F7U Cutlass Restoration

[Woodsy Airfield]

Like SaxMan, I went looking for an F7U in The Maryland - National Capital Park System back in the 1970's and was told that the Cutlass at Wheaton was broken up on the spot, buried, and a swing set - kiddy land sort of thing was erected over it. There was an F7U at NAS New Orleans back in the mid 70's. The Navy tried to break it up, but it was a tough bird. I saw it with all surfaces dinged and punctured. It had been relegated to the base fire department for practice, but it was not used. It ultimetly went up for sale via DOD Invitation For Bid and was sold for scrap. I did contact personel at the Naval Air Museum at Pensacola to see it it could be saved, but they were aware of it and indicated it would be too costly to barge down Gulf Coast and thus had no interest it.

[Garth]

... and E-3 Hawkeyes ...

Maybe they're E-2 Sentries?



Joking aside I agree, they're Tracers.

[The Inspector]

Willy Fuds 'Stoof with a roof'

[hercules130]

If my memory serves me correct the Wheaton F7U was actually a YF7U. I now volunteer with the Park Police in Montgomery County, Maryland and still hoping to come across them hidden in one of the Maintenance Yards. However, most of the "old timers" have assured me that they were removed and scrapped.

One of the three F7Us at NAS North Island is a YF7U, the most far gone in fact. One of the gentlemen involved in the restoration said she was to be a parts donor, but it so different structurally that very little is usable.

I attempted to find out where they came from and got answers like Olathe, Vought Aircraft Division, "somewhere in Az"

Gary

[tom d. friedman]

Given the type's service record, I doubt someone would want to make one airworthy again!

yes it's service record sucked but that is 1 super cool looking bird

[wendovertom]

Here it is: http://barnstormers.com/listing_images.php?id=559259

If I had 180K plus another 1M this is where it would go!!

Tom P.

[StangStung]

I've seen this one many times up in Seattle and always assumed it was MoF considering the amount of space it took up in the restoration hangar.

BTW, are there any -1 models left? It's a bit sleaker than the -3s in my opinion.

[StangStung]

Let's say you wanted into the F7U. Would it be possible to adapt more reliable engines (say, like on the new build 262s)? Jets have come such a long way. What propulsion unit would you use and how would it be adapted?

Because flying with the J46 seems like a dubiuos prospect.

[wendovertom]

I agree - however, and I forget who it was, there was an astronaut who said that the Cutless was his favorite plane to fly.