Ryan FR-1 Fireball ...edit
Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:01 am
Few cool pic's, may be old news?
Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:04 am
Cool shots! Thanks for posting. I believe that one of these aircraft (probably even one of those shown) survives at the Quonset Point Air Museum. Really interesting transition between piston and turbine power.
Cheers,
Richard
PS. In looking at these photos I can't for the life of me see where the air intake sits for the jet engine. Can anyone tell me where it is?
Cheers,
Richard
PS. In looking at these photos I can't for the life of me see where the air intake sits for the jet engine. Can anyone tell me where it is?
Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:09 am
very cool stuff. I'd never seen those before. Thanks for posting.
By the way, I noticed in the pictures that there's a little problem with the airplane, which may have lead to its short career.
With the way the main gear retract into the wing, it would make it impossible for the gear to tuck in properly when the wings are folded in flight.
(Tough in cheek)
Oh, just thought of another thing. Wouldn't the fact that the airplane had TWO engines render it ridiculously heavy? How did this airplane perform?
And just a guess, but was the jet engine used in this one the same from the T-33?
-David
By the way, I noticed in the pictures that there's a little problem with the airplane, which may have lead to its short career.
With the way the main gear retract into the wing, it would make it impossible for the gear to tuck in properly when the wings are folded in flight.
(Tough in cheek)
Oh, just thought of another thing. Wouldn't the fact that the airplane had TWO engines render it ridiculously heavy? How did this airplane perform?
And just a guess, but was the jet engine used in this one the same from the T-33?
-David
Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:16 am
I hate to bust your bubble ya'll, but those pics don't resemble the Curtiss XF-15 in the slightest.
Try Ryan FR-1 instead:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FR_Fireball
Try Ryan FR-1 instead:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FR_Fireball
Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:16 am
Just one problem. That is the Ryan Fireball......
Fri Apr 10, 2009 12:11 pm
There is 1 survivor, it is with Planes of Fame, and it is a Ryan Fireball
If not for Mr. Maloney
Fri Apr 10, 2009 12:27 pm
It makes you wonder what the warbird world would look like today had Mr. Maloney never existed. It's not just a matter of looking at the current Planes of Fame collection, think of all the a/c and parts he saved that are no longer in the family collection. Too bad he never ran into a TBY Seawolf of a B-32 Dominator. I doubt the Navy would have saved an example of the Fireball.
clever air intake
Fri Apr 10, 2009 12:27 pm
...I can't for the life of me see where the air intake sits for the jet engine. Can anyone tell me where it is?
It took the Soviet intelligence community many months to figure this one out also. The unusual, but very cleverly designed canopy when opened, would suck the propwash into an internal intake behind the pilot's seat.
This worked well for leaked photos such as the one showing a run-up on the flightdeck.
After the first in-flight test, however, Curtiss quickly sold all rights to Ryan who changed the designation, hence the initial confusion with the post.
Okay I had to do it since I didn't get a post in 9 days ago....
It took the Soviet intelligence community many months to figure this one out also. The unusual, but very cleverly designed canopy when opened, would suck the propwash into an internal intake behind the pilot's seat.
This worked well for leaked photos such as the one showing a run-up on the flightdeck.
After the first in-flight test, however, Curtiss quickly sold all rights to Ryan who changed the designation, hence the initial confusion with the post.
Okay I had to do it since I didn't get a post in 9 days ago....
Fri Apr 10, 2009 1:09 pm
RMAllnutt wrote:
PS. In looking at these photos I can't for the life of me see where the air intake sits for the jet engine. Can anyone tell me where it is?
Inboard leading edge of the wings...
Fri Apr 10, 2009 1:17 pm
I had no clue found the website.Got pic's in a email?
http://prototypes.free.fr/fr1/fr1-1.htm
http://prototypes.free.fr/fr1/fr1-1.htm
Fri Apr 10, 2009 1:27 pm
there was a story of a test pilot pulling along side a formation of Hellcats, shutting down the radial engine and feathering the prop, then pulling away from them.
There were 2 Fireball survivors, but the other was lost in the arson fire at the San Diego air museum.
There were 2 Fireball survivors, but the other was lost in the arson fire at the San Diego air museum.
Fri Apr 10, 2009 1:35 pm
Assuming you mean Curtiss XF15C.
Dan K wrote:I hate to bust your bubble ya'll, but those pics don't resemble the Curtiss XF-15 in the slightest.
Try Ryan FR-1 instead:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FR_Fireball
Fri Apr 10, 2009 2:02 pm
famvburg wrote:Assuming you mean Curtiss XF15C.Dan K wrote:I hate to bust your bubble ya'll, but those pics don't resemble the Curtiss XF-15 in the slightest.
Try Ryan FR-1 instead:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FR_Fireball
Nope, I actually meant the XF15C-1. But now that you mention it, it doesn't look like an XF15C or an XF-15 either.
Thanks for helping me get back in touch wth my anal-retentive side.
Fri Apr 10, 2009 2:27 pm
For 10 points can anyone give us the name assigned to the Curtiss XF-15C?
I know what it is, so I'm out of the competition!
Jerry
I know what it is, so I'm out of the competition!
Jerry
Fri Apr 10, 2009 2:31 pm
The air intakes for the General Electric I-16 turbojet were located in the inboard leading edge of both wings. How about a quote from the Flight Manual which states 'Approximately 7 minutes full-power operation can be obtained from the aft engine but this is reduced one minute for every five minutes at idling speed'? The Fireball had a forward tank of only 45 gallons of kerosene for the weedy little jet and a rear tank of 125 gallons of gasoline for the Wright Cyclone. A single drop tank could be carried to augment the piston engine.