Jump to content

Gutless Cutlass


VH-KDK

Recommended Posts

This was the name given to the F7U Vought Cutlass USN plane from the late 40s.

 

1.eVkNLzZ.jpg

Then radical design was based on documents captured from the German Arado factory at the end of the war.

 

2..bU6gf5i.jpg

4 test pilots and later 21 Navy pilots lost their lives flying the Cutlass. Over 25% of the 320 built were lost in accidents.

 

3.lWu7ItE.jpg

One of the few good things about it was the excellent forward vision.

 

4.2dvWiz5.jpg

It first flew in 1948 entering service in 1951.

 

5.TTiuYmp.jpg

The Allison J35 jets were grossly underpowered and also had the tendency to flame out in the rain. The Westinghouse J34s that powered the main production run were not much of an improvement.

 

6.Ol7CSqE.jpg

The Blue Angels used 2 F7Us as a side display and one of them made an emergency landing at Chicago O'Hare, before it was officially opened, becoming the first aircraft to land on the new runway after its expansion and renaming from Orchard Park!

 

7.z911UbR.jpg

Due to it's poor performance, orders for 452 planes were cancelled.

 

8.Nn2N4NX.jpg

They were all retired by 1959.

 

9.gHC9iYe.jpg

Seven are still in existence in various conditions.

 

10.406lkZn.jpg

This is the Virtavia Cutlass which works well in P3DV4.0.

 

I hope you enjoyed the post.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, paulb said:

An amazing aircraft Martyn! :)

 

I still have three unbuilt kits of it lining my loft! :unsure:

Cheers Paul, you will have to get around to building them soon.

My brother brought a kit back from the US 60 years ago so I have been aware of this plane for a long time.

It is lucky we came back by boat as he had all sorts of kits, planes, boats and submarines of all shapes and sizes.

I had one small Spirit of St Louis.:lol:

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

54 minutes ago, VH-KDK said:

Cheers Paul, you will have to get around to building them soon.

My brother brought a kit back from the US 60 years ago so I have been aware of this plane for a long time.

It is lucky we came back by boat as he had all sorts of kits, planes, boats and submarines of all shapes and sizes.

I had one small Spirit of St Louis.:lol:

 

 

Well Martyn, I probably have 200-300 kits still lining my loft :huh:

Jennifer has already sold many on ebay.

I built them regularly from the age of 10 until around 40.

Not up to it nowadays. 

I think my Cutlass are by Hasegawa.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On ‎9‎/‎13‎/‎2018 at 9:54 PM, paulb said:

 

Well Martyn, I probably have 200-300 kits still lining my loft :huh:

Jennifer has already sold many on ebay.

I built them regularly from the age of 10 until around 40.

Not up to it nowadays. 

I think my Cutlass are by Hasegawa.

That is a shame to have to get rid of your kits Paul.

I used to enjoy making them but they were given to my young neighbour when I came to Oz.

Needless to say he was very happy with them!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On ‎9‎/‎13‎/‎2018 at 10:47 PM, Jack Sawyer said:

That was excellent Martyn!  I never knew this.  And it looks visionary in that it looks like a precursor to the F-14.  And shot #5, amazing, my fave.

Thanks Jack glad I have been able to introduce you to the Cutlass.

I knew of it's existance from the kit my brother brought back from the US in 1958.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On ‎9‎/‎14‎/‎2018 at 12:12 AM, BradB said:

Gutless Cutlass , reminds me of a Buick I once owned Martyn ; it looks like your jet just might have  more horsepower than my cutlass however . <_<:angry::D:lol:

 

Cheers

 

John

I had a gutless Gazelle. 1100 kgs of metal, leather and walnut pulled along by a 1600cc donk that didn't like going up hills.

The old Singer was a very comfortable car though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On ‎9‎/‎14‎/‎2018 at 12:50 AM, olderndirt said:

Another 'also ran' from our aviation history.  Your title suggested a Cessna of the same name.

I don't think that this one should have even entered the starting gate.:(

Due to a lack of after sales service my Cessna remains grounded.:angry:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On ‎9‎/‎14‎/‎2018 at 1:42 AM, Wakashi said:

Very informative Martyn, I don’t think I would wanna be at any FL in one of those things, it’s bad enough being in traffic in something like John’s Gutless Cutlass! :lol:

Thank you Roger, not a pleasant thought going to bed knowing that tomorrow you were going to try and fly one of these things.

Believe it or not one is being restored to airworthiness.

They are holding a raffle to raise money.

First prize is  a flight in the Cutlass, second prize is two flights!

I have brought 20 tickets for the mother in law!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, Rodger Pettichord said:

Gutless and difficult it may have been, but your beautiful shots remind us that the Cutlass sure looked good in the air. Thanks!

It was a very futuristic looking plane Rodger.

A shame the Germans never produced the concept in the 40s as it may have shortened the war.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

39 minutes ago, VH-KDK said:

That is a shame to have to get rid of your kits Paul.

I used to enjoy making them but they were given to my young neighbour when I came to Oz.

Needless to say he was very happy with them!

 

I am a collector Martyn. I have collected so many things over the years. Goodness knows what will happen to them when I leave this earth.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, paulb said:

 

I am a collector Martyn. I have collected so many things over the years. Goodness knows what will happen to them when I leave this earth.

Same here Paul, I have some boxes of stuff that I haven't opened since I have been in Australia.

I find it hard to throw some "useless" things away.

Having a clear out in anticipation of the toe curling is something they have discussed on the local radio recently, something I had never thought of.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On ‎9‎/‎15‎/‎2018 at 10:05 PM, Stillwater said:

Some very interesting info on technical history, Martyn. And glad you did not increase the 25 % share of lost guts, I mean Gutlesses.

Thanks Gerold but I stayed up there as I was too afraid to try and land the thing!:o:ph34r::ph34r:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On ‎9‎/‎16‎/‎2018 at 5:36 AM, Anthin Delahunt said:

Wow ! Absolutely stunning shots Martyn.

I believe you have just outdone your self.

The Cutlass Looks great.

 

Anthin.

Cheers ANthin, I am glad you liked the post.

Quite an old FSX plane that pleasingly works in V4.0:)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On ‎9‎/‎16‎/‎2018 at 8:36 AM, Ray Farrugia said:

Nice shots Martyn.

Too bad she was such a lame duck:unsure: cause she sure looks the part!

cheers

Many thanks Ray, it was a great looking plane.:)

Very popular with the pilots, just as long as they were watching from the ground!:o

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...