Literally “hand built,” XA4D-1’s first prototype rolled off the Douglas Aircraft Company plant at El Segundo, CA, powered by a Curtiss-Wright J65-W-16A engine and fitted with a one-piece windscreen, no tail hook, refueling probe nor “sugar scoop” exhaust baffle. Moved by road to Edwards Air Force Base, CA, it was taken to the skies for its maiden flight by Douglas test pilot Robert Rahn on June 22, 1954. Subsequently, it remained in use to test follow-up modifications and improvements for production variants.
Variants:
XA4D-1 (1954) and YA-4A (1962).
Identities:
BuNo 137812 (1954).
Operators:
Douglas Aircraft Company, El Segundo, CA (1954), NAS El Centro, CA (01/1959), NAS Alameda, CA (01/1962).
Fate:
Withdrawn from use to NAF Litchfield Park, AZ (09/1963).
