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Ryan X-13 Vertijet

1953 COLD WAR X-PLANE

History

Ryan X-13 "Vertijet" was an experimental program funded by the U.S. Air Force in the 1950s to test the effectiveness of an aircraft that could take off vertically, fly horizontally, and land vertically - all using turbojet engines . In 1947, under the banner of the U.S.

Navy, the Bureau of Aeronautics commissioned Ryan Aeronautical to oversee the development of this airframe for U.S. submarines. Ryan's subsequent attempts at tethered testing and flight design provided promising results. At this time, the U.S.

Air Force became interested in the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) concept and commissioned Ryanair to build a pair of prototypes, codenamed "X-13".

The development of the X-13 focused on a single-seat, single-engine airframe that could be launched from a specially designed trailer. The trailer bed can be raised to a vertical position and become a launch tower for the aircraft.

From this position, the pilot can guide the X-13 up and away from the turret to a workable altitude, then roll forward for level flight. The X-13 can then go back from horizontal to vertical, lean against the tower and stop. , complete the entire flight cycle.

The first flight of the X-13 was on December 10, 1955, the prototype was equipped with a temporary tricycle landing gear, as it was only intended to test conventional flight characteristics before it was planned to enter the VTOL phase. A temporary rig was then installed on the tail prior to flight on May 28, 1956, during which the X-13 achieved full vertical flight while testing the hovering capabilities of the fuselage and engines.

It wasn't until April 11, 1957, that the X-13 completed its first full-cycle flightthat is, the X-13 took off from a vertical position, achieved horizontal flight, and then landed vertically back to the launch tower. The feat, which took place at Edwards Air Force Base in California, included a few minutes of level flight.

The X-13 was on public display in July 1957, when a prototype flew over the Potomac River and stopped at the Pentagon compound.

Despite the promise of the X-13 project and all its technical achievements, the USAF decided not to proceed with the design, as there was no shortage of any requirements for such an aircraft at the time. Regardless, the Ryan X-13 Vertijet proved the concept, and specific VTOL aircraft didn't really materialize until the British completed the long-term development of their own VTOL design, which would become the "Harrier" jet.

The X-13 prototype was 23 feet 5 inches long and had a wingspan of 21 feet. Height is 15 feet 2 inches. The X-13 has a displacement of 5,334 pounds when empty and 6,730 pounds when fully loaded. Maximum takeoff weight is nearly 7,200 pounds.

Power is provided by a British Rolls-Royce Avon turbojet engine, which provides up to 10,000 lbf of thrust. This gives the airframe a top speed of up to 350 mph and a range of 192 miles. Service is capped at 20,000 feet.

Pitch and yaw are handled by the vector engine design, while "cushion" nozzles mounted on the wingtips control roll.

Externally, the Ryan X-13 takes on a unique appearance as a rather stout delta wing creation. The wings are located above the short fuselage and extend from the rear of the cockpit to the exhaust ring of the engine. Vertical fins are located at the end of each wing.

The engine was buried in a slender tubular fuselage, with air intakes on either side of the cockpit. The cockpit is located at the front of the fuselage and has a framed canopy that provides a good view of the nose and sides of the aircraft. Seats are designed for a single operator. A rod is mounted on the nose to facilitate vertical alignment of the aircraft with their respective launch towers. The tail is controlled by a large vertical tail.

Because the X-13 was designed for vertical flight, the finished prototype did not have a traditional landing gear, but instead used a hook mount under the nose and a strut frame under the fuselage. When set up for vertical takeoff or landing, both components are used to secure the X-13 to the tower/car.

Two completed prototypes were retired for museum use, the first (54-1619) on display at the San Diego Air and Space Museum and the second (54-1620) shipped to the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. The latter prototype was the Vertijet, which successfully completed a full-cycle flight and arrived at the museum in 1959.