Richter Ric Jet 4
George Richter · United States · first flew 1974 · light aircraft
The Richter Ric Jet 4 was an experimental ducted fan monoplane developed by George Richter of Los Angeles. Only one was built.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.7 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Cruciform |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Ducted fan about 10 ft long behind the cockpit, driven by a Mazda Wankel rotary engine
- Cruciform tail above and to the rear of the duct
- Mid-set wings with anhedral and some sweep back that fold upwards to a vertical position
The pilot sat reclined in a fully enclosed cockpit at the front, with the 130 hp Mazda Wankel rotary engine immediately behind. There were no ailerons, lateral control coming from spoilers in the upper wing surface, and the rudder was split.
Specifications
- The Richter Ric Jet 4 has a length of 6.7 m (22 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 5.5 m (18 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Richter had tested a series of progressively sophisticated flying models, and a one-eighth scale model performed so well that he went on to build the full-size aircraft.
Variants
Only one Ric Jet 4 was built, with a Mazda Wankel 12A rotary engine.
Where you'll see it
Testing took place at Mojave airport in California and progressed slowly because of budgetary constraints. By the early 1980s it was reported donated to the Planes of Fame Air Museum at Chino, California.
Related aircraft
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