The Skyshark's engine was mounted underneath the forward-mounted cockpit, driving a huge contra-rotating propeller.
The Douglas A2D Skyshark was a turboprop-powered attack aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company for the United States Navy. Work started in 1945, at which time the Navy did not have faith in jet-powered aircraft for carrier_based service. First flight was in 1950. The Skyshark began as a turboprop version of the AD Skyraider, but eventually was an entirely different airplane. Due largely to the failure of the Allison T40 program to produce a reliable engine, the Skyshark never entered operational service.
The two Skysharks were able early on to demonstrate that the estimated performance figures Douglas had quoted to the Navy were achievable; an order for 331 A2D-1s was made that fall as Chinese Communists armies overran the UN forces in North Korea and the Skyraider was proving its worth in the crucible of war.
Unfortunately, the Skyshark had an "Achilles heel," that being the main bearing of the Allison engine, which was basically two J-40 turbojets linked by this main bearing to provide power to the contra-rotating propellers.
It would be turbojet-powered, it would have the range to hit the enemy, the speed an maneuverability to protect itself, and the ability to carry one of the new lightweight nuclear weapons.
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