Douglas A-3 Skywarrior Model Airplane

Item#: MJDA3S

MSRP Price: $299.95

Factory Direct Price: $199.95

Wing Span: 17.4"
Length: 18.3"

Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company

This Douglas A-3 Skywarrior Airplane Model comes with a detachable stand made of chrome steel and wood it also has a Laminated United States Navy Logo and an Inscription Plaque that adds beauty and value to this high quality work of art.

This Douglas A-3 Skywarrior Model Airplane would be a perfect gift for Aviation Enthusiasts, Pilots, War Veterans or the people that took part in the developement of this Aircraft.

Your model will be made exactly as shown in the photographs. If you would like to change this model in any other way, please visit Our Custom Model Gallery section of our website to commission a personalized model to be built.

Douglas A-3 Skywarrior History:

The Douglas A-3 Skywarrior was a strategic bomber built for the United States Navy and among the longest serving carrier-based jet aircraft. It entered service in the mid-1950s and was retired in 1991. For many years after its introduction, it was also the heaviest aircraft ever flown from an aircraft carrier, earning it the unofficial nickname "The Whale". Its primary function for much of its later service life was as an electronic warfare platform, tactical air reconnaissance platform, and high capacity aerial refueling tanker.

A modified derivative also served in the U.S. Air Force until the early 1970s as the B-66 Destroyer. The Skywarrior is the only Navy attack aircraft intended as a strategic bomber to enter service. The Martin P6M SeaMaster tested well, but never entered service due to the Navy fearing loss of funding for surface ships and submarines if it encroached on the USAF strategic bomber role. The pending elimination of the flying-boat platform from the United States Navy also entered into the decision regarding the P6M. Later aircraft, like the carrier-based supersonic A-5 Vigilante, were also originally designed for strategic nuclear strike missions. However, with the removal of aircraft carriers from the SIOP and the transfer of the Navy's strategic nuclear deterrence mission to the Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) submarine force, the Vigilante also saw its mission changed, in its case to tactical air reconnaissance.

The U.S. Navy published its requirement for a long range, carrier-based bomber with a 10,000 pound bomb load in January 1948. The contract was awarded to Douglas Aircraft on 29 September 1948 and the first flight of an A-3 was 22 October 1952. The first A-3, at the time designated as the A3D-1, was assigned to Heavy Attack Squadron ONE (VAH-1) on 31 March 1956.