With advances being made in turbojet technology - and aeronautics in general - during the latter part of the 1940s, the United States Navy (USN) began entertaining more radical aircraft designs to help fulfill possible future battlefield roles. One such role became the "flying boat fighter" or "Seaplane Fighter", a fighter-type aircraft designed with a boat-like hull/fuselage to allow for take-off and landing from water sources while retaining fighter-minded combat capabilities. Several nations delved into this type of aircraft including the British but there proved few viable candidates adopted for serial production. The Soviet Union managed several of its "Ekranoplan" jet-powered "Ground Effect Vehicles" (GEVs) during this period as well.
The concept of a seaplane / flying boat fighter was an interesting one as it allowed operational access to nearly any part of the globe where these aircraft types could be stationed. The aircraft would be tended to by accompanying naval vessels (such as seaplane tenders) and outfitted appropriately with fuel and armament to fit the mission need. Taking off and being recovered from water while supply fight-like performance added a tactical advantage.
Convair managed to lend its name to a variety of iconic Cold War American aircraft including the massive B-36 "Peacekeeper" jet-powered strategic heavy bomber, the B-58 "Hustler" supersonic jet bomber, and the F-102/F-106 jet-powered interceptors. Its design proposal for what became USN specification "OS-116" was the "Skate" and realized as a long-shot for serial production work. Nevertheless, the requirement was intriguing and competition for the product was relatively limited by Cold War standards.
CONVAIR engineers returned with a sleek-looking large fighter boat design featuring swept wing mainplanes (40-degree angles), a near "T-style" tail unit and smooth hull/fuselage. The cockpit was set ahead of the wings and aft of a short nosecone intended to house an AN/APQ-35 series radar. The aircraft was to seat two with the pilot's position offset to portside from centerline and the radar operator's position lower and to the right of the pilot. The wing mainplanes were mid-mounted and benefitted water-taxiing actions some and a rudder was also fitted under the fuselage for the same reason. The intakes were located well-forward in the design along the upper hull to either side of the cockpit to help reduce the chance that the engines could take in water. The tailplane sported all-moving surfaces and were high-mounted along the dorsal tail fin. Dimensions included a length of 83 feet and a wingspan of 63.5 feet.
Propulsion would come from 2 x Westinghouse XJ40-WE-10 afterburning turbojets each developing upwards of 7,920 lb thrust. With afterburner engaged, this output increased to 11,750 lb of thrust each. Estimated performance figures by CONVAIR engineers included a maximum airspeed of 713 miles per hour, service ceiling of 52,500 feet, and a rate-of-climb of 22,800 feet per minute. Combat range was out to 460 miles.
Proposed standard armament was 2 to 4 x 20mm cannons seated within the wings and outboard of the engine installations. Sources also indicate an ability to mount 30 x 5" aerial rockets as well. There was no bomb-carrying element revealed.
USN authorities reviewed the CONVAIR submission and found it adequate for its requirements though the design was not furthered beyond some artist impressions and design spec drawings. As such, the flying boat / seaplane fighter continued to be nothing more than a novel concept in the minds of Cold War-era warplanners. However, all was not lost for, in 1953, the CONVAIR F2Y "Sea Dart" seaplane fighter took shape and managed a maiden flight for the USN. Five of these were completed (though only in prototype form) and marked the first seaplane aircraft to ever exceed the speed of sound.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Air-to-Air Combat, Fighter
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.
✓Interception
Ability to intercept inbound aerial threats by way of high-performance, typically speed and rate-of-climb.
✓Maritime / Navy
Land-based or shipborne capability for operating over-water in various maritime-related roles while supported by allied naval surface elements.
✓X-Plane (Developmental, Prototype, Technology Demonstrator)
Aircraft developed for the role of prototyping, technology demonstration, or research / data collection.
Length
83.7 ft (25.50 m)
Width/Span
62.5 ft (19.05 m)
Height
18.3 ft (5.57 m)
Empty Wgt
61,068 lb (27,700 kg)
MTOW
92,374 lb (41,900 kg)
Wgt Diff
+31,306 lb (+14,200 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base CONVAIR Skate production variant)
Installed:
2 x Westinghouse XJ40-WE-10 turbojet engines developing 11,750 lb thrust each with afterburner.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base CONVAIR Skate production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
PROPOSED STANDARD:
2 OR 4 x 20mm fixed, forward-firing cannons in wings, outboard of engine installations.
PROPOSED OPTIONAL:
30 x 5" aerial rockets.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 0
"Skate" - Base Product Designation
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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