Douglas A-3 Skywarrior
The Douglas A-3 Skywarrior was designed as a carrier-based nuclear bomber, yet it was so large that crews jokingly called it ‘the Whale’. It became the heaviest operational aircraft ever to fly regularly from US Navy carriers. Because it was too valuable and capable to retire, the Navy adapted it for tanking, electronic warfare, reconnaissance, and transport. The last Skywarriors served into the 1990s, long after their original nuclear-strike mission had disappeared.
Did you know?
Nicknamed the 'Whale', the A-3 Skywarrior became the heaviest aircraft ever to operate regularly from US Navy carrier decks.
Specifications
| Length | 23.3 m (76 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 22.1 m (73 ft) |
| Height | 7 m (23 ft) |
| Persons on board | 3 |
| Crew | 3 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 38.4 t |
| Range | 2,100 NM (3,889 km) |
| Maximum speed | 530 kt (982 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 40,000 ft (12,192 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 37,000 ft (11,278 m) |
| Rate of climb | 5,230 ft/min (26.6 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 1,996 m (6,549 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 16,700 l |
| Engines | 2x Pratt & Whitney J57-P-10 |
| Units built | 282 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Douglas A-3 Skywarrior starts as a Legendary catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you. The first catch of a legendary type pays a bonus of its own.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Douglas, the A-3 Skywarrior family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
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