High
Gallery
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Military Aircraft F7U-1 CUTLASS Photo By Coll B. Thouanel |
| At the end of the Second World War, the Americans made a great effort to secure German aeronautical research data, and the implication of this information were soon seen in revisions of designs already undertaken by American manufacturers. Vought became interested in Arado research into tail less aircraft, and the result was the V-346 fighter without a conventional tail for small overall size, high speed, and good climb rate. The US Navy ordered three XF7U-1 prototype in 1946, and the first of these flew in September 1948 with nearly parallel chord wings of low aspect ratio, swept at 38 degrees, and carrying full span slats on the leading edges and wide span elevons of the trailing edges outboard of the large vertical surfaces. There followed 14 F7U-1 pre production aircraft. The F7U-1 was beset by numerous aerodynamic and engine problems, and did not enter operational service, a responsibility that fell to the much redesigned F7U-3 with different engines. The Cutlass was the first naval aircraft designed for reheated turbojets, and also introduced power controls with artificial Feel and an automatic stabilization system. |
TECHNICAL DATA
| Description | Specifications |
| Manufacturer: Vought | Length: 39 ft. 7 in. |
| First Flight: September 1948 | Height: 9 ft. 10 in. |
| Model: 3 | Wing Span: 38 ft. 8 in. |
| Crew: One | Wing Area: 469.0 sq. ft. |
| Nickname: Cutlass | Empty Weight: 9,565 lb. |
| Basic Role: Carrierborne air superiority fighter. | Max. Weight: 16,840 lb. |
| Other Versions: F7U-1 pre production version of the Cutlass. | Armament: Four 20-mm cannon. |
| Principal User: USA |
Propulsion |
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Performance |
Power Plant: Westinghouse J34-WE-32 turbojets. |
| Range: 600 miles. | Horsepower: 4,200-lb reheated thrust. |
| Max. Speed: 672 mph. at 20,000 ft. | No. Of Engines: Two |
| Ceiling: 41,400 ft. | |
| Climb Rate: 11,280 ft. per minute. |
Photo Of Other F7U Aircraft
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Seen here in the form of an XF7U-1 prototype, the Cutlass was an ambitious design the enjoyed only mixed success in an operational career that was curtailed by the advent of the same company's F8U Crusader with its more conventional design and handling characteristics. A air superiority fighter. |