Convair Sea Dart Explodes
(Rec. 8.30 p.m.y SAN DIEGO (California), Nov. 4. The world’s fastest seaplane, the Convair YF2Y-1 Sea Dart, exploded over San Diego today. The plane, making a speed rim across the harbour, shattered apart in a huge burst of yellow flame about 500 ft above the water. The pilot, Charles E. Richbourg, was demonstrating the, speed and versatility of the water-based plane. The plane was approaching from the south when it was seen to burst into flames. The craft started to disintegrate and then there was a great blast of flame, with heat so intense that watchers on shore felt it and ducked down to escape the fire as well as the debris. The pilot was taken from the water alive, but died in a few minutes.
The first Sea Dart exceeded the speed of sound in a shallow dive on August 3. The YF2Y-1
was the second Sea Dart to undergo flight, tests. It had two Westinghouse J-34 jet engines that develop a total of 85001 b thrust with after-burners. The first Sea Dart made its maiden flight from San Diego Bay on April S, 1953.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume XC, Issue 27500, 6 November 1954, Page 7
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190Convair Sea Dart Explodes Press, Volume XC, Issue 27500, 6 November 1954, Page 7
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