Warbird Information Exchange

Is there an easy way to tell an AD-6 (A-1H) externally from an AD-7 (A-1J) - other than the tail number??

No - it was a very minor engine change. The same flight manual is used for both. The only differentiation in the manual is a statement about the engine configuration/designation difference and if I remember correctly, it doesn't bother saying which engine goes with which type. Apparently only the mechanics would care.

Ken.

I checked my A-1H/A-1J Natops Flight Manual and it doesn't list any specific differences between the two,as Tailspin Turtle stated.It does list two slightly different engine dash numbers and different prop numbers that might be expected,but doesn't specify a particular aircraft model for them (A-1H/AD-6 or A-J/AD-7).

That said,I checked a couple of other sources and the most detailed pertaining to changes in the AD-7 vs. the AD-6 was "Warbird Tech Volume 13 "Douglas A-1 Skyraider" by Larry Davis and David Menard.The changes listed there are as follows:

Change from the R-3350-26WA to the R-3350-26WB engine

Strengthened landing gear

Outer wing panels also strengthened due to fatigue from the installation of the second pair of 20 mm cannons on the AD-6

Enine mounts strengthened and redesigned.