Mar. 2, 1963 Mediterranean deployment. Noteably, during this cruise, the Cuban missile crisis occurred and the Forrestal Battle Group, as one of the closest strike forces to Russia, played a role in the tensions. The Skywarrior is unique in that it is the largest naval aircraft to routinely operate from an aircraft carrier (length = 76' 4", wing span = 72.5', max gross weight = 82,000 pounds). The crew in the bomber version consisted of a pilot (left front seat), a bombardier/navigator (front right), and a third-crew/ECM operator (rear facing behind the pilot). The aircraft's large bomb-bay could house everything from heavy ordinance, a tanker refueling package, mines, to nuclear weapons. Missions were flown anywhere from 500 to 40,000 feet depending on the delivery mode. Ordinance was released at high altitude in level flight and by "lay down, pop up, or loft" maneuvers on low level runs. The Carrier Launch The following photos illustrate the catapult or launch process. During this evolution, the aircraft taxis to the catapult, unfolds it's wings, is hooked up to the catapult's "shuttle" with a bridle, and restrained with a "hold-back" assembly to insure proper tension. Both deck and aircrew check the plane's systems while at full throttle—a blast deflector diverts the jet exhaust away from anything to the rear. When the pilot signals his okay (hand salute during day-time or nav light flash at night), the catapult officer gives the launch signal. The A3D, weighing up to forty-one tons, is then accelerated from a standing position to 120 knots in about 100 feet! Once started, nothing will stop the shuttle and this launch.
Taxing to catapult	Being spotted on the cat	Bridle & hold-back being hooked up ...note a/c size re deck crew
The cat shot ...note the stress ripples on hull	Zero to 120+ kts. ...in 100 feet !	Almost airborne...
The Carrier Landing In good weather, aircraft return to the carrier by entering a 600 foot race track pattern —eventually rolling out on a final approach path two miles astern the carrier. In bad weather, flights of aircraft are "stacked" astern of the carrier in race track patterns extending up to 20,000 or so feet. In tight sequence, they are peeled off their stack and brought down the "chute" to a final approach path. On final, the pilot uses a "meatball"(a horiz. reference bar w/ a moving ball that shows a/c status on, above, or below the glide slope), an angle of attack indicator, and voice prompts from the "LSO" (Landing Signal Officer) to fly the "glide slope". Typically, the aircraft has a sink rate of 500 - 600 feet per minute and closes on the carrier at about 120 knots (138 mph). The below photos illustrate how small the landing area is—hooking the number three wire is the objective. If the aircraft misses all four wires, or is "waved off", it "bolters"—flies off the angled deck and re-enters the pattern. A carrier landing is said to be a "controlled crash"—it is significantly different than a land runway landing.
On final... "Ball—fuel state..."	A little high ...better than low	120 kts. & closing fast ..."Angel" to starboard
Descending at 600 ft./min. ...stowing the camera now!	Doing good ...looking for # 3 wire	"a controlled crash" Gotta wire—Power ! Brakes !
Close-up of a trap on #1 ...note—LSO, wires, & tailhook		Click here for an illustrated graphic showing the deck layout, ball, LSO platform, arresting wires, pri-fly etc.
In-flight Refueling during a NATO Exercise
While deployed, the carrier and its aircraft are constantly engaged in various exercises. In-flight refueling is a key maneuver often used to allow aircraft to extend their "cycle" or time aloft. The below photos illustrate this process. The pictured aircraft were participating in a NATO exercise—the British planes were from H.M.S. Hermes.
British Sea Vixen & Scimitar approaching A3 & A4 for fueling	Another view of the flight ...4 US & 2 UK type a/c shown	An international "daisy" chain Can that A4 top-off the A3 ?
The above photos were scanned from personal slides and USN prints. More pictures, including a low-level mission sequence, will be added when other slides are scanned. Special Note: The Douglas A3D Skywarrior is featured on A-3 Skywarrior Association's A-3 Skywarrior "Whale" site. This is the only site dedicated to this venerable aircraft. It has an excellent and comprehensive photo gallery, detailed aircraft and squadron history sections, and serves as the host for the newly established national A-3 Association. It is a must for ex-Whalers as well as any Naval aviation buff!