Douglas F4D-1 Skyrays of VF(AW)-3

Depicted here are two Skyrays of US Naval Squadron VF(AW)-3 on patrol heading out over the Pacific Ocean circa 1961. VF(AW)-3 was permanently based at NAS North Island, San Diego. This unit was attached to NORAD during the "Cold War" period and was tasked with protecting the west coast from attack by Soviet bombers. The airplane's were nicknamed "Ford" due to their F4D deisignation. The Skyray was the first Naval airplane to achieve supersonic speeds in level flight. This aircraft had a spectacular rate and angle of climb and set a new time to altitude record flying from a complete stop to 50,000 feet in 2 minutes and 36.05 seconds, all while flying at a 70 degree pitch angle.

"I chose to paint the Skyray because of it's unique ray-shaped wings and I chose this particuklar unit because of it's colorful and attractive markings. In order to show off both the markingd and wing shape I thought it best to depict two airplanes in different flight attitudes." - Mark Karvon