The Convair F2Y Sea Dart is an American seaplane fighter aircraft that rode on twin hydro-skis during takeoff and landing. It flew only as a prototype, and never entered mass production. It is the only seaplane to have exceeded the speed of sound.

Sea Dart, or GWS.30[a] was a Royal Navy surface-to-air missile system designed in the 1960s and entering service in 1973. It was fitted to the Type 42 destroyers (United Kingdom and Argentina), Type 82 destroyer and Invincible -class aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy.

Apr 2, 2018 · The Sea Dart was a single-seat fighter with a wingspan of 33 feet 8 inches and a length of 52 feet 7 inches. Its armament was meant to include four 20mm cannons and a battery of 44 2.75-inch rockets, although no weapons were ever actually installed.

The Sea Dart was to be the first combat-type plane equipped with retractable hydroskis, the first delta-winged seaplane, and the first supersonic seaplane in the world. Its first flight was made over San Diego Bay on April 9, 1953, and in August …

Following a series of taxi trials in December 1952 through early 1953, the official maiden flight of the first prototype (137634) Sea Dart took place on April 9, 1953. See Photo to the right courtesy of the US Navy.

Sep 21, 2020 · Takeoff roll from afterburner light-off to liftoff averaged 28 seconds and around 2,300 feet, depending on sea conditions, remarkably short for a supersonic aircraft. During open-water testing, the Sea Dart proved capable of handling up to …

May 13, 2018 · Tragedy shook the Sea Dart effort on Nov. 4, 1954, when Sea Dart number 135762 came apart in flight over San Diego Bay during a demonstration flight for officials and media. Convair pilot Charles E. Richbourg died from injuries he received.

The Sea Dart arrived full-blown in an era when jet engines were unreliable and Navy Westinghouse jet engines, especially the J40 and J46, had more problems than others. The Sea Dart was to be powered by twin 6,000-pound thrust Westinghouse XJ46-WE-02 turbojet engines.

Jan 20, 2023 · The Sea Dart was an attempt at a seaplane fighter jet that would not have the challenges early jets had operating from aircraft carriers due to high approach speeds and long take-off rolls. Plus, not having a large runway would …

Nov 5, 2023 · The F2Y Sea Dart was an ambitious project by Convair to produce a supersonic jet-powered seaplane for the US Navy. Floating above the water on skis, Convair partially achieved this goal, as the F2Y is the first, and last supersonic seaplane ever made.