D-558-1 Skystreak #37972 - NACA 142, ca 1950

The three Skystreaks flew a total of 229 times from 1947 to 1953, including 101 contract flights in the number one aircraft (Bureau No. 37970-NACA 140), 46 by the Skystreak number two (Bureau Number 37971-NACA 141), and 82 by the number three aircraft (Bureau Number 37972-NACA 142). The NACA never flew the number one airplane, using it instead for spares support .

Although both NACA 140 and 141 had been painted scarlet for improved visibility, in flying the aircraft both Douglas and NACA personnel discovered that the scarlet color was difficult to discern against the dark blue desert sky. During the winter of 1947-1948, NACA started repainting them with a white color.

This is ship #3 at the end of 1950.At this time the machine sported white paint job with all control surfaces in red and added new style NACA logo on the fin and NACA stencils on wings.