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.
Table of Contents
- Specifications
- Photo Gallery
- Description
- Manufacturer:
- Vought
- Country:
- United States
- Manufactured:
- 1948 to: 1955
- ICAO:
- F7U
- Price:
- Performance
- Weights
- Dimensions
- Avionics:
- Engine:
- 2x Westinghouse J46-WE-8B
Jet - Power:
- 6,000 pound-force
- Max Cruise Speed:
- 606 knots
1,122 Km/h - Approach Speed (Vref):
- 93 knots
- Travel range:
- 800 Nautical Miles
1,482 Kilometers - Fuel Economy:
- Service Ceiling:
- 40,600 feet
- Rate of Climb:
- 14420 feet / minute
73.25metre / second - Take Off Distance:
- 486 metre - 1,594.47 feet
- Landing Distance:
- 486 metre - 1,594.47 feet
- Max Take Off Weight:
- 12,174 Kg
26,839 lbs - Max Landing Weight:
- Max Payload:
- 3,000 Kg
6,614 lbs - Fuel Tank Capacity:
- 971 gallon
3,676 litre - Baggage Volume:
- Seats - Economy / General:
- 1 seats
- Seats - Business Class:
- Seats - First Class:
- Cabin Height:
- Cabin Width:
- Cabin Length:
- Exterior Length:
- 12.58 metre - 41.27 feet
- Tail height:
- Fuselage Diameter:
- 1 metre - 3.28 feet
- Wing Span / Rotor Diameter:
- 12.1 metre - 39.70 feet
- Wing Tips:
- No Winglets
click / tap to open full screen gallery
U.S. Navy Vought F7U-3 Cutlass (BuNo 129549) in flight.
credit: U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy Vought F7U-3 Cutlass (BuNo 129549) in flight.
credit: U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy Vought F7U-3P 'Cutlass' reconnaissance plane in flight.
credit: U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy Vought F7U-3P 'Cutlass' reconnaissance plane in flight.
credit: U.S. Navy
Vought F7U-3M "Cutlass" (BuNo 129704) with "Sparrow I" missiles.
credit: Robert Sullivan
Vought F7U-3M "Cutlass" (BuNo 129704) with "Sparrow I" missiles.
credit: Robert Sullivan
Three Vought F7U-3 'Cutlass' in flight.
credit: Robert Sullivan
Three Vought F7U-3 'Cutlass' in flight.
credit: Robert Sullivan
Launch of the first production Vought F7U-1 Cutlass from the aircraft carrier USS Midway. 1951
credit: Bob Dorais, USN
Launch of the first production Vought F7U-1 Cutlass from the aircraft carrier USS Midway. 1951
credit: Bob Dorais, USN
U.S. Navy Vought F7U-3M 'Cutlass' aircraft of Attack Squadron VA-86 on USS Forrestal.
credit: Capt. I.F. Brown, U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy Vought F7U-3M 'Cutlass' aircraft of Attack Squadron VA-86 on USS Forrestal.
credit: Capt. I.F. Brown, U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy Vought F7U-3M 'Cutlass' of Attack Squadron VA-83 on the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid.
credit: U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy Vought F7U-3M 'Cutlass' of Attack Squadron VA-83 on the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid.
credit: U.S. Navy
The first U.S. Navy Vought F7U-1 Cutlass (BuNo 124415)
credit: U.S. Navy
The first U.S. Navy Vought F7U-1 Cutlass (BuNo 124415)
credit: U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy Vought F7U-3 "Cutlass"
credit: U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy Vought F7U-3 "Cutlass"
credit: U.S. Navy
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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.
All Vought Aircraft
- LTV A-7 Corsair II |
- LTV XC-142 |
- Vought F4U Corsair |
- Vought F6U Pirate |
- Vought F7U Cutlass |
- Vought F8U Crusader |
- Vought O2U Corsair |
- Vought OS2U Kingfisher |
- Vought SB2U Vindicator |
- Vought SBU Corsair |
