text: can anyone give me information on the ryan fr-1 fireball.? best info gets the points. the fr-1 "fireball" was designed in early 1943 for the us navy.  on the 1/2/1943 the ryan aeronautical company was awarded a contract for three prototypes and one static airframe for testing. the first aircraft was ready for it's maiden flight on the 25/6/1944, however it was only powered by it's piston engine for the first two flights with the general electric i-16 turbojet engine being fitted a few days later.  on the 2/12/1943 the us navy ordered 100 fr-1" fireballs" and later in 1944 ordered an additional 600 aircraft, but after vj day after only 66 aircraft had been made the order was canceled.