The nose gear was almost 13 feet long and you needed a step ladder
to complete your pre-flight, and yes it impeded the pilots vision, as a
matter of fact you couldn't see the deck during the final part of your
approach. That is why the pilots seat was on hydraulic gimbals that
tilted the seat forward and up when the gear was lowered.
Needless to say; the "Gutless Cutlass" didn't last long in the fleet.
It was succeeded by the F8U-1 Crusader, A superlative bird in
every respect


"Mitchell Holman" wrote in message
...
"Stretch" wrote in
u:

A very strange looking plane. Why is the nose so high, and wouldnt it
impede the pilots vision?



No more so than a Spitfire or Corsair or Mustang
or any other long-nosed taildragger.