During an airshow a fully armed A-1 was able to takeoff from an aircraft carrier even though the catapult malfunctioned (the load was jettisoned after the Skyraider left the flight deck)

During an airshow a fully armed A-1 was able to takeoff from an aircraft carrier even though the catapult malfunctioned (the load was jettisoned after the Skyraider left the flight deck)

By Dario Leone
Dec 9 2021
Share this article

The A-1 Skyraider could carry 8,000 lb. of ordnance, more than a World War II B-17 Flying Fortress.

The airplane that became the AD (later redesignated A-1) Skyraider evolved from a Navy decision in 1943 to combine the World War II dive-bombing and torpedo missions in one aircraft. Built around a barrel-like fuselage, it possessed rigid lines that made it anything but graceful in appearance. However, it emanated power and could carry 8,000 lb. of ordnance, more than a World War II B-17 Flying Fortress.

‘This is a true story. During a Fleet Week in New York City (I don’t know if they were calling it Fleet Week back then), a USN aircraft carrier was docked as part of the festivities, and an airshow was being performed from the ship for a crowd gathered on the pier,’ Jim Howland, Technical Staff at US Firm Specializing in “stealth” Test & Measurement and Large Test Facilities for Military Systems, recalls on Quora. ‘An A-1 Skyraider, loaded to the gills with dummy bombs, rocket pods, drop tanks, etc., the way they did, was lined up with the F-4s, A-7s, A-4s, etc, presumably to launch and do some pretend bombing and CSAR runs on the Hudson.

‘As you all know, every airshow has a narrator. At this particular show, it was some young Public Affairs jg reading a script, while positioned somewhere on the carrier that did not afford him a view of the flight deck.

‘So, when the Spad’s turn came and was getting hooked up to the catapult, he read from his script, noting this was the last piston engined combat plane in the Navy’s inventory, its heroic service in Korea and then Vietnam, … and its astonishing capacity for underwing stores.

‘The line in his script went something like this: “Amazingly, the single-seat, single-engine Skyraider can carry a heavier ordnance load than the fabled B-17 of World War II…”

‘At that moment, the Spad launched, but the cat malfunctioned. So, the pilot went into his emergency procedures: first thing, obviously, is to lighten the aircraft, so just a couple hundred feet past the bow of the carrier, he jettisoned his entire impressive load of underwing ordnance.’

Howland concludes;

‘The narrator, seeing none of this, carried on with his script:

‘“… but of course, not nearly as far.”’

Photo credit: U.S. Navy


Share this article

Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Share this article


Share this article
Share this article

Always up to date! News and offers delivered directly to you!

Get the best aviation news, stories and features from The Aviation Geek Club in our newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.



    Share this article
    Back to top
    My Agile Privacy
    This website uses technical and profiling cookies. Clicking on "Accept" authorises all profiling cookies. Clicking on "Refuse" or the X will refuse all profiling cookies. By clicking on "Customise" you can select which profiling cookies to activate. We and our selected ad partners can store and/or access information on your device, such as cookies, unique identifiers, browsing data. You can always choose the specific purposes related to profiling by accessing the advertising preferences panel, and you can always withdraw your consent at any time by clicking on "Manage consent" at the bottom of the page.

    List of some possible advertising permissions:

    You can consult: our list of advertising partners, the Cookie Policy and the Privacy Policy.
    Warning: some page functionalities could not work due to your privacy choices