Naval Fighters Number Forty-Five Douglas A3D Skywarrior Part One Design/Structures/Testing

Another child of the "fabulous fifties" was the big-bad A3D Skywarrior, affectionately know as "Whale" or "Killer Whale". It was not the most glamorous, but became arguably the most utilitarian carrier-based aircraft to come out of the 50's. With Hughes Aircraft's current stables of twelve whales, it will certainly outlive the few QF-4 drones still flying. As a test aircraft, size and speed as well as ease of maintenance have kept the Skywarrior in demand.