F7U-3 Cutlass

The Vought F7U-3 Cutlass was an ambitious, swept‑wing jet fighter‑bomber built for the United States Navy in the early 1950s. Derived from the earlier F7U‑1 prototype, the -3 version entered service in 1953 and featured a radically tailless, delta‑type wing that gave the aircraft a futuristic silhouette and reduced drag at high speed. Powered by two Westinghouse J34‑40 turbojets, the Cutlass could reach a top speed of 560 mph and a service ceiling above 40 000 ft. Its armament package included four 20 mm cannons and under‑wing pylons for rockets, bombs, or the early AIM‑9 Sidewinder. Despite these innovations, the Cutlass earned a reputation for mechanical unreliability; frequent engine failures and a complex hydraulic system led to a high accident rate, prompting the Navy to retire the type after only six years. Nevertheless, the aircraft’s bold design influenced later carrier‑based jets, demonstrating the viability of swept‑wing, tailless configurations and prompting advances in aerodynamic research, flight control systems, and carrier landing techniques that shaped subsequent generations of naval aviation. In retrospect, the Cutlass stands as a cautionary emblem of the Cold‑War drive for speed and novelty, reminding engineers that cutting‑edge performance must be matched by reliability and maintainability.