The Little World

And very good, at that.

The Douglas F4D Skyray was built to intercept Soviet bombers as far away from American aircraft carriers as was possible. This was in the mid 1950’s when the threat from manned aircraft was at its height.

The airframe – derived no doubt in some wise from a Lippisch design – was equipped with as large a jet engine as could be accommodated and armed with a simple radar set, two heat-seeking missiles, and four guns.

Its mission after launch from a carrier was to rocket to height as fast as possible and catch the Soviets far away. To this end it could travel at a phenomenal angle and speed for the day.

No combat was ever recorded, but several speed records were set. The design has the clean look of a classic.