Vought F7U Cutlass

[M.A.D]

Convert it into a carrier launched remote piloted cruise missile??

MAD

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Target Drone!

[The Big Gimper]

I was not aware of the -5. Google search did not provide any other photos. 

Do you know of any other photos which show the shape and location of the canards?

[GTX_Admin]

Google search did not provide any other photos. 

There might be a reason for that...

[apophenia]

Google search did not provide any other photos. 

There might be a reason for that...

Yeah! Proof positive that the Google algorithm suppresses 'alternative facts'! 

[apophenia]

I probably could have made matters clearer regarding the ultimate 'Canarded Cutlass' - the unbuilt F7U-6. Attached is a planview which shows some of the design options. This 'Super Cutlass' would have had a revised fuselage for the single engine and the canard surfaces of the F7U-5 variant. Vought offered the V-346X-A - with essentially F7U-3 type wing surfaces - or the V-346X-C - with extended 'delta ailevons' and a deeper inboard wing chord with revised flaps/speed brakes.

In either guise, the more powerful F7U-6 would have changed the reputation of the 'Gutless Cutlass' but by late 1953, other airframes had left the F7U behind. After the BuAer had reviewed and rejected the V-346X-A/V-346X-C proposal, further development of the Cutlass came to an end.

[finsrin]

YES ! ! !      On into 60s-70s Cutlass.

[dy031101]

Would the increased inboard wing chord of the A2U-1 have had benefits for air combat applications?  Or would an air-superiority-oriented Cutlass have been better off sticking with the F7U-3-style planform?

[apophenia]

Good question. Since those trailing edge split flaps acted as speed brakes, I'm guessing that they wouldn't confer any manoeuvrability benefits (like some Fowler flap arrangements).

[The Rat]

The gentleman and I had a good two hour chat on the Cutlass.   He felt it was a great aircraft plagued by its landing gear and hampered by its engines.

       
So with that in mind, I've already laid out some plans to redo the rotten nose gear and shorten it considerably, stretch the fore part of the fuselage to compensate for the de Havilland-like twin booms/full tailplane on the Hobbycraft kit.   Other projects are ahead of this one so it remains shelved.   As to service role?   USN ground attack.

An idea I've had for ages is to extend the forward fuselage and add canards. Engines would be RR Avons, as they're about the same size as the Westinghouse abominations.

[GTX_Admin]

Interesting thought.  Comparing engines:

J46-WE-8 (From definitive F7U-3) Length: 198 in (5.0 m) Diameter: 28 in (0.86 m) Dry weight: 2116 lb (952.5 kg) Maximum thrust: 3,980 pounds-force (17.7 kN) dry, 5,800 pounds-force (26 kN)) afterburning.

Avon RA.3/Mk.100 (Early applications of RR Avon) Length: 113.3 in (2.88 m) Diameter: 41.5 in (1.05 m) Dry weight: 3,768 lb (1,709 kg) Maximum thrust: 6,500 pounds-force (28.9kN) dry

Avon RA.28/Mk.207 (From Hawker Hunter) Length: 123 in (3.12 m) Diameter: 41.5 in (1.05 m) Dry weight: 2,868 lb (1301 kg) Maximum thrust: 10,050 pounds-force (44.7kN) dry

Avon RB.146/Mk.301 (From /EE Lightning F.3) Length: 126 in (3.2 m) Diameter: 35.7 in (0.91 m) Dry weight: 2,890 lb (1,310 kg) Maximum thrust: 12,100 pounds-force (53.8kN) dry, 15,715 pounds-force (69.9 kN)) afterburning.

Therefore, comparing these (and forgetting that there is more to it than just engine sizes - e.g. structure etc etc), we can see that roughly an Avon will be 1.5 times 'fatter' but only ~60% as long as a J46.  They are heavier though being between 1.3 and 1.8 times heavier.  If we were to use the weight and diameter as the driving factors, one could roughly say that a single RR Avon could replace a J46 with thrust difference more than making up for it and that's without even going for the after burning version.  If you go for the after burning Mk.301 Avon it gets even better.

[GTX_Admin]

At the risk of giving someone's techniques/secrets away, this is was a proposed Rolls Royce RB41 Nene powered Cutlass:

[apophenia]

At the risk of giving someone's techniques/secrets away, this is was a proposed Rolls Royce RB41 Nene powered Cutlass:

Cool find! Never seen that one before 

[dy031101]

Vought V-367, also a single-engine Cutlass derivative albeit for the USAF Penetration Fighter project.

[GTX_Admin]

I wonder about a CAS/Attack version using a dirty big pusher prop

[kitnut617]

I would hazard a guess, that there's is nothing for prop tip clearance with the deck/ground --- 

[GTX_Admin]

Bah!  Reality!

[dy031101]

I wonder about a CAS/Attack version using a dirty big pusher prop

I expect it to be taking cues from the Shinden.