In the mid-1950s, the deck of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier came alive as the Douglas F4D Skyray's engines roared. With delta wings inspired by German Luftwaffe designs, the Skyray catapulted off the deck and soared into the sky.
The aircraft's Westinghouse engines didn't disappoint. The Skyray rocketed to 50,000 feet in just 2 minutes and 36 seconds, all while maintaining a pitch angle of 70 degrees. Built for speed and agility, this interceptor was America's Cold War answer to potential aerial threats.
As the Skyray pierced through the clouds, it joined the ranks of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD. It became the only Navy aircraft in a command usually filled with U.S. Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force planes, solidifying its role as a key player in the defense of North American skies during the Cold War."
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Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.
As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.
All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.