RARE WARBIRD 1945 FR-1 FIREBALL

[Cloudchaser427]

I thought I had seen all of the WW2 war birds and proto types, but I missed this one. From what I could learn the 1945 Ryan FR-1 Fireball had both a Wright 1820 round motor and a GE J31 jet engine. The military had ordered up 600 of them but only 66 were built before the war ended. Looks a little like an early T-28 with large air inlets on the wing roots. Does anyone have more info on this aircraft, and do any still exist anywhere, museum etc ?? Use the same airplane in both unlimited and the jet class (ha ha).

Solo ( Cloudchaser427 ) TM 151WR

[Stevo]

Re: RARE WARBIRD 1945 FR-1 FIREBALL

Pretty cool... but I'm not so sure how I would feel about flying an aircraft nicknamed "Fireball"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FR_Fireball

[retroaviation]

Re: RARE WARBIRD 1945 FR-1 FIREBALL

I could be wrong, probably am, but doesn't the Planes of Fame in Chino, CA have a Ryan Fireball in their collection?

Gary

[J.SMITH]

Re: RARE WARBIRD 1945 FR-1 FIREBALL

RYAN FR FIREBALL

- • FR-1 Bu39657 Ed Maloney/ Air Museum, Ontario CA 67/72
(displ. as “Navy 49”)
Ed Maloney/ Planes of Fame/ Fighter Jets Museum,
Chino CA: displ. as "Navy B2" 72/08
(also rep. as Bu39709)
__________________________________________________ ______________________________________
- FR-1 Bu39707 NASM, Washington DC 76
San Diego Air & Space Museum CA (loaned) 76/78
dest. by fire at San Diego Museum 22.7.78

[Stevo]

Re: RARE WARBIRD 1945 FR-1 FIREBALL

Didn't see it listed on their Inventory page... man they've got a lot of rare birds down their.

Speaking of the FR-1, have you had a chance to take a look at the XF2R Dark Shark? I kind of like the looks of that one.

[Skyracer]

Re: RARE WARBIRD 1945 FR-1 FIREBALL

Note the feathered prop in the black and white air-to-air shot. Either the jet works or there's a deadstick landing in the near future.

[RAD2LTR]

Re: RARE WARBIRD 1945 FR-1 FIREBALL

My great uncle used to fly Ryan Fireballs. There was one down at Chino, and I guess there was another in San Diego M. of. Flight before the fire that consumed most of the collection.

My uncle said the fireball was scary to fly. If Avgas wound up in the JET A tank, well, you had a big fireball. Sort of a cool plane, but I wouldn't want to fly in one.

Will

[J.SMITH]

Re: RARE WARBIRD 1945 FR-1 FIREBALL

Here is a link and there are a few pictures of the FR-1 back in 2005 at Chino (I think).

http://www.warbird-photos.com/antiqueclassicac6-05/

[JET1]

so If I build one as a racer...

...what class do I compete in?

[B52Hfan]

Re: RARE WARBIRD 1945 FR-1 FIREBALL

The Navy did test it by flying off the carrier with the recip, but, the radial died in flight and the pilot was credited with a jet power recovery!

[WASP-kid]

Re: RARE WARBIRD 1945 FR-1 FIREBALL

Here is a link and there are a few pictures of the FR-1 back in 2005 at Chino (I think).

http://www.warbird-photos.com/antiqueclassicac6-05/

Ummm, you mean this one I took a pic of a few weeks ago?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3460/...a1d5ab.jpg?v=0

[RAD2LTR]

Re: RARE WARBIRD 1945 FR-1 FIREBALL

Ummm, you mean this one I took a pic of a few weeks ago?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3460/...a1d5ab.jpg?v=0

Wow, it looks a lot better than when I saw it perhaps 10 years ago. It was looking ugly and really long on the tooth.

Will

[J.SMITH]

Re: RARE WARBIRD 1945 FR-1 FIREBALL

Ummm, you mean this one I took a pic of a few weeks ago?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3460/...a1d5ab.jpg?v=0

Weren't you suppose to be at a work sminar that day in LA. You mean you snuck off and went to Chino ?

[WASP-kid]

Re: RARE WARBIRD 1945 FR-1 FIREBALL

Weren't you suppose to be at a work sminar that day in LA. You mean you snuck off and went to Chino ?

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I was at a seminar all right. That B-17 doing pattern work was a major treat! Collected two CEUs for my warbird junkie certification that day.

[Trucker17]

Re: RARE WARBIRD 1945 FR-1 FIREBALL

The Air Museum Planes of Fame in Chino California is home to the last remaining Ryan FR-1 Fireball...
Last i checked with curator and owner of the museum it was being restored....Not sure if it will be to flying condition or not....But you can see it there.....
Well worth checking out....