Convair F2Y-1 Sea Dart
Convair · United States · first flew 1953 · fighter
The Convair F2Y Sea Dart was a unique water-based supersonic delta-wing jet fighter that used retractable hydro-skis rather than a conventional hull to take off and land from water. It remains the only water-based aircraft ever to exceed the speed of sound.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, delta |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Twin Westinghouse J34 or J46 turbojets buried in the fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Only water-based supersonic aircraft ever flown — uses retractable hydro-skis
- Delta-wing jet seaplane with no conventional tail surfaces
- Twin Westinghouse J34 or J46 turbojets buried in the fuselage
Completely distinctive: a tailless delta-wing jet with no vertical fin on the wingtips (fins were ventral), hydro-skis visible beneath the hull, and twin engine exhaust at the rear.
Specifications
- The Convair F2Y-1 Sea Dart has a length of 15.58 m (51 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.77 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1118 km/h (695 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed to a US Navy requirement for a jet fighter that could operate independently of vulnerable carrier decks, the Sea Dart first flew in April 1953. During testing in August 1954 it became the first and only supersonic seaplane. However, severe hydroplaning oscillations on take-off and poor overall handling led to cancellation. A fatal accident in 1954 during a public demonstration further sealed the programme's fate.
Variants
Multiple XF2Y-1 and YF2Y-1 prototypes were built with differing engine fits. No production aircraft were completed.
Where you'll see it
Never entered operational service. Strictly an experimental and prototype programme flown at San Diego Bay and other test sites.
Related aircraft
- Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
- Convair R3Y-1 Tradewind
- Convair YB-60
- Convair CV-440 Metropolitan
- Aerfer Leone
- Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF.12
- Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF.14
- Avia S-103
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.