Aircrafttotal Encyclopedia


An FR-1 Fireball of VF-66 at NAS North Island, 1945
Role	Fighter
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Ryan Aeronautical
First flight	25 June 1944
Introduction	March 1945
Retired	1 August 1947
Primary user	United States Navy
Produced	1944–1945
Number built	71
Developed into	Ryan XF2R Dark Shark

The Ryan FR Fireball was an American mixed-power (piston and jet-powered) fighter aircraft designed by Ryan Aeronautical for the United States Navy during World War II. It was the Navy's first aircraft with a jet engine. Only 66 aircraft were built before Japan surrendered in August 1945. The FR-1 Fireball equipped a single squadron before the war's end, but did not see combat. The aircraft ultimately proved to lack the structural strength required for operations aboard aircraft carriers and was withdrawn in mid-1947.

TDesign of the FR-1 began in 1943 to a proposal instigated by Admiral John S. McCain Sr. for a mixed-powered fighter because early jet engines had sluggish acceleration that was considered unsafe and unsuitable for carrier operations. Ryan received a contract for three XFR-1 prototypes and one static test airframe on 11 February 1943 with the first two prototypes delivered in 14 months. Another contract was placed for 100 aircraft on 2 December 1943 and a later contract on 31 January 1945 increased the total of FR-1s on order to 700.

Development

Ryan Aeronautical Company

Ryan Aeronautical Company
Ryan FR-1 Fireball
First flight 25 June 1944 Produced 1944–1945

General Info

Crew: 1
Length: 32 ft 4 in (9.86 m)
Wingspan: 40 ft 0 in (12.19 m)
Height: 13 ft 11 in (4.24 m)
Wing area: 275 sq ft (25.5 m²)

Powerplant

Empty weight: 7,689 lb (3,488 kg) Gross weight: 11,652 lb (5,285 kg) Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-1820-72W Cyclone 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 1,350 hp (1,010 kW) Powerplant: 1 × General Electric J31-GE-3 centrifugal-flow turbojet engine, 1,600 lbf (7.1 kN) thrust Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed fully-feathering propeller

Performance

Maximum speed: 404 mph (650 km/h, 351 kn) both engines

276 mph (240 kn; 444 km/h)

Cruise speed: 152 mph (245 km/h, 132 kn) piston engine only
Ferry range: 1,620 mi (2,610 km, 1,410 nmi) (with 2 drop tanks)
Service ceiling: 43,100 ft (13,100 m)
Rate of climb: 1,800 ft/min (9 m/s) (Piston engine only, with 1 drop tank)

Armament

- Guns: 4 × .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns with 300 rpg
- Rockets: 8 × 5-inch (127 mm) rockets under wings
- Bombs: 2 × 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs

Special Links Ryan Aeronautical company

Links to Youtube & Others

On 2 December 1943, orders for 100 production FR-1s were placed, with a follow-up order of 1,000 additional fighters in January 1945. All of the contracts were contingent on the aircraft successfully completing carrier trials. Only 66 Fireballs were completed by November 1945 as orders for 1,044 FR-1s were canceled on VJ Day

Ryan Aeronauticall
Ryan FR-1 Fireball

One squadron, VF-66, received its first Fireballs in March 1945, but they never saw combat.

Youtube Link

On 2 December 1943, orders for 100 production FR-1s were placed, with a follow-up order of 1,000 additional fighters in January 1945.

Ryan Aeronautical Company Ryan FR-1 Fireball
First flight 25 June 1944
Produced 1944–1945

Ryan Aeronauticall
Ryan FR-1 Fireball