Ryan XV-8 Fleep
Ryan Aeronautical · United States · first flew 1961 · glider
The Ryan XV-8 'Fleep' (Flying Jeep) was an experimental US Army research vehicle combining a light piston engine with a flexible Rogallo parawing, exploring the concept of an ultra-simple STOL utility aircraft for battlefield use. Its fabric wing could be folded for easy stowage and transport.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Open tubular-frame fuselage with no conventional tail surfaces |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Experimental US Army parawing research aircraft (Flying Jeep)
- Flexible Rogallo fabric parawing replaces conventional rigid wing
- Open tubular-frame fuselage with no conventional tail surfaces
Unlike any conventional aircraft: a lightweight open tubular-frame fuselage pod with a piston engine at the front and a large flexible fabric Rogallo parawing above, more reminiscent of a powered hang-glider than a traditional aeroplane.
Specifications
- The Ryan XV-8 Fleep has a length of 5.94 m (19 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.18 m (33 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 105 km/h (65 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by Ryan Aeronautical in the late 1950s and early 1960s under US Army contract, the XV-8 explored whether a parawing could replace conventional wings for simple, cheap battlefield transport. The concept attracted interest for its low cost and simplicity, but handling qualities and performance limitations meant it never progressed to production.
Variants
Several Ryan parawing research aircraft were built under different designations; the XV-8 was the primary manned evaluation version.
Where you'll see it
Solely a research and evaluation aircraft; never entered service with the US Army or any other operator.
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