designed and built at the request of the U.S. Navy’s Bureau of Aeronautics, was the first seaplane with a delta wing and the first combat aircraft equipped with retractable hydro-skis (V-shaped planing surfaces).
In the late 1940s, Convair proposed a series of unconventional seaplane designs, one of which featured a so-called “blended hull.” The blended hull concept envisioned the aircraft sitting deep in the water, with its wings touching the surface and contributing to overall buoyancy (without the need for additional floats). Convair’s approach to designing the seaplane involved creating an advanced hydrodynamic model, which would then serve as the foundation for developing a highly efficient aircraft.
The aircraft was developed by Convair under a Navy contract for the creation of a supersonic interceptor. The challenges were seen in the long takeoff and landing distances of supersonic aircraft and their high landing speeds. One solution to these issues was the design of a jet-powered seaplane fighter, which led to the development of the F2Y Sea Dart.
The first prototype of the Sea Dart, the XF2Y-1, was launched in San Diego Bay on December 16, 1952. After extensive water testing, it made its first flight on April 9, 1953. On August 3, 1954, during a shallow dive at an altitude of 10,400 meters, the YF2Y-1 aircraft exceeded the speed of sound.
The Sea Dart remains afloat until it reaches sufficient speed, at which point the hydro-skis generate the necessary hydrodynamic lift to lift the aircraft’s fuselage above the water surface before takeoff.
The XF2Y-1 aircraft was powered by two Westinghouse J-34-WE-42 turbojet engines, each producing 1,540 kg of thrust. The second prototype, also designated XF2Y-1, which was destroyed in a crash in November 1954, had a slightly extended tail section designed to accommodate afterburners, giving its two Westinghouse J-46-WE engines a thrust of 2,700 kg each. Without afterburner, the engine’s thrust was 2,090 kg.
Convair received an order to produce 12 F2Y-1 Sea Dart fighters, but it was canceled, and further work was concentrated on a modified version, the XF2Y-2. This version was to be equipped with a single turbojet engine (either a Wright J-67 with 5,450 kg of thrust or a Pratt & Whitney J-75 with 6,800 kg of thrust). Additionally, one variant of the XF2Y-1 was fitted with a single hydro-ski for experimental purposes.
Selama ini aku hanya kagum pada pesawat yang beroperasi dari landasan darat saja. Bagi aku pesawat amphibi terkesan tidak cukup ‘galak’. Bentuknya yang terkesan mirip kapal bersama dengan penempatan sayap di bagian atas, tampak terlampau tidak menarik. Apalagi badan pesawat yang selalu lebar ke samping, membuat tampilannya lebih mirip nyonya gendut. Alhasil pengetahuan aku perihal pesawat amphibi sesungguhnya terbatas. Namun setelah memandang tayangan dokumentasi di BBC Knowledge perihal topic ke dua pesawat tersebut aku layaknya terhenyak tatkala memandang ke dua pesawat amphibi bermesin jet sanggup beroperasi dipermukaan air sementara tinggal landas dan mendarat. Consolidated Vultee PBY ‘Catalina’, pesawat yang pernah dimilki AURI hanya satu style pesawat amphibi yang umum digunakan Amerika dalam episode perang Pasific. Jenis pesawat lainnya yang kesemuanya bermesin baling-baling bersama dengan ukuran yang lebih besar dari ‘Catalina’ terhitung banyak digunakan oleh US Navy.
Konten ini sudah tayang di Kompasiana.com bersama dengan judul “‘Sea Dart’ F2Y dan ‘Sea Master’ P6M: Proyek Jet Amphibi dalam Era Perang Dingin.”, Klik untuk baca:
https://www.kompasiana.com/sigitsatriopringgondanipriyadi/5528532e6ea834a15c8b4569/sea-dart-f2y-dan-sea-master-p6m-proyek-jet-amphibi-dalam-era-perang-dingin
Kreator: Sigit Priyadi
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