Vought F7U Cutlass

Naval multirole fighter introduced in 1951

Overview

Vought United States ICAO: F7U 1948–1955

The Vought F7U Cutlass was designed and produced by Chance Vought as a carrier-based jet fighter and fighter-bomber of the United States Navy during the Cold War era. The F7U was the final designed aircraft of Rex Beisel and was built without tail assembly and no other horizontal surface aside from its wings. It first flew in September 1948 and was introduced in July 1951. The aircraft was produced from 1948 to 1955 with a total number of 320 built.

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Specifications

Units
Engine
2 × Westinghouse J46-WE-8B
Engine type
Jet
Thrust
2 × 6,000 lbf · 27 kN
Avionics
—
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
1
Crew
—
Cabin width
—
Cabin height
—
Cabin length
—
Exterior length
41 ft 3 in  ·  12.58 m
Tail height
—
Fuselage diameter
3 ft 3 in  ·  1.00 m
Wing span
39 ft 8 in  ·  12.10 m
Baggage volume
—
Gross weight
—
Empty weight
—
Max takeoff weight
26,800 lb  ·  12,200 kg
Max landing weight
—
Max payload
6,600 lb  ·  3,000 kg
Fuel capacity
970 gal · 3,700 L · 2,900 kg (Jet A)
Max cruise speed
606 kt  ·  697 mph  ·  1,122 km/h
Maximum speed
—
Cruise speed
—
Approach speed
93 kt  ·  107 mph  ·  172 km/h
Range
800 nm  ·  920 mi  ·  1,480 km
Fuel burn
—
Ceiling
40,600 ft  ·  12,400 m
Rate of climb
14,420 ft/min  ·  73 m/s
Takeoff distance
1,590 ft  ·  490 m
Landing distance
1,590 ft  ·  490 m
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U.S. Navy Vought F7U-3 Cutlass (BuNo 129549) in flight.

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Operational Context

On June 25, 1946, three prototypes designated as XF7U-1 were ordered. On September 29, 1948, the aircraft took its maiden flight. The F7U-1 was the initial production variant, the F7U-3 was a definitive production variant, and the F7U-3P was a photo-reconnaissance variant.

The F7U-3M is a single-seat missile capable variant. It has an exterior length of 12.58 meters, a height of 4.27 meters, and a fuselage width of 1 meter. The wingspan is 12.1 meters, 6.80 meters when folded, and the wing area is 46.1 square meters. It has an empty weight of 8,260 kg, a gross weight of 12,174 kg, and a maximum takeoff weight of 12,174 kg. The maximum payload is 3000 kg and the fuel tank capacity is 971 US gal.

The aircraft is powered by two Westinghouse J46-WE-8B engines. It is an afterburning turbojet engine with a single-spool twelve-stage axial compressor, annular combustors, a two-stage turbine, and a wet sump oil system. It produces a maximum dry thrust of 4,600 lbf each and an afterburning thrust of 6,000 lbf each. The F7U has a maximum speed of 606 knots at sea level with military power and afterburner.

The cruise speed is 490 knots at 38,000 feet to 42,000 feet and the stall speed is 112 knots power off at take-off and 93.2 knots with approaching power for landing. The combat range is 800 nautical miles. It can fly up to 40,600 feet and can climb at a rate of 14,420 feet per minute with military power plus an afterburner. The take-off run in calm conditions is 486 meters with military power and afterburner.

The aircraft could be armed with four 20 mm M3 cannon located above inlet ducts with 180 rounds per gun, and four hardpoints with a capacity of 2,500 kg with provisions to carry combinations of four AAM-N-2 Sparrow I air-to-air-beam-riding missiles.