DOUGLAS A3D SKYWARRIOR / B-66
DESTROYER
A3D / B-66 SERVICE
A3D Skywarrior
| Manufacturer: | The Douglas Aircraft Co. Inc., Santa Monica, California, USA |
| Model: | Model 593-8 |
| Designations: | A3D; A-3 |
| Name: | Skywarrior |
| First official flight: | (XA3D-1) 28/10/1952 |
| Factory production period: | 1951 - 1961 |
| Primary service period: | 1956 - 1988 |
| Last official flight: | (ERA-3B) 30/09/1991 |
B-66 Destroyer
| Manufacturer: | The Douglas Aircraft Co. Inc., Santa Monica, California, USA |
| Models: | Model 1326, 1327, 1329 |
| Designations: | B-66; X-21 |
| Name: | Destroyer |
| First official flight: | (RB-66A) 28/06/1954 |
| Factory production period: | 1952 - 1958 |
| Primary service period: | 1956 - 1970 |
| Last official flight: | (EB-66E) 1974 |
A3D / B-66 VARIANTS
A3D Skywarrior
| 1952 | Model 593-8 | XA3D-1 | 2 | Total: 002 |
| 1953 | Model 593-8 | YA3D-1 | 1 | |
| 1954 | Model 593-8 | A3D-1 | 49 | Total: 050 |
| 1956 | Model 593-8 | A3D-2 | 164 | |
| 1958 | Model 593-8 | YA3D-2P | 1 | |
| 1958 | Model 593-8 | A3D-2P | 29 | |
| 1958 | Model 593-8 | A3D-2Q | 25 | |
| 1959 | Model 593-8 | A3D-2T | 12 | Total: 231 |
|
Grand Total: 283 |
B-66 Destroyer
| 1954 | Model 1326 | RB-66A | 5 | Total: 005 |
| 1955 | Model 1327A | B-66B | 72 | |
| 1955 | Model 1329 | RB-66B | 145 | Total: 217 |
| 1955 | Model 1329 | RB-66C | 36 | |
| 1957 | Model 1329 | WB-66D | 36 | Total: 072 |
|
Grand Total: 294 |
|
GRAND TOTAL: 577 |
A3D / B-66 PRODUCTION
A3D Skywarrior
XA3D-1
Prototype twin engined, carrier-based attack bomber.
Produced 1951 - 1952
Douglas El Segundo, California (D)
| BuNo.125412, 125413 | 7588, 7589 |
Total: 002 |
YA3D-1
As XA3D-1, service test aircraft,
engine upgrade.
Later upgraded to A3D-1 standards.
Produced 1953
Douglas El Segundo, California (D)
| BuNo.130352 | 9253 |
Total: 001 |
A3D-1
As Y3D-1, tail cannon, revised canopy,
minor changes, mainly used for training.
Produced 1953 - 1956
Douglas El Segundo, California (D)
| BuNo.130353 / 130363 | 9254 / 9264 | |
| BuNo.135407 / 135444 | 10300 / 10337 |
Total: 049 |
A3D-2
As A3D-1, engine upgrade, refuelling probe,
later had tail guns removed.
Original designation was A3D-1B.
Produced 1956 - 1961
Douglas El Segundo, California (D)
| BuNo.138902 / 138976 | 10763 / 10837 | |
| BuNo.142236 / 142255 | 11562 / 11581 | |
| BuNo.142400 / 142407 | 11584 / 11591 | |
| BuNo.142630 / 142665 | 11693 / 11728 | |
| BuNo.144626 / 144629 | 12024 / 12027 | |
| BuNo.147648 / 147668 | 12412 / 12432 | Total: 164 |
YA3D-2P
As A3D-2, prototype reconnaissance version.
Produced 1958
Douglas El Segundo, California (D)
| BuNo.142256 | 11582 |
Total: 001 |
A3D-2P
As YA3D-2P, 12 cameras, bomb-bay control pod
with two operators.
Produced 1958 - 1960
Douglas El Segundo, California (D)
| BuNo.142666 / 142669 | 11729 / 11732 | |
| BuNo.144825 / 144847 | 12071 / 12093 | |
| BuNo.146446, 146447 | 12398, 12399 | Total: 029 |
A3D-2Q
As A3D-2, ECM version, bomb-bay control pod.
BuNo. 142670 served as YA3D-2Q.
Produced 1958 - 1960
Douglas El Segundo, California (D)
| BuNo.142257 | 11583 | |
| BuNo.142670 / 142673 | 11733 / 11736 | |
| BuNo.144848 / 144855 | 12094 / 12101 | |
| BuNo.146448 / 146459 | 12400 / 12411 | Total: 025 |
| 1 (142258), additional airframe cancelled. | ||
A3D-2T
As A3D-2, bombardier-navigator trainer.
Produced 1959 - 1960
Douglas El Segundo, California (D)
| BuNo.144856 / 144867 | 12102 / 12113 |
Total: 012 |
|
Grand Total: 283 |
B-66 Destroyer
RB-66A
As A3D-2, photo reconn. version for USAF,
extensive structural / design changes.
Produced 1952 - 1954
Douglas Long Beach, California (DL)
| 52-2828 / 52-2832 | ? |
Total: 005 |
B-66B
As RB-66A, tactical bomber version.
Produced 1954 - 1957
Douglas Long Beach, California (DL)
| 53-482 / 53-507 | 44363 / 44388 | |
| 54-477 / 54-505 | 44777 / 44805 | |
| 54-548 / 54-551 | 44848 / 44851 | |
| 55-302 / 55-314 | 44934 / 44946 | Total: 072 |
| 69 additional airframes cancelled. | ||
RB-66B
As RB-66A, engine upgrade, higher weights.
Produced 1954 - 1958
Douglas Long Beach, California (DL)
| 53-409 / 54-481 | 44290 / 44362 | |
| 54-417 / 54-446 | 44717 / 44746 | |
| 54-506 / 54-547 | 44806 / 44847 | Total: 145 |
RB-66C
As RB-66B, electronic reconn. version, various
radomes and electronic equipment.
Produced 1955 - 1957
Douglas Tulsa, Oklahoma (DT)
| 54-447 / 54-476 | 44747 / 44776 | |
| 55-384 / 55-389 | 45016 / 45021 | Total: 036 |
WB-66D
As RB-66C, weather reconn. version.
Produced 1957 - 1958
Douglas Tulsa, Oklahoma (DT)
| 55-390 / 55-425 | 45022 / 45057 |
Total: 036 |
|
Grand Total: 294 |
A3D / B-66 CONVERSIONS
A3D Skywarrior
US Navy
| YA3D-1P | 1 | YA3D-1(130358), 1954, photo reconn. conversion, also A3D-1P. |
| YA3D-1Q | 1 | YA3D-1(130356), 1955, electronic reconn. conversion. |
| A3D-1Q | 4 | YA3D-1, 1955, electronic reconn. conversions. |
| A3D-1T | 1+ | A3D-1, trainers with dual controls. |
| YA3D-2 | 1 | A3D-2(138905), conversion as engine testbed. |
| A3D-2Z | 1 | A3D-2Q(142672), 1958,
VIP transport, designation not used, became VA-3B. |
US Navy (1962 redesignations)
Original BuNo.'s retained.
| YA-3A | 1 | 1962, redesignation of YA3D-1, later to A-3A standards. |
| A-3A | 49 | 1962, redesignation of A3D-1. |
| (NA-3A) | 1 | A-3A, permanent conversion for tests. |
| YEA-3A | 1 | 1962, redesignation of YA3D-1Q. |
| EA-3A | 2 | 1962, redesignation of A3D-1Q. |
| (NEA-3A) | 1 | EA-3A, permanent conversion for tests. |
| YRA-3A | 1 | 1962, redesignation of YA3D-1P, also RA-3A. |
| (NRA-3A) | 1 | YRA-3A, permanent conversion for reconn. tests. |
| TA-3A | 1+ | 1962, redesignation of A3D-1T. |
| A-3B | 164 | 1962, redesignation of A3D-2. |
| (KA-3B) | 85 | A-3B, 1967-1989, tanker conversions, single fuselage hose reel. |
| (EKA-3B) | 39 | A-3B, 1967-1975, combination ECM / tanker conversions. |
| (NA-3B) | 2 | A-3B, 1964, permanent conversion for tests. |
| EA-3B | 24 | 1962, redesignation of A3D-2Q. |
| YRA-3B | 1 | 1962, redesignation of YA3D-2P. |
| RA-3B | 29 | 1962, redesignation of A3D-2P. |
| (ERA-3B) | 8 | RA-3B, ECM conversions for the aggressor role. |
| (NRA-3B) | 6 | RA-3B, permanent conversions for tests. |
| (TNRA-3B) | 1 | NRA-3B, 1985, training conversion, not with dual controls. |
| TA-3B | 12 | 1962, redesignation
of A3D-2T, 5 became VIP transports without change of designation. |
| (UA-3B) | 2 | TA-3B, 1987, utility conversions. |
| VA-3B | 1 | 1962, redesignation of A3D-1Z. |
CIVILIAN SERVICE
- Several A-3's in service with civil operators as flying test
platforms.
B-66 Destroyer
USAF
| JRB-66A | 4 | RB-66A, test designation for non-operational service. |
| EB-66B | 13 | B-66B, ECM radar jammers for service in Vietnam. |
| NB-66B | 2 | B-66B, test conversions for parachute drops of space capsules. |
| EB-66C | 4 | RB-66C, 1966, upgraded ECM equipment. |
| EB-66E | 52 | RB-66B, ECM radar jammers similar to EB-66B. |
| X-21A | 2 | WB-66D(55-408,
55-410), 1963, Boundary Layer Control tests, engine upgrade. Tests carried out by Northrop Aviation Inc., Hawthorne, California (NO). |