Douglas A-1 Skyraider.
Civil registration: NX965AD.
Old military registration: AF26-965.
Construction number: 7765.
Aircraft name: The Proud American.
This photo was taken on 11 August 2024 at the Abbotsford International Airshow in Canada.
The Douglas A-1 Skyraider was a support fighter for the U.S. Navy and could operate from both a flight deck and a runway on land.
The Douglas A-1 Skyraider prototype made its maiden flight in March 1945. The aircraft could carry a very large weapon load on external suspension points (hardpoints) attached under the fuselage and wings.
Skyraiders were first used during the Korean War. Despite the fact that the first fighter jets were also in action at that time, the Skyraider possessed two major advantages over these aircraft: its heavy armament against ground targets and its ability to stay in the air much longer than a fighter jet.
The A-1 was also used successfully during the Vietnam War. It was used to provide air support, Forward Air Control tasks and for Search and Rescue.
I am Jaap van den Berg and photography has become a great passion of mine since 2010. Since then I travel all over the world to take pictures of military aircrafts. But besides aircraft I also love to photograph other subjects like landscapes, architecture, flowers, animals, .. Read more…