Chance Vought F7U Cutlass Pilot's Flight Operating Instructions

Chance Vought F7U Cutlass Pilot's Flight Operating InstructionsChance Voughts F7U Cutlass was inspired by design data retrieved from Germanys Arado Company at the end of WWII. To avoid extreme nose down forces, the Cutlass was a tail less aircraft. Its swept wings had vertical fins and ailevator control surfaces. Although intended to operate at up to Mach . 95, the aircraft was hampered by under powered Westinghouse turbojets, and its nose up profile made carrier landings dangerous. Although its in flight

Chance-VoughtÕs F7U Cutlass was inspired by design data retrieved from GermanyÕs Arado Company at the end of WWII. To avoid extreme nose-down forces, the Cutlass was a Òtail-lessÓ aircraft. Its swept wings had vertical fins and ÒailevatorÓ control surfaces. Although intended to operate at up to Mach .95, the aircraft was hampered by under- powered Westinghouse turbojets, and its nose-up profile made carrier landings dangerous. Although its in-flight performance was acceptable, the Navy initially rejected the plane as unfit for carrier use. While nearly 200 F7U-3s were eventually delivered, they were retired only five years after their introduction. Originally printed by the U.S. Navy, this F7U-3 Flight Operating Manual taught pilots everything they needed to know before entering the cockpit. Classified ÒRestrictedÓ, it was recently de- classified and is here reprinted in book form. This facsimile has been reformatted. Care has been taken however to preserve the integrity of the text.