Ryan XF2R-1 Dark Shark
Ryan Aeronautical · United States · first flew 1946 · fighter
The Ryan XF2R-1 Dark Shark was a unique experimental naval fighter combining a nose-mounted General Electric XT31 turboprop with a turbojet engine in the rear fuselage for take-off boost. It was the first US turboprop-powered aircraft to fly.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboprop, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Single turboprop in nose plus J31 turbojet in rear fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Mixed-power experimental naval fighter with nose turboprop and tail jet
- Single turboprop in nose plus J31 turbojet in rear fuselage
- Only one prototype built for US Navy evaluation
Mid-wing monoplane with a turboprop spinner in the nose and an exhaust outlet for a buried turbojet at the rear; the combination of propeller and jet exhaust nozzle is unique and immediately distinguishing.
Specifications
- The Ryan XF2R-1 Dark Shark has a length of 10.97 m (36 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.8 m (42 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 800 km/h (497 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed for the US Navy as an advanced mixed-propulsion fighter in 1946, the Dark Shark successfully demonstrated the turboprop concept in flight. However, the advent of pure jet fighters rapidly rendered the mixed-power concept obsolete, and the single prototype was not developed further.
Variants
Single prototype only; the concept was not pursued.
Where you'll see it
Never entered service; used for experimental evaluation only.
Related aircraft
- Ryan FR Fireball
- Ryan FR-1 Fireball
- Ryan XFR-1 Fireball
- Ryan VZ-3 Vertiplane
- Avia S-92
- Commonwealth CA-15
- Hughes XF-11
- Junkers EF 126
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