Ryan XF2R-1 Dark Shark - A Small Upgrade

[Nostalgistic]

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Ryan XF2R-1 Dark Shark

   Hello everyone, I’d like to suggest the Ryan XF2R-1 Dark Shark for the US aviation tech tree in War Thunder. The XF2R-1 was an American experimental fighter developed for the US Navy that utilized a unique combination of turboprop and turbojet propulsion. A further development of Ryan FR-1 Fireball, the Dark Shark replaced the original piston engine with a turboprop. With only one prototype constructed, it was the last mixed-propulsion fighter built for the United States before the military fully committed to pure jet aircraft at the dawn of the jet age.

Key Characteristics

• Mixed-propulsion naval fighter
• Heavily modified derivative of the FR-1 Fireball
• Extended nose to accommodate 1,700 shp T31-GE-2 turboprop engine
• Retained 1,600 lbf J31 turbojet engine and armament of four .50-cal M2 Browning machine guns

History

When the General Electric turboprop engine became available to the US military, the Navy expressed interest in an aircraft equipped with a turboprop in the nose and a turbojet in the tail. This led to the issuance of Naval Aircraft Bureau requirement SD399, which specifically called for such a configuration. Ryan Aeronautical Company responded to the requirement and was awarded a contract to modify an existing FR-1 Fireball airframe to accommodate the new powerplant arrangement. Ryan had previously found success with the FR-1, a mixed-propulsion fighter powered by a Wright R-1820-72W radial engine and a General Electric J31 turbojet. Sixty-six FR-1s were built before production was terminated following Japan’s surrender in World War II. Nonetheless, the NAVAIR requirement for a turboprop-powered derivative had already been issued, and work proceeded as planned.

A production FR-1, serial number 39661, was selected for modification and outfitted with a GE TG-100 turboprop engine (later redesignated XT31-GE-2), which drove a four-bladed, square-tipped propeller. The propeller could be fully feathered or rapidly reversed to zero pitch, allowing the aircraft to use blade drag as an airbrake during landing. The J31 turbojet in the aft fuselage was retained, giving the aircraft hybrid propulsion. To house the TG-100, the nose was lengthened by four feet, resulting in a more streamlined, “bullet-shaped” appearance. The vertical stabilizer and rudder were enlarged to improve directional stability and compensate for the longer nose.

This aircraft, designated XF2R-1 and nicknamed Dark Shark, bore a strong resemblance to the FR-1 but was visibly sleeker. It lacked the wing-folding mechanism, catapult fittings, and arresting gear of the carrier-capable FR-1 and weighed approximately 1,100 pounds more. Its intended armament was still four .50-caliber M2 Browning machine guns.

The XF2R-1 made its first flight in November 1946, becoming the first Navy aircraft with a turboprop engine to take to the skies. Flight testing revealed that it had superior maneuverability compared to the FR-1 and could reach a top speed of 500 mph, about 75 mph faster than its predecessor. It also demonstrated an impressive rate of climb, reportedly exceeding 5,000 feet per minute at low to medium altitudes.

On May 2, 1947, the XF2R-1 achieved a record-setting climb to 39,160 feet, setting a new altitude benchmark for turboprop aircraft. Despite this, it was eventually outpaced by the XFR-4, a lighter derivative of the FR-1 fitted with a standard piston engine and an uprated Westinghouse J34-WE-12 turbojet, which reached speeds 25 mph faster than the Dark Shark.

During its evaluation at Muroc Dry Lake (now Edwards Air Force Base), the US Air Force showed enough interest in the XF2R-1 to request a follow-on version, designated XF2R-2. This variant would have retained the TG-100 turboprop and incorporated the more powerful J34 turbojet. It was intended to be a more viable alternative to the previously tested XP-81, which also used the TG-100 in combination with a turbojet. However, only a mockup of the XF2R-2 was completed, and no further development occurred. As military aviation rapidly transitioned into the jet age, both the Navy and Air Force abandoned hybrid designs in favor of pursuing all-jet aircraft.

Specifications

Ryan XF2R-1 Dark Shark

General Characteristics

• Crew: 1 (Pilot)
• Dimensions:
  • Length: 36 ft (10.97 m)
  • Height: 14 ft (4.46 m)
  • Wingspan: 42 ft (12.80 m)
  • Wing Area: 305 sq ft (28.33 sq m)
• Propeller:
  • Type: 4-bladed Hamilton Standard (Super Hydromatic)
  • Diameter: 11 ft (3.35 m)
• Powerplants:
  • Turboprop: General Electric T31-GE-2
    • Output: 1,700 shp (1,268 kW) @ SL
  • Turbojet: Westinghouse J31-GE-3
    • Thrust: 1,600 lbf (7.1 kN) @ SL
• Fuel/Oil: Data unavailable
• Weight:
  • Gross: 11,000 lb (4,990 kg)

Performance

• Speed:
  • Sea Level: 500 mph (805 km/h)
• Wing Loading: 36.1 lb/sq ft (176 kg/sq m)
• Climb Performance:
  • Rate: 4,850 ft/min (24.64 m/s)
  • Time to Altitude: 2 min to 10,000 ft (3,048 m)
• Service Ceiling: 39,100 ft (11,918 m)

Armament

• Guns:
  • 4 x .50 cal. M2 Browning machine guns (300 rpg; 1,200 total)
• Bombs & Rockets:
  • It remains unclear whether the XF2R-1 was ever cleared to carry bombs and rockets like the FR-1 Fireball. However, the XF2R-1 likely lacked such provisions from the outset.

Diagrams

Images

Conclusion | Why it should be in the game

   The XF2R-1 Dark Shark was the final fighter aircraft designed by Ryan Aeronautical Company for the US military and one of the few American aircraft to feature both turboprop and turbojet propulsion. Although its service life was brief, I believe the XF2R-1 would make an excellent addition to War Thunder as a premium or battle pass vehicle. As a mixed-propulsion successor to the FR-1 Fireball, it offers improved top speed and maneuverability thanks to its turboprop engine, despite being equipped with an outdated armament by postwar standards.

Related Suggestion

Ryan FR-1 Fireball - Navy's First "Successful" Mixed-Propulsion Fighter

poll [image] Ryan FR-1 Fireball    Hello everyone, I’d like to suggest the Ryan FR-1 Fireball be put into the US aircraft tech tree as the researchable one. The FR-1 Fireball was an American piston and jet-powered aircraft designed for the US Navy during World War II. Armed with four .50 caliber machine guns, it became the Navy’s first mixed-power fighter to feature a functional jet engine. A total of 66 aircraft were built before the end of the Pacific War in August 1945. While only one nav…

Sources

• The American Fighter: The Definitive Guide to American Fighter Aircraft from 1917 to the Present (1987)
• Ryan FR-1 Fireball and XF2R-1 Darkshark (1995)
• The Complete Book of Fighters: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Every Fighter Aircraft Built and Flown (2001)
• U.S. Experimental & Prototype Aircraft Projects: Fighters 1939-1945 (2008)
• Ryan XF2R Dark Shark Prototype Mixed-Power Fighter Aircraft
• Ryan XF2R Dark Shark - Wikipedia

Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃

[jon_man1199]

Oh yes, please, it is an absolute +1 from me!

[BasherBenDawg8]

Definitely belongs in the game, just like the Fireball!
It would make a great BP/Premium or even squadron vehicle if you ask me, while the Fireball would make a great tech tree option. (Would also love to see the XF15C at some point as well)

We need mixed propulsion aircraft gaijin please!