Warplanes of the USA: Ohio, Dayton, National Museum of the USAF: Ryan
Warplane Survivors USA: Ohio, Dayton, National Museum of the USAF: Ryan
(NMUSAF Photos)
Ryan PT-22 Recruit (Serial No. 41-15721). The PT-22 on display in the NMUSAF was donated by Mrs. Nickolas A. Romano Jr. and her son, Nicky, of Hampton, Virginia, in 1969 in memory of her husband who lost his life in Vietnam on 1 July 1968. Chief Warrant Officer Romano had served as an enlisted man in the USAF for 22 years prior to retiring. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army to attend flight school and become a pilot. The airplane was restored by the Department of Aviation Technology, Purdue University.
(NMUSAF Photo)
Ryan YPT-16 STA (Serial No. NC 18922), C/N 312. Suspended from the ceiling. Acquired by the museum in 1986, the aircraft on display is a Ryan STA withdrawn from the YPT-16 production run. Never owned by the Air Corps, it flew under civilian registration. However, the logbook shows that the aircraft participated in demonstrations to Air Corps officials at Wright Field, Ohio, in July 1939.
(NMUSAF Photos)
Ryan X-13A Vertijet (Serial No. 54-1620). Suspended from its launch and recovery tower. 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. Equipped with a temporary tricycle landing gear, the first of two X-13s flew conventionally in December 1955 to test its overall aerodynamic characteristics. It was then fitted with a temporary "tail sitting" rig, and in May 1956 this X-13 flew vertically to test its hovering qualities. The second X-13, on display in the NMUSAF, made history in April 1957, when it completed the first full-cycle flight at Edwards Air Force Base, California. It took off vertically from its mobile trailer, rose into the air, nosed over into a level attitude and flew for several minutes. Then, it reversed the procedure to vertical flight and slowly descended to its trailer for a safe landing. This X-13 also made demonstration flights in the Washington, D.C., area later that year. Even though the X-13 successfully proved the original concept, its design had limited operational potential, and a lack of funding shut down the program in 1958. The X-13 was transferred to the museum in 1959.
(NMUSAF Photo)
Ryan BQM-34 Firebee. The Firebee, originally designated the Q-2, was a high-speed target drone for both surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. It was used primarily for the testing of newly-developed missiles and for the training of fighter-interceptor pilots whose aircraft were armed with missiles. Capable of being launched from the ground or from an airplane in flight, the Firebee is radio-controlled during its mission by an operator on the ground. Upon being hit by a missile and disabled, or upon completing its mission undamaged, the Firebee is lowered safely to earth by a self-contained parachute. The Firebee on display inthe NMUSAF was the first XQ-2C built and flown. It established a record of 25 flights at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, from 1958 to 1960. It was obtained from Ryan in May 1960.
