The Royal Navy Vought XTF7U-2T "Buttless" trainerBy the 1950's, the Royal Navy was becoming desperate to field an aircraft carrier-based cutting-edge aircraft so it could remain on a par with other world powers.
Unfortunately, the British aircraft industry faced insurmountable development problems producing a successful swept-wing ship-board jet.
De Havilland's was the Royal Navy's final hope which was dashed with the crash of the disastrous Vixen that followed hot on the heels of the Donner and Blitzen project failures.
The United States, seeking to further bolster the long-standing alliance between two peoples separated by a common language, proposed supplying the Royal Navy with Vought F7U Cutlasses under lend-lease.
To facilitate familiarity with the unique flight characteristics of the Cutlass, Vought produced an all-but-forgotten two-seat trainer version.
Reconfigured to fit an instructor behind the front seat. of course this odd variant of the F7U was given a longer canopy as the Navy couldn't leave one of the two-man flight crew hanging out in the breeze.
The aircraft certainly appeared fast and futuristic, its sleekness emphasized by a sharp nose probe which had the added benefit of potentially pranging inattentive deck crew.
While the new trainer looked like something out of Buck Rogers, it would not be notable during its brief time in service for its maneuverability or speed but for its less than optimal seats.
In an ill-advised cost-cutting move, Vought tried to get away with sub-standard seating. This worked about as well as you'd expect.
In short order, RN instructors began dropping like flies. Sick bay was full to the gunwales with pilots suffering debilitating lower back and gluteus maximus injuries which kept them off the duty roster. A cure was quickly offered but to little effect.
Officially designated the XTF7U-2T "Buttress", an ill-conceived play on Cutlass, the aircraft would be known as the Buttless by those cheeky pilots unfortunate enough to fly it.
Training in anticipation of the American jets began in earnest and was taking a toll on pilots. Finally the back-benchers in Parliament had enough and through some behind-the-scenes maneuvering, got the Royal Navy to see the light even where the sun didn't shine to put the brakes on the entire posterior-punishing enterprise.
The hush-hush Fairey Fannie finished flight tests with flamboyant flying colors and the Royal Navy would finally be able to field a British-built Navy fighter in the end.
Nothing exists of the Royal Navy XTF7U-2T Buttless today except this model. The so-called "experts" refuse to acknowledge the type ever was since they could never quite reach the bottom of the research involved.
Thanks to Bill for sending the kit and to kerick, Greg, Mog & Jeff for your kind encouragement. I'm glad I could get another fun blitz in under the wire.Brian da Basher