XF2R Dark Shark
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| XF2R Dark Shark | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | Fighter |
| Manufacturer | Ryan Aeronautical Company |
| Status | Cancelled |
| Number built | 1 prototype |
| Developed from | FR Fireball |
The Ryan XF2R Dark Shark was an experimental aircraft built for the United States Navy that combined turboprop and turbojet propulsion. It was based on Ryan's earlier FR Fireball, but replaced the Fireball's piston engine with a General Electric T-31 turboprop engine driving a huge 4-bladed Hamilton propeller.
The turboprop made for much improved performance over the Fireball, but the Navy showed little interest in it; by that time, they had abandoned the idea of the combination fighter and were instead looking into all-jet fighters.
The United States Air Force, however, showed a little more interest; they were at the time evaluating the Convair XP-81 of similar concept, and asked Ryan to modify the XF2R to use the Westinghouse J-34 turbojet instead of the General Electric J-31 used previously. Modifications to the prototype created the XF2R-2, with the jet intakes moved to the sides of the forward fuselage with NACA ducts instead of the inlets in the wing leading edge used before.
Although the Dark Shark proved to be a capable aircraft, it never got further than the prototype stage; all-jet aircraft were considered superior.
[edit] Specifications
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.Data from The Complete Book of Fighters[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m)
- Wingspan: 42 ft 0 in (12.80 m)
- Height: 14 ft 0 in (4.27 m)
- Wing area: 305 ft² (28.3 m²)
- Empty weight: lb (kg)
- Loaded weight: 11,000 lb (4,990 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: lb (kg)
- Powerplant:
- 1× General Electric J31 turbojet, 1,600 lbf (7.1 kN)
- 1× General Electric T-31 turboprop, 1,760 hp (1,310 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 497 mph (432 knots, 800 km/h) (at sea level)
- Range: mi (nm, km)
- Service ceiling: 39,100 ft (11,900 m)
- Rate of climb: 4,850 ft/min (24.64 m/s)
- Wing loading: 36.1 lb/ft² (176 kg/m²)
[edit] References
- ^ Green, W; Swanborough, G (1994). The Complete Book of Fighters. Smithmark Publishers inc. ISBN 0-8317-3939-8.
[edit] Related content
Related development
Comparable aircraft
- Convair XP-81
- Curtiss XF-15
- XTB3F Guardian
Designation sequence
- FR Fireball - XF2R Dark Shark
Related lists
Timeline of aviation
Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines
Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft
Notable military accidents and incidents · Notable airline accidents and incidents · Famous aviation-related deaths
Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft
