Convair XFY Pogo
| XFY Pogo | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Role | Experimental VTOL fighter aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Convair |
| First flight | 19 April 1954 (tethered) 1 August 1954 (free flight) |
| Primary user | United States Navy |
| Produced | 1954 |
| Number built | 3 (only 1 flown) |
The Convair XFY Pogo tail-sitter was an experiment in vertical takeoff and landing. The Pogo had delta wings and three-bladed contra-rotating propellers powered by a 5,500 hp (4,100 kW) Allison YT40-A-6 turboprop engine. It was intended to be a high-performance fighter aircraft capable of operating from small warships. Landing the XFY-1 was difficult, as the pilot had to look over his shoulder while carefully working the throttle to land.
After World War II, the Cold War prompted the United States Army and Navy to study VTOL operations. It was envisaged to protect task forces, convoys or any fleet, even without aircraft carriers, by placing VTOLs on any ship. These fighters would be housed within a conical protective housing, saving limited deck space available aboard ships. They would provide first line of airborne defense and reconnaissance capability, before more aircraft could be scrambled to help.
In May 1951, Lockheed and Convair were awarded contracts in the attempt to design, construct, and test two experimental VTOL fighters that would be suitable for use by the Armed forces. Although contract stipulations stated that each manufacturer have two fighters, each was only able to construct one, with Lockheed producing the XFV, and Convair producing the XFY, nicknamed the "Pogo". The first XFY-1 prototype was used for engine testing and the third for static testing and only the second prototype serial number 138649 was flown.
The XFY-1 was designed for the Allison YT40-A-14 turboprop expected to deliver 7,100 shp (5,295 kW), the production aircraft were intended to use the even more powerful Allison T54 which was never built. It had delta wings, swept at 52 degrees, and a fin with a span of 21 ft 8 in (6.5 m). The pilot's seat was mounted on gimbals allowing for movement from 45 degrees in vertical flight to 90 degrees in horizontal flight. The Curtiss-Wright Turbo-electric co-axial contra-rotating three-bladed propellers were 16 feet (4.88 m) in diameter.
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