A restored Douglas A-1 Skyraider performs a flying demonstration, banking away from spectators against a summer sky. Nicknamed the "Spad" for its rugged, propeller-driven design in the jet age, the Skyraider served as the U.S. Air Force and Navy's primary single-engine attack and close-support aircraft throughout the Vietnam War, prized for its heavy ordnance load, long loiter time, and survivability. Skyraiders flew countless combat sorties in support of ground troops and covert MACV-SOG reconnaissance teams operating along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Today, a small number of airworthy examples like this one continue to fly at airshows, preserving the legacy of the pilots and crews who flew them in combat. Project: 219309