Walkaround: Douglas F5D Skylancer

introduction

The Douglas F5D Skylancer was an evolution of the F4D Skyray interceptor. Longer and more streamlined, it took better advantage of the area rule principal as it was then understood. The aircraft was a definite improvement over the Skyray, but was not suffuciently better than the Vought F8 Crusader, then in a similar state of development. In what was most likely a politically-motivated move, the Skylancer project was cancelled.

flight test use

The 4 existing airframes were used in various test programs with two being transferred to NASA. Before he became an astronaut, Neil Armstrong flew NASA 802 in a series of flights to simulate the DynaSoar vehicle in abort approach tests. 802 was later used as a chase aircraft for other test aircraft, eventually being retired in 1970. Armstrong went on to fly the X-15, and was then selected as an Astronaut. He commanded Gemini 8 for the world's first spacecraft docking (and first genuine space emergency), and then as Commander of Apollo 11 became the first person to walk on the moon.

Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum

The Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum is located in Wapakoneta, Ohio. The Museum has no official affiliation with Armstrong, instead chronicling the efforts of citizens of Ohio in space flight, Armstrong being only the most prominent. The Gemini 8 capsule, moon rocks and several other Apollo 11 artifacts are on display in the museum. NASA 802 is on permanent display on the museum grounds.