CHAIR FORCE: Flying the A-1 Skyraider through King’s Canyon

In this week’s CHAIR FORCE video, I popped into the cockpit of the Douglas A-1 Skyraider and flew through California’s King’s Canyon National Park. The Skyraider first flew before World War II had ended, and was originally known as the AD. Back then the naming convention was an “A” for attack and Douglas Aircraft Company’s code was “D.” That all changed in 1962 to the system in use today, and the AD became the A-1.

“Sandys” flew along with Air Force rescue helicopters, protecting downed airmen with 15 hardpoints of weapons, not including its four 20mm cannons. Low and slow means the A-1 could attack ground targets with a much higher degree of accuracy than jets, and it could fly for 6-10 hours depending on the fuel and ordnance load. Pilots were surrounded by armor, but 101 A-1s were shot down during the Vietnam War, and another 28 were non-combat losses, like failed carrier landings.