Here's a very interesting plane for your enjoyment today
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Air Power |
The Ryan FR Fireball was a composite propeller and jet powered aircraft designed for the United States Navy during World War II. They entered service before the end of the war but did not see combat. The FR-1 Fireball was the US Navy's first aircraft with jet propulsion. Design began in 1943 to a proposal instigated by Admiral John S. McCain, Sr for a composite-powered fighter; early jet engines had sluggish acceleration which was considered unsafe and unsuitable for aircraft carrier takeoff and landing. A composite design allowed for conventional piston-powered flight but gave a jet for higher speeds. The first prototype flew on June 25, 1944 but it was lost in a crash in October that year. Investigation showed that the wing rivets were insufficiently strong, a problem cured by doubling the number of rivets, but not before the other two prototypes crashed in similar fashion. Orders for 700 aircraft were placed, but only 66 were delivered before Japan's surrender. One squadron, VF-66, was equipped with the aircraft before war's end, but they never saw combat. The aircraft were withdrawn fairly soon after the war's end. With the rapid advance in technology, and the removal of the pressing need to get anything into combat quickly, the Navy decided to wait for better aircraft to be developed. US Navy pilots considered Fireball to be a uniquely poorly chosen name, given its 'fiery accident' connotations. The FR-1 Fireball was developed into the F2R Dark Shark, which replaced the piston engine with a turboprop, but this never entered service. One FR-1 Fireball survives at the Planes of Fame Flying Museum, at Chino, California, and it is in the process of restoration to display condition.
Specifications:
Manufacturer: Ryan Aircraft
Type: Carrier-based fighter-bomber
Crew: 1
Power Plant: 1 + 1
Engine #1: Wright R-1820-72W Cyclone radial with 1425 hp
Engine #2: General Electric J31-GE-3 turbojet with 1600 lb thrust
Dimensions:
Length: 32' 4" (9.86 m)
Height: 13' 7.25" (4.15 m)
Wingspan: 40' 0" (12.19 m)
Wing area: 275 sq. ft (25.55 sq. m)
Empty Weight: 7915 lb (3590 kg)
Max Weight: 10,595 lb (4806 kg) max at takeoff
Performance:
Range: 1030 miles (1658 km)
Cruise Speed: 153 mph ( 246 km/h)
Max Speed (both): 426 mph ( 686 km/h) at 18,100 ft
Max Speed (piston only): 295 mph ( 745 km/h) at 16,500 ft
Ceiling: 43,100 ft (13,135 m)
Armaments:
Four .50 inch machine guns
Up to 1,000 lb. of bombs, or Eight 5" rockets
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