History

The Convair YF2Y-1 Sea Dart was designed as a supersonic seaplane fighter capable of operating from a wide variety of water bases around the world. By the mid 1950s the concept was abandoned and only three Sea Darts flew.

The YF2Y was designed to give the US Navy a supersonic fighter capable of flying from anywhere around the world at a time when it was unclear that supersonic fighters would be able to fly from aircraft carriers.

Design began in 1948 and the first XF2Y made its maiden flight on 9 April 1953.

The YF2Y had more powerful engines and could exceed the speed of sound in a gentle dive.

The first YF2Y flew in early 1954 but by then the US Navy had lost interest in the project and production orders were cancelled.

Only three more YF2Y-1s were constructed but only one flew. The last Sea Dart flight occurred on 26 April 1955.

This model represents the second YF2Y-1.

Anigrand 1/144 kit with Microscale decals completed by Leigh Edmonds in June 2021.

Data

MODEL: Convair YF2Y-1

ROLE: experimental single-seat seaplane fighter

TIME PERIOD: 1953-1957

ENGINES: two 2722kg thrust Westinghouse J46-WE-2 afterburning turbojets

WING SPAN: 10.26m

LENGTH: 16.03m

MAXIMUM TAKE OFF WEIGHT: 7495kg

MAXIMUM SPEED: 118km/h

RANGE: 826km

CREW: 1

ARMAMENT: proposed four 20mm cannon, fin-folded rockets and two air-to-air missiles

SCALE: 1/144

KIT:

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