The Ryan X-13 Vertijet (company designation Model 69) is an experimental tail-sitting vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) jet aircraft. It was built by Ryan Aeronautical in the USA and flown in the 1950s. The main objective of the project was to demonstrate the ability of a pure jet to vertically take off, hover, transition to horizontal forward flight, and vertically land. It had 1 pilot and and modified Rolls Royce Avon turbojet and a maximum vertical take-off weight of 3270 kg. It could reach 560 km/hr in horizontal flight. Two X-13 were built.
source: wikipedia
Ryan X-13 vertijet
One of two X-13, serial 54-1620, made it full cycle flight April 11, 1957. It was after tests transferred May 1959 to Wright Patterson musem in Dayton and is on display at the USAF museum in Dayton, Ohio, USA.
Photographed July 2024 by Meindert de Vreeze (C) Copyright IPMS Nederland
Kits of the X-13: in 1/48 an old Aurora kit and in 1/72 vacuform kits of Airmodel, Eagles Talon/ Wings and of Execuform. In 1/72 MACH2 injection moulded kit and a resin Raccoon Models kit.
This walk around page was published March 16, 2025 by M. de Vreeze