Blue Angels, Concluded - Vought F7U Cutlass 02.jpg (1/1)

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



"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.

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.

"Stretch" wrote in message
u...
A very strange looking plane. Why is the nose so high, and wouldnt it
impede the pilots vision?

Only on the ground but given you're generally launching off the end of the
deck there isn't much to be looking at until you're in the air.

Ok, thanks for the info, I understand that the spit and the other planes
were similar with the noses high, but they had no option as the wheel was at
the back, and when they got speed during take off they would level out. This
is the fist pic I have seen of a jet with the wheel at front that would
remain with the nose up high until airborne. Just curious about the
significance of such a design for the aircraft




"The Raven" wrote in message
u...
"Stretch" wrote in message
u...
A very strange looking plane. Why is the nose so high, and wouldnt it
impede the pilots vision?

Only on the ground but given you're generally launching off the end of the
deck there isn't much to be looking at until you're in the air.