Ryan FR-1 Fireball

[kampfflieger]

The Ryan FR Fireball was a composite propeller and jet-powered aircraft designed for the United States Navy during World War II. The Fireball entered service before the end of the war, but did not see combat. The FR-1 Fireball was the U.S. Navy's first aircraft with jet propulsion.

Model in 1/72 and 1/100 scales.

http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/5273/fireball1aq3.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com/)

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/227/fireball2me0.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com/)

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/372/fireball3ei2.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com/)

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[ccoyle]

Great-looking model. A few years back, I visited the Planes of Fame museum in Chino, California, and saw this odd-looking aircraft out back of the main facility. A friend informed me that that was a Ryan Fireball. Restoration was in progress as of 2005; I don't know if it has yet been completed.

Regards,

[kampfflieger]

Thank you, Chris! Very interesting!

[willygoat]

If that isn't one of the weirdest birds I've ever seen. If you don't look at the tail, it's very unassuming. I saw a couple of pics of them flying with the radials off. Now THAT'S weird. The inlets don't look big enough to let in sufficient air flow to the turbine. Great model :D :D

[John Bowden]

Yeah really a neat plane........... I read a story one time this guy was test flying the Ryan and a Corsair pulled up next to him... the Ryan was flying on piston engine only at the time and did a mid-air start on the jet. He said he gradually increased the power to the shock of the Corsair pilot slowly started to pull away.......... and the Carsair was at full power and unable to catch him.:D

[CMDRTED]

There was another story very similar in which the prop jobs pulled up to the fireball and saw him flying at speed with the propellers stopped and feathered.