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Description
| Manufacturer: | Douglas | |
| Base model: | D-558 | |
| Designation: | D-558 | |
| Version: | -1 | |
| Nickname: | Skystreak | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Air Force | |
| Designation Period: | 1948-Present | |
| Basic role: | Research | |
Specifications
| Length: | 35' 8" | 10.8 m | |
| Height: | 12' 1" | 3.6 m | |
| Wingspan: | 25' | 7.6 m | |
| Wingarea: | 150.7 sq ft | 14.0 sq m | |
| Gross Weight: | 9,750 lb | 4,421 kg | |
| Max Weight: | 10,105 lb | 4,582 kg | |
Propulsion
| No. of Engines: | 1 | ||
| Powerplant: | Allison J35-A-11 | ||
| Thrust (each): | 5,000 lb | 2,267 kg | |
Performance
| Max Speed: | 651 mph | 1,048 km/h | 566 kt |
History
| Date | Subject | Event |
| 1947/08/20 | A Douglas D-558-I was flown to a new world speed record of 644.6 mph, by pilot Cdr. Turner Caldwell (USN) at Murdoc Dry Lake, Calif. | |
| 1947/08/25 | A Douglas D-558-I was flown to a new world speed record of 650.8 mph, by pilot Maj. Marion Carl (USMC) at Murdoc Dry Lake, Calif. | |
| 1948/05/03 | National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) test pilot Howard C. Lilley died when his Douglas D-558-I crashed at Murdoc Dry Lake, Calif. He was the first NACA pilot killed on duty. |
Examples of this type may be found at
| Museum | City | State |
| National Museum of Naval Aviation | NAS Pensacola | Florida |
D-558-1 on display
National Museum of Naval Aviation |
Recent comments by our visitors
| J W Brown , TX | see recently uploaded image of Douglas D-558-1. This image is from a 35 mm slide taken at MCAS Quantico, VA in 1984. Which D-558-1 was this? 11/20/2010 @ 07:39 [ref: 33319] |
| Walt McKinney Moncks Corner, SC | There were three D-558-1 Sky Streaks built.
Aircraft #1 is the aircraft on display at the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola. Aircraft #2 crashed killing NACA test pilot Howard Lilly. Aircraft #3 is the aircraft on display at the Carolinas Air Museum in Charlotte. 02/19/2009 @ 13:19 [ref: 23765] |
| Alycia Lackey Carrollton, TX | Hey..
I was wondering if any of you who are related to Gene May, could give me your contact info.. because my mom, (Sharon May) who is Gene May's grand daughter, is trying to plan a family reunion, and we would love to get to know you guys. Please email me. Sweetmiracle88@gmail.com 02/11/2009 @ 17:02 [ref: 23703] |
| John Cook , MD | Turner Caldwell was born in Narbeth, Pensylvania Nov.17 1913After graduation from the naval acadamy in June of 1935 he served copnsectuitivly on the USS Saratoga, and the USS Hull. He reported to the Us NAval air station,Pensacol;a,Florida for flight training,and was designated Naval Aviator in July1939.
He joined Scouting squadronfive based aboard the Uss Yorktown and later aboard the USS Enterprise. The enterprise sustained damage and his squadron served at guadalcanal. In January 1944 he formed and commissioned Fighter Squadron(night) 79 and served as commanding officer. In August of 1944the designation was changed toNight Carrier Air group Forty one attached to the USS Enterprise, part of task groups 38. He was awarded the Distinguised Flying Cross and the Legion of Merit Turner Caldwell had duty from March to November 1945 as commanding officer Night attack and combat training Unit.naval Air Station, Barbers Point Oahu. In 1947 he commanded Carrier Air Group Four on the USS Roosevelt. In 1949 attended Test pilots school at Patuxant River and became director of Flight Test ther For establishing a new worlds speed record in a jet powered plane at Muroc Dry Lake in !947 he was awarded a gold star in lieu of a second distinguished flying cross. 02/04/2009 @ 14:06 [ref: 23632] |
| Todd May Pickerington, OH | I was disappointed to see the Gene May.org web site is no longer available. This was a great tribute to the accomplishments of My (Verne May)Grandfather's Brother(Gene May)when I first visited the site back in 2005, I was surprised to find out that Gene had more flights than any other test pilot. I couldn't help but somehow feel he didn't really ever get his due until this site layed out his career. 09/06/2007 @ 11:33 [ref: 17853] |
| Bart Vandamme , OTH | Hello,
My name is Bart and I am searching information about LtCdr Turner F Caldwell. On August 20,1947 he was flying the D-558-1 to a speed of 640.74 mph. Can somebody help me with more details about his Navy career? Many thanks Bart Belgium 07/17/2007 @ 10:36 [ref: 17155] |
| Christine and Jennifer May Lakewood, CO | I would also like to have more information about Gene May who is also our Great Grandfather. If there is a website that you know about can you please e-mail me. We have been wanting to get more information on the records that he broke and biographical information too. Thank you so much for your time. 04/17/2007 @ 12:51 [ref: 16210] |
| Melissa May Pickerington, OH | my great uncle was gene may too... so do any of you know verne may?? 12/06/2005 @ 22:36 [ref: 11896] |
| Alycia Lackey Carrollton, TX | Hi Steve ,
Gene May was my great grandfather and im trying to get more info about him please contact me ASAP 06/13/2005 @ 11:02 [ref: 10467] |
| Steve Carroll Fort Scott, KS | According to the flight records, Skystreak #2 (the one that crashed) was used for flight familarization for both Carl and Turner in preparation for their record breaking flight. They flew that airplane with first the bubble canopy and then the high speed canopy. However, the actualy record flights were both made in Skystreak #1, the Pencacola aircraft.
Skystreak #3, the North Carolina airplane, was originally not instrumented and was intended to be used by NACA for flight familarization and exhibitions. That changed, however, after ship #2 crashed. #3 then became NACA's primary aircraft. After Douglas finished their own, and the Navy's research programs in ship #1, it was turned over to NACA and they did, indeed use it for spare parts. My great uncle, Gene May, was the Douglas test pilot on the D-558 program and made the first flight in all three aircraft. He made 121 flights in the Skystreaks, more than all other skystreak pilots added together. See http://GeneMay.org 08/05/2001 @ 20:08 [ref: 2841] |
Recent photos uploaded by our visitors
