"...Longest nose strut ever installed in a tactical aircraft. Seat modified
to tilt forward for improved vis during approach...."

I remember seeing a movie of carrier deck crashes where a Cutlass came in
cocked up, snagged a wire, slammed down, drove the nose wheel strut up
through the cockpit, fired the ejection seat, seat and pilot came down in
the fore deck pack. Truncated yet another promising Naval Aviator career!

On the Shangri La 1956 deployment we had a VX-4 Cutlass four plane det. with
Sparrow missiles for early fleet evaluation. They were all old pilots (but
still a little bold) who had few if any problems flying their "barn doors"
around the boat.

WDA
CDR USN Ret.

end

"John Carrier" wrote in message
...
I didn't fly it (got its successor, the F-8 which used some of the concepts
developed in the Cutlass). From those that did, if you don't mind 2nd hand
info.

Systems (Hydraulics, electrical, etc) were unreliable. Underpowered in
basic engine (as were most navy jets of the era). The tailless design
used ailevators (ailerons also serving as elevators) which unfortunately
acted to decamber the wing (reducing lift) as they were commanded trailing
edge up (to increase attitude, AOA and lift). It was unforgiving around
the boat. I think it enjoyed a level of mediocrity shore based (fun to
fly, one great turn), but never actually deployed. The Blues used one
briefly as a solo aircraft. First Navy jet with afterburner. Longest
nose strut ever installed in a tactical aircraft. Seat modified to tilt
forward for improved vis during approach.

Noteworthy developments. Balsa/aluminum sandwich (the balsa was cut
crossgrain, Vought had a patented name for it, can't remember anymore)
construction for lightweight strength ... a poor man's honeycomb concept.
Trim system using potentiometer (thumbwheels) on stick for pitch and roll
trim vice the ubiquitous "coolly hat" trim button ... superior IMO,
perhaps not as reliable though I never experienced a primary trim failure
in the F-8. Early yaw and roll stab systems.

R / John

"Greasy Rider" wrote in message
...
On 22 Dec 2004 10:35:25 -0800, "MuseumTech"
postulated :
I was wondering if there were any retired Naval Aviators who have
flight hours logged with the dreaded F7U Cutlass. I work at the
National Museum of Naval Aviation here in Pensacola. We currently have
one on display. Aesthetically speaking, it's a pretty nice looking
plane, but I have read a lot of negative things about it. Were the
flaws merely due to the low performance of the Westinghouse engine?
Were there other flaws? I would love to hear any stories from people
who flew this plane.
Thank you and Happy Holidays

If you Google F7U Cutlass you will get several hits.

http://aeroweb.brooklyn.cuny.edu/specs/vought/f7u-3.htm

Buried down in there are several comments about the Cutlass and one is
allegedly by a F7U pilot with his e-mail address shown.

There are several more hits on the F7U.