#vertijet

The Ryan X-13 Vertijet grew from an in-house Ryan study to see if the Ryan FR-1 Fireball could be modified for vertical takeoff. This was expanded on by the US Navy who were interested in operating aircraft from submarines. In 1953, the US Air Force awarded Ryan a contract for the X-13.

The first of two X-13s first flew on 10 December 1955. It was fitted with a temporary conventional undercarriage to enable it to take off horizontally and test flight characteristics. In flight transitions from horizontal to vertical and back again were made. The undercarriage was then replaced with one under the tail and vertical take offs were made.

Once the feasibility of the vertical take off and change to horizontal flight was demonstrated, the X-13 was tested from its intended operational launch platform, a truck mounted vertical trailer. This also proved successful and the versatility of the X-13 was demonstrated by taking off, crossing the Potomac River and landing at the Pentagon.

Despite the successful tests, the USAF did not have a requirement for such an aircraft and discontinued the tests on 30 September 1957.

We have now entered the Research and Development exhibit, which is where the museum's experimental aircraft that never quite took off (😉) live.  Personally, I think this is one of the coolest parts of the museum because it really showcases all of the strange and wacky things that have been tried over the years to push the limits of what can be done with flight.

This is a Ryan X-13 Vertijet. As per the museum website, "The X-13 was built to prove the concept that a jet could take off vertically, transition to horizontal flight, and return to vertical flight for landing." While the craft was successful, the project was shut down due to limited operational potential and a lack of funding.

Underneath the cut is a picture of the placard in front of the Vertijet at the museum, which includes a diagram illustrating take off.

Ryan X-13 Vertijet