It didn't get any better |
Vought Cutlass F7U-3 The Cutlass had broad, swept wings, with twin tail fins mounted on them. Pitch and roll control was provided by elevons. The very long nosewheel strut was rather weak, and a collapse could seriously jeopardize the pilot. The F7U was also largely betrayed by its anemic Westinghouse turbojet, an engine which some pilots wryly observed put out less heat than the same company's toasters. Three prototypes were ordered in 1946, with the first example flying on
, piloted by a Robert Baker. Production orders were placed for the F7U-1 in a specification very close to the prototypes, and 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-3 had non-afterburning Allison J35-29 engines. The -3 with its Westinghouse J46-WE-8B turbojets would eventually become the definitive production version, with 288 aircraft equipping 13 US Navy and Marine squadrons. Further development stopped once the F8U Crusader flew.
The Cutlass bore the fleet nickname of "gutless." Its carrier handling was notoriously poor. The J35 was actually known to flameout in the rain, a very serious fault. Crew: 1 Length: 44 ft 3 in (13.49 m) Wingspan: 38 ft 8 in (11.79 m) Height: 14 ft 0 in (4.27 m) Wing area: 496 ft² (46.1 m²) Empty weight: 18,210 lb (8,260 kg) Max takeoff weight: 31,642 lb (14,353 kg) Powerplant: 2× Westinghouse J46-WE8A turbojets, 4,600 lbf (20.46 kN) each Maximum speed: Clean: 680 mph (590 knots, 1,095 km/h) With missiles: 648 mph (562 knots, 1,040 km/h) Range: 660 mi (570 nm, 1,060 km) Service ceiling: 40,000 ft (12,000 m) Rate of climb: 13,000 ft/min (67 m/s) Wing loading: 64 lb/ft² (312 kg/m²) Thrust/weight: 0.29 ArmamentGuns: 4× 20 mm (0.787 in) M3 cannons above inlet ducts, 180 rounds/gun Hardpoints: 4 with a capacity of 5,500 lb (2,500 kg),with provisions to carry combinations of: Missiles: AIM-7 Sparrow |