You know, it seems that every time Specialty Press publishes a book, it is the best one on the subject that has yet to be done. This is very much true of their latest book on the Douglas F4D and F5D. The F4D Skyray was the Navy's only delta wing plane to reach fleet service and the F5D was killed only because Douglas had too many planes being produced and it was thought that the 'other guy' should get the contract.

The end of WWII saw a lot of German aerodynamic research being spread around to the allies. Many of their paper project aircraft had promise and the theories presented in those projects were often put to use by aircraft designers. Now the US Navy has always been a bit conservative when it comes to aircraft designs. Unlike the USAF, the planes had to land on small runways that were often moving on all axis so had to be quite strong. No long runways or easily available divert fields if something went amiss. However, the Navy was looking for an interceptor to help reach Soviet bombers in a minimum of time. The USAF was developing the F-102, a plane that was far too large for carriers, but did sport a delta wing. Douglas' genius designer Ed Heinemann along with R.G. Smith developed a delta wing aircraft that was to meet the requirements of an interceptor. This was accomplished by giving the aircraft a blended wing that provided a great deal of lift. Along with the promised performance of the Westinghoue J-40, it should have exceeded the design goals.

However, the J-40 never did meet design goals and it was only thanks to the J-57 that an engine was available to meet and eventually exceed design specs. For a time, the F4D was the fastest plane in the world at low altitude and held many time to climb records. In service, it was a real rocket and most pilots loved to fly it. It eventually equipped dozens of USN and USMC squadrons, operating in the fleet for 8 years and for even longer with land based units. The last F-6A was retired from the USN Test Pilot's School in the early 1970s.

The F5D was an even more advanced version of the Skyray, designed to use the even more powerful J-79. This aircraft was able to take advantage of the experience with the F4D and all of the Skyray's glitches and faults were non-existent in the F5D. It was a perfect aircraft for the time. It was not, however, put into production as it was felt that Douglas had too many projects in the works and so the contract was given to a less capable and slower plane, the Chance Vought F-8 Crusader.

Author Mark Frankel does a superlative job of telling the story of these two planes, starting, of course, with the Skyray. He covers the initial design and development of the F4D through all its trials and tribulations with the J-40 and the success of the plane with the J-57. Every unit in which this aircraft flew is covered with photos of the plane in service along with a brief history of each unit. This includes not only USN fleet squadrons, but USMC units and even ancillary units in which the aircraft ended its service. This same attention to detail is used telling the story of the F5D Skylancer. 

The book includes cameo articles on flying and operating the USAF deltas, the F-102 and F-106. It also includes dozens of full color profiles of the various unit markings worn on the F4D and F5D. As a modeler, I really appreciate this last addition and hope to see it in many more books of this type.

Overall, it is yet another of those aviation books that the enthusiast must have on the shelf. Specialty Press has hit on the magic that is required to produce a fine reference book like this one. It is fun to read, has great photos and adds to one's knowledge of the subject. Like all their books, it is most highly recommended.

September 2010

Review book courtesy of Specialty Press, where you can order your copy of this and many other superb aviation and modeling books. Visit their website at the link above or call them at 1-800-895-4585

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