- F7U Cutlass
Infobox Aircraft
name= F7U Cutlass
type= Naval fighter
manufacturer= Chance Vought
caption= An F7U-3 Cutlass on the ramp atNaval Air Station Jacksonville .
first flight= 29 September 1948
introduced= July 1951
retired= 2 March 1959
primary user=United States Navy
more users=
produced= 1948-1955
number built= 320
unit cost=
variants with their own articles=The Vought F7U Cutlass was aUnited States Navy carrier-basedjet fighter andfighter-bomber of the earlyCold War era. It was a highly unusual, semi-tailless design, allegedly based on aerodynamic data and plans captured from the Arado company at the end ofWorld War II , though Vought designers denied any link to the German research at the time.Angelucci 1987, p. 447.] The F7U was the last aircraft designed byRex Beisel , who was responsible for the first fighter ever designed specifically for the US Navy, the Curtiss TS-1 of 1922.Regarded as a radical departure from traditional aircraft design, the Cutlass suffered from numerous technical and handling problems throughout its short service career. The type was responsible for the deaths of four test pilots and 21 other U.S. Navy pilots. Over one quarter of all Cutlasses built were destroyed in accidents. The poor safety record was largely the result of the advanced design built to apply new
aerodynamic theories.Design and development
The Cutlass was Vought's entry to a U.S. Navy competition for a new carrier capable day fighter opened on 1 June 1945. The requirements were for an aircraft that was able to fly at 600mph (966km/h) at 40,000ft (12,192m). The design featured broad chord, low
aspect ratio , swept wings, with twin wing-mounted tail fins either side of a shortfuselage . Thecockpit was situated well forward to provide good visibility for the pilot during aircraft carrier approaches. The design was given the company type number of V-346 and then the designation F7U when it was announced the winner of the competition.Pitch and roll control was provided by
elevon s; it is notable that Vought called these surfaces "ailevators" at the time.Slats were fitted to the entire span of theleading edge . All controls werehydraulic powered. The very long noselanding gear strut required for highangle of attack takeoff s was rather weak, and a collapse could seriously jeopardize the pilot's safety. The F7U was also largely let down by its underpowered Westinghouse turbojets, an engine which some pilots wryly observed put out less heat than the same company'stoaster s. Naval aviators referred to the F7U as the "gutless cutlass" or, in kinder moments, as the "praying mantis".O'Rourke, G.G, CAPT USN. "Of Hosenoses, Stoofs, and Lefthanded Spads." "United States Naval Institute Proceedings", July 1968.]Operational history
Three prototypes were ordered in 1946, with the first example flying on
29 September 1948, piloted by Vought's Chief Test Pilot, J. Robert Baker. The maiden flight took place fromNaval Air Station Patuxent River and was not without its problems. J. Robert Baker lost his life while flying the same aircraft a few weeks later when he lost control and crashed. During testing one of the protypes reached a maximum speed of 625mph (1,058km/h)Angelluci, 1987. p. 448.]Production orders were placed for the F7U-1 in a specification very close to the prototypes, and further developed F7U-2 and F7U-3 versions with more powerful engines. Because of development problems with the powerplant, however, the F7U-2 would never be built, while the F7U-3 would incorporate many refinements suggested by tests of the -1. The first 16 F7U-3s had non-afterburning
Allison J35 -29 engines. The -3 with itsWestinghouse J46 -WE-8Bturbojet s would eventually become the definitive production version, with 288 aircraft equipping 13 U.S. Navy squadrons. Further development stopped once theF8U Crusader flew.The F7U bore the fleet nickname of the "Gutless Cutlass" in reference to its lack of engine
thrust ; consequently its carrier landing and takeoff performance was notoriously poor. The J35 was actually known to flameout in the rain, a very serious fault.Blue Angels
The
Blue Angels Navyaerobatics team flew two F7U-1 Cutlasses as a side act during their 1952 show season in an effort to promote the new aircraft, but did not use them as part of their regular formation act. Both the pilots and ground crews found the aircraft generally unsatisfactory and it was apparent that the type was still experiencing teething troubles.Angelluci, 1987. p. 448.]Variants
;XF7U-1:Three prototypes ordered on
25 June 1946 . First flight,29 September 1948 , all three aircraft were destroyed in crashes. Gunston 1981, p. 235.] ;F7U-1:The initial production version, 14 built. Powered by two J34-WE-32 engines.;F7U-2:Proposed version, planned to be powered by two Westinghouse J34-WE-42 engines withafterburner , but the order for 88 aircraft was cancelled. ;XF7U-3:Designation given to one aircraft built as the prototype for the F7U-3. First flight: 20 December 1951.;F7U-3:The definitive production version, 192 built.;F7U-3P:Photo-reconnaissance version, 12 built. With a 25 in longer nose and equipped with photo flash cartridges none of these aircraft saw operational service, being used only for research and evaluation purposes. ;F7U-3M:This version was armed with theAIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missile, 98 built. A total of 48 F7U-3 existing airframes were upgraded to F7U-3M standard. An order for 202 aircraft was cancelled. ;A2U-1:Designation given to a cancelled order of 250 aircraft to be used in the ground attack role.Operators
;USA
*;United States Navy
**VA-12
**VA-34
**VA-35
**VA-66
**VA-86
**VA-116
**VA-126
**VA-155
**VF-83
**VF-84
**VF-122
**VF-151
**VF-212urvivors
Seven F7U Cutlass are known to have survived.;F7U-3 s/n 128451:Located unrestored and incomplete at the Fred E. Weisbroad Aviation Museum/International B-24 Museum in
Pueblo, Colorado . Its condition is poor.;F7U-3 s/n 129554:Purchased by Len Berryman from Geiger Field, Washington in May 1958 and displayed outside the Berryman War Memorial Park in Bridgeport, Washington from 1958 until 1992. In June 1992 it was sold to Tom Cathcart of Ephrata, Washington for restoration to eventual flying condition. This aircraft is currently undergoing restoration at theMuseum of Flight inEverett, Washington .;F7U-3 s/n 129642:On display at the Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum at the Naval Air Station-Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. The aircraft belonged to attack squadron VA-12 and was flown to Willow Grove in May 1957 to take part in an air show. Upon arrival the aircraft was stricken from active duty. It was given to the Navy Reserve as a ground training aircraft, and eventually placed as a gate guard in front of the base on US Route 611. The airframe has only 326.3 hours total time.;F7U-3M s/n 129655:On display at theNational Museum of Naval Aviation inPensacola, Florida .;F7U-3 s/n 129685:Located for many years at the collection of Walter Soplata in Newbury, Ohio. [ [http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Fea1/101-200/Fea182_Walters-Farm_Williams/00.shtm Walter's farm] Retrieved:25 February 2008.] Like most aircraft on this famous farm the aircraft appears complete, though it is exposed to the elements and unrestored.;F7U-3 s/n 129565:Was undergoing restoration for display at theUSS Hornet (CV-12) Museum inAlameda, California . Has now been transferred toUSS Midway (CV-41) Museum inSan Diego, California for final restoration and display.;F7U-3 s/n 128451 :Also atUSS Midway (CV-41) Museum inSan Diego, California . May be restored for later displaypecifications (F7U-3M)
ee also
aircontent
related=
similar aircraft=
*A-7 Corsair
*F4D Skyray
*F-8 Crusader
lists=
*List of fighter aircraft
*List of military aircraft of the United States
see also=References
Notes
Bibliography
* Angelucci, Enzo. "The American Fighter". Sparkford, Somerset, UK: Haynes Publishing Group, 1987. ISBN 0-85429-635-2.
* Green, William and Pollinger, Gerald. "The Aircraft of the World". London: Macdonald, 1955.
* Gunston, Bill. "Fighters of the Fifties". Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Limited, 1981. ISBN 0-85059-463-4.
* Taylor, John W. R. "Vought F7U Cutlass". "Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the Present". New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN 0-425-03633-2.
* Taylor, Michael J.H., ed. "Chance Vought F7U Cutlass." "Jane’s Encyclopedia of Aviation". New York: Crescent, 1993. ISBN 0-517-10316-8.
* Winchester, Jim, ed. "Vought F7U Cutlass". "The World's Worst Aircraft: From Pioneering Failures to Multimillion Dollar Disasters". London: Amber Books Ltd., 2005. ISBN 1-904687-34-2.External links
* [http://www.vought.com/gallery/historic/F7/index_F7_01.htm Vought Aircraft Industries, F-7U Photo Gallery]
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