Ryan Darkshark XF2R-1

While commanding Air Group-15, Lambert wrangled his first flight in a jet in 1948: the twin-engined Ryan Darkshark XF2R-1 was equipped with a thin laminar flow wing. A 1,700 horsepower turbo-prop engine in the front was geared to an 11 ft. diameter propeller. Also, the front engine delivered 550 lb. of residual thrust from it's exhaust pipes on each side of the fuselage, just below the cockpit. Finally, a 1600 Lb. thrust pure jet engine was hidden in the tail.

The airplane was simultaneously the Navy's first jet fighter and its last propeller-driven fighter.

The Darkshark offered a sustained rate of climb of 6,000 FPM, a ceiling of 43,100 ft., and a top speed over 500 mph. It was the fastest airplane Lambert had flown yet. It had spectacular acceleration: If it started its takeoff roll simultaneously with an F-86 Sabre jet, it would top 6,000 ft. altitude before the Sabre jet reached the end of the runway!

The one-of-a-kind Ryan Darkshark never made it into production because the Navy knew that faster jets were on the drawing boards. It became the missing link between propeller and jet fighters; but V.G. Lambert never forgot the vivid memory of flying this aerial hot-rod.

But, back to our story: The world was in trouble again. Korea lurked around the corner, and the Navy would soon need Lambert's vast experience at attacking ground targets with carrier-born aircraft.