Plane ID Please

Bwana John · January 07, 2013, 10:25

Can anybody ID these planes for me please?

I believe pic was taken late 1944, and the plane was doing carrier trials off San Diego at the time.

PS I don't know the designation for the plane, but I do know what makes it "special".

one hand clapping · January 07, 2013, 10:35

I'm no expert ,butr it reminds me of a german design.
I'll bite -what makes it special??

Bwana John · January 07, 2013, 10:48

Quote:

what makes it special??

Look closely at the rear of the plane, the front left plane shows it best.

Quote:

it reminds me of a german design

The Germans were WAY ahead of us with this technology.

**hkshooter** · January 07, 2013, 10:55

Those are F8F Bearcat's. Grumman.

**ronnymi** · January 07, 2013, 11:10

Interesting. They have a nose wheel and the main landing gear fold out not in like the F8F bearcat.

Bwana John · January 07, 2013, 11:14

OK, I have figured out the designation of the plane, here is another pic of it I found on the Internet

Pic is captioned- trials aboard USS Ranger, May 1945

It looks like my Grandpa's pics were taken at the same time(?)

Here is another of G-Pa's pics

Topbanana · January 07, 2013, 11:33

It's a Ryan Fireball. Only 71 were produced. Had a mixed powerplant system using both a piston and a jet engine. Trials of this craft began in 1944.

**croftonaviation** · January 07, 2013, 12:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Topbanana

It's a Ryan Fireball. Only 71 were produced. Had a mixed powerplant system using both a piston and a jet engine. Trials of this craft began in 1944.

We have a winner!

**hkshooter** · January 07, 2013, 12:12

Wow, obscure. I learned something today.

**ronnymi** · January 07, 2013, 12:16

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

4 brigada · January 07, 2013, 12:19

I think I can find a picture of the Ryan Fireball (never thought that would be a good name for a plane) flying with the recip engine off and the prop feathered. Ryan followed with the Dark Shark used a turboprop engine instead off the recip engine.

**SPEEDGUNNER** · January 07, 2013, 12:52

Proof you can learn something new everyday...great stuff.

**martin35** · January 07, 2013, 14:43

The Ryan FR-1 was a test bed for turbo chargers on radial piston engines to advance climb rates from deck to altitude, they had a 3 blade prop and the Grumman F-8 had a 4 blade prop that had a greater arch on a more powerful engine
The basic design profile was continued into the later development of the North American T-28 that the Navy and AF used for trainers and later as light ground attack fighters.
The original instigator of the FR-1 was said to be Adm John McCain Sr. from the Ryan A/C Co a long time supplier of naval training aircraft.
Air shows after WWII featured the F-8 and the twin engine F-7-F one of the pilots was from the small town I lived in, when he came home he farmed, drank beer anfd talked about airplanes and girls ,,, he knew a lot about airplanes.

January 07, 2013, 10:25	#1
Bwana John Registered FALaholic #: 3810 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: N. AZ Posts: 2,507	Plane ID Please Can anybody ID these planes for me please? I believe pic was taken late 1944, and the plane was doing carrier trials off San Diego at the time. PS I don't know the designation for the plane, but I do know what makes it "special". __________________ "On Safari"

January 07, 2013, 10:35	#2
one hand clapping Registered FALaholic #: 35299 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: WV mountains Posts: 3,968	I'm no expert ,butr it reminds me of a german design. I'll bite -what makes it special?? __________________ She who speaks Truth, to Power

January 07, 2013, 11:14	#6
Bwana John Registered FALaholic #: 3810 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: N. AZ Posts: 2,507	OK, I have figured out the designation of the plane, here is another pic of it I found on the Internet Pic is captioned- trials aboard USS Ranger, May 1945 It looks like my Grandpa's pics were taken at the same time(?) Here is another of G-Pa's pics __________________ "On Safari" Last edited by Bwana John; January 07, 2013 at 11:26.

January 07, 2013, 11:33	#7
Topbanana Registered FALaholic #: 20443 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Manhattan, KS Posts: 3,262	It's a Ryan Fireball. Only 71 were produced. Had a mixed powerplant system using both a piston and a jet engine. Trials of this craft began in 1944. __________________ God created the Earth, Mauser drew the property lines.

January 07, 2013, 12:19	#11
4 brigada Registered FALaholic #: 17849 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: California Posts: 1,514	I think I can find a picture of the Ryan Fireball (never thought that would be a good name for a plane) flying with the recip engine off and the prop feathered. Ryan followed with the Dark Shark used a turboprop engine instead off the recip engine. __________________ "Now, pilots are highly trained people, and wings not easily won; but without the work of the maintenance man...our pilots would march with a gun"

January 07, 2013, 10:55	#4
hkshooter Veteran Member Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 5391 Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,783	Those are F8F Bearcat's. Grumman.

January 07, 2013, 11:10	#5
ronnymi Senior Member Contributor FALaholic #: 11421 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Washington State Posts: 580	Interesting. They have a nose wheel and the main landing gear fold out not in like the F8F bearcat.

January 07, 2013, 12:12	#9
hkshooter Veteran Member Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 5391 Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,783	Wow, obscure. I learned something today.

January 07, 2013, 12:16	#10
ronnymi Senior Member Contributor FALaholic #: 11421 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Washington State Posts: 580	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_FR_Fireball

January 07, 2013, 12:52	#12
SPEEDGUNNER Firearms Connoisseur Gold Contributor FALaholic #: 43933 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Scenic Chester County PA Posts: 1,351	Proof you can learn something new everyday...great stuff. __________________ "There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; So they break the hearts of kith and kin, And they roam the world at will." - Robert Service

January 07, 2013, 14:43	#13
martin35 when legend becomes fact Contributor Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 2939 Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 16,892	The Ryan FR-1 was a test bed for turbo chargers on radial piston engines to advance climb rates from deck to altitude, they had a 3 blade prop and the Grumman F-8 had a 4 blade prop that had a greater arch on a more powerful engine The basic design profile was continued into the later development of the North American T-28 that the Navy and AF used for trainers and later as light ground attack fighters. The original instigator of the FR-1 was said to be Adm John McCain Sr. from the Ryan A/C Co a long time supplier of naval training aircraft. Air shows after WWII featured the F-8 and the twin engine F-7-F one of the pilots was from the small town I lived in, when he came home he farmed, drank beer anfd talked about airplanes and girls ,,, he knew a lot about airplanes. Last edited by martin35; January 07, 2013 at 14:50.

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