Time Period: Post-WW2
Country of Origin: United States
Type: Fighter Aircraft (Multi-Purpose)
Manufacturer: Vought
Vought F7U Cutlass Aircraft Overview
The Vought F7U Cutlass was a carrier-based jet fighter aircraft that was designed and produced by the American aircraft manufacturer Vought in the 1950s. It was one of the first carrier-based aircraft to feature a tailless design, and it was intended to provide the US Navy with a high-speed, high-altitude interceptor capable of taking on the latest generation of Soviet bombers.
The Cutlass was powered by two Westinghouse J34 turbojet engines, which gave it a top speed of over 600 miles per hour. Its distinctive tailless design was intended to reduce drag and improve its overall performance, but it also presented some handling challenges for pilots.
Despite its innovative design, the F7U Cutlass experienced a number of technical problems and accidents during its service life, and it was ultimately considered to be one of the least successful carrier-based fighter aircraft in US Navy history. The Cutlass was gradually phased out of service in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and it was replaced by more advanced aircraft such as the F-4 Phantom II.
Vought F7U-3M Specifications
- Crew: 1
- Length: 41 ft 3.5 in (12.586 m)
- Wingspan: 39 ft 8 in (12.1 m) * Span wings folded: 22.3 ft (6.80 m)
- Height: 14 ft 0 in (4.27 m)
- Wing area: 496 sq ft (46.1 m2)
- Empty weight: 18,210 lb (8,260 kg)
- Gross weight: 26,840 lb (12,174 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 31,643 lb (14,353 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Westinghouse J46-WE-8B after-burning turbojet engines, 4,600 lbf (20 kN) thrust each dry, 6,000 lbf (27 kN) with afterburner
Vought F7U-3M Performance
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- Maximum speed: 606 kn (697 mph, 1,122 km/h) at sea level with Military power + afterburner
- Cruise speed: 490 kn (560 mph, 910 km/h) at 38,700 ft (11,800 m) to 42,700 ft (13,000 m)
- Stall speed: 112 kn (129 mph, 207 km/h) power off at take-off. 93.2 kn (173 km/h) with approach power for landing
- Combat range: 800 nmi (920 mi, 1,500 km)
- Service ceiling: 40,600 ft (12,375 m)
- Rate of climb: 14,420 ft/min (73.3 m/s) with Military power + afterburner
- Time to altitude: 20,000 ft (6,100 m) in 5.6 minutes. 30,000 ft (9,144 m) in 10.2 minutes
- Wing loading: 50.2 lb/sq ft (245 kg/m2)
- Thrust/weight: 0.45
- Take-off run: in calm conditions 1,595 ft (486 m) with Military power + afterburner
Vought F7U-3M Armament
- Guns: 4x 20mm M3 cannon, 180 rpg
- Hardpoints: 4 with a capacity of 5,500 lb (2,500 kg), with provisions to carry combinations of:
- Missiles: 4 AAM-N-2 Sparrow I air-to-air missiles
