Developed as an all-weather version of the Douglas F4D, the F5D Skylancer first flew on 21 April 1956. It used a more powerful engine (Pratt & Whitney J57 – the first 45kN thrust class turbojet engine). Compare to the F4d, the wing was thinner, but more reinforced, the fuselage was area-ruled, reducing transonic drag and was 2.4m longer.
Originally nine test aircraft were ordered, with a 51 production run to follow, although only four of the test aircraft were built. During testing, the US Navy decided that the Skylancer was too similar to the Vought F8U Crusader that was already in service and canceled the contract.
The F5Ds continued as test aircraft, being passed on to NASA in the early 1960s, two were grounded and used for spare parts. One was used as a testbed for the American supersonic transport program, fitted with an ogival wing platform (the type eventually used on Concorde). Data from the program was shared with the European designers.
Both of the aircraft used by NASA were used to support the Dyna-Soar project. One was retired in 1968 followed by the second in 1970.
Douglas XF5D Skylancer line drawingF5D-1 139208 being manufactured next to a F4D-1Douglas F5D-1 142349 under constructionDouglas F5D-1 139208 being prepared for its first flightDouglas F5D-1 139208Douglas F5D-1 139208 in 1956Douglas F5D-1 139208Douglas F5D-1 139208Douglas F5D Skylancer 319208Douglas F5D Skylancer 319208Douglas F5D Skylancer 319208 in flightDouglas F5D Skylancer 319208Douglas F5D Skylancer 319208 in flightDouglas F5D Skylancer 319208 in flightDouglas F5D Skylancer 319208Douglas F5D Skylancer 319208 in flightDouglas F5D-1 139209Douglas F5D Skylancer 319209All four Douglas F5D-1sAll four Douglas F5D SkylancersDouglas F5D Skylancer 319208 operated by NASADouglas F5D Skylancer NASA 212 (319208)Douglas F5D Skylancer NASA 213 (142350)Douglas F5D Skylancer NASA 213 (142350)Douglas F5D Skylancer NASA 213 (142350) in 1961Douglas F5D Skylancer 212 operated by NASADouglas F5D Skylancer NASA 212 modified as the X-20 Dyna-Soar vision field simulatorDouglas F5D Skylancer NASA 212 (319208) modified with the Ogee wingDouglas F5D-1 cockpit mockupDouglas F5D-1 cockpit mockupDouglas F5D-1 cockpit mockup
