And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Saturday, May 1, 2021
February 27th, 1945, First flight of the Curtiss XF15C-1. The Curtiss XF15C-1 was a mixed-propulsion fighter prototype of the 1940s.
No, you're thinking about the first jet prototype we flew, the Bell XP-59 Airacomet, and the dummy propeller was only mounted while on the ground and was removed for flight. The CurtissXF15C-1 had both a radial piston engine and a jet engine for Navy testing. Early jet engines had such slow throttle response that carrier operations might be very difficult. However, like most hybrid designs, it was neither one nor the other, and was not successful. Only three prototypes were built. Jet engines improved fast enough that pure jet fighters became viable for carrier operations.
My Dad said he was flying along in a C-119 (which he hated) and a strange plane came up alongside, and the pilot feathered the prop. Plane stayed right there. Turned out to be a Ryan Fireball. Ralph N. Prentiss USAAF.
Well, the way I heard it is that the prop was affixed to hide the fact that it was a jet...a military secret at the time. No "dual propulsion".
ReplyDeleteNo, you're thinking about the first jet prototype we flew, the Bell XP-59 Airacomet, and the dummy propeller was only mounted while on the ground and was removed for flight. The CurtissXF15C-1 had both a radial piston engine and a jet engine for Navy testing. Early jet engines had such slow throttle response that carrier operations might be very difficult. However, like most hybrid designs, it was neither one nor the other, and was not successful. Only three prototypes were built. Jet engines improved fast enough that pure jet fighters became viable for carrier operations.
DeleteMy Dad said he was flying along in a C-119 (which he hated) and a strange plane came up alongside, and the pilot feathered the prop. Plane stayed right there. Turned out to be a Ryan Fireball. Ralph N. Prentiss USAAF.
ReplyDelete