Obscure aircraft discovery goes on...

IceFire · #1 03-09-2013, 03:00 AM

I consider myself to know a lot about a lot of different types of WWII aircraft but on occasion I find myself seeing a picture of something and having no idea what it is.

Tonight I found myself having one such occasion when someone sent me this picture...

Never seen these before...

So I eventually found out what they are: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_FR_Fireball

Mixed jet and propeller aircraft with 66 made and one squadron operational before the end of WWII but with no combat record. Fascinating!

bf-110 · #2 03-09-2013, 05:52 AM

I know that plane.Looks special.Maybe even a "limited edition".Is there someone working on it?

#3 03-09-2013, 11:09 AM

The one left is at Planes of Fame, Chino and is restored to static display condition. (Having seen it so many times I don't even notice it any more - lol.) There are no plans for flying it. It turned out to be more of a technology demonstrator than a real fighter by the time it was (mostly) developed, but then it became a sort of proof of concept for the XF2R Dark Shark which could have become a real 1946er (or 47).

IceFire · #4 03-09-2013, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bf-110

I know that plane.Looks special.Maybe even a "limited edition".Is there someone working on it?

IMHO it's too obscure for anyone to do when there are still major types left out.

That and Ryan Aeronautical was bought by the infamous N-G corporation so it's another untouchable.

Buster_Dee · #5 03-09-2013, 01:05 PM

and, it's ugly....

Treetop64 · #6 03-09-2013, 04:36 PM

Who's brilliant idea was it to come up with naming a military fighting aircraft a "Fireball"...? o_O

JtD · #7 03-09-2013, 04:56 PM

lol, now that you mention it.

Zorin · #8 03-09-2013, 05:01 PM

Judging by the wiki article, it wasn't much of a success.

Pursuivant · #9 03-12-2013, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Treetop64

Who's brilliant idea was it to come up with naming a military fighting aircraft a "Fireball"...? o_O

I've always wondered that myself.

Although, except for that pesky N-G ban, I've always thought that the Fireball would make an excellent "Pacific 1946" plane to fly against planes like the J7W Shiden or A7M Reppu.