F2Y Sea Dart — Part 1

F2Y Sea Dart — Part 1

27° 58′ 56″ N / 82° 01′ 40″ W

The period after the end of WW II saw the beginning of turbojet powered aircraft coming into prominence and the culmination of seaplane evolution. And on only a few occasions these two areas of aeronautical design merged. One of these creations was the Convair F2Y Sea Dart — a prototype of a waterborne fighter that flew at high speeds, capable of supersonic velocities if in a dive — that was truly a marvel. When I first saw the one pictured below my most immediate impression  was of the cockpit canopy and nose — together they reminded me of Jules Verne’s submarine Nautilus in his adventure novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (written in 1869 and just as exciting to read now as it was back in the day).

Convair F2Y Sea Dart at the Florida Air Museum — photo by Joe May

Aft aspect of the F2Y Sea Dart — photo by Joe May

A design inspired by Jules Verne, perhaps? — photo by Joe May

Tail and panels (Which may have served as speed brakes and rudders?) — photo by Joe May

Rear aspect also showing the delta wing — photo by Joe May

Part 2 of this post will better illustrate the hydroskis as well as the Sea Dart’s beaching gear and will publish on 14 January.

Four Sea Darts exists, unusual for a prototype aircraft which never entered service:

• One awaiting restoration at the National Air & Space Museum
• One at the Florida Air Museum (and pictured in this post)
• One at the San Diego Air & Space Museum
• One at the Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum