Chance Vought F7U Cutlass Pilot's Flight Operating Instructions

Chance-Vought's F7U Cutlass was inspired by design data retrieved from Germany's Arado Company at the end of WWII. To avoid extreme nose-down forces, the Cutlass was a "tail-less" aircraft. Its swept wings had vertical fins and "ailevator" control surfaces. Although intended to operate at up to Mach .95, the aircraft was hampered by under- powered Westinghouse turbojets, and its nose-up profile made carrier landings dangerous. Although its in-flight performance was acceptable, the Navy initially rejected the plane as unfit for carrier use. While nearly 200 F7U-3s were eventually delivered, they were retired only five years after their introduction. Originally printed by the U.S. Navy, this F7U-3 Flight Operating Manual taught pilots everything they needed to know before entering the cockpit. Classified "Restricted", it was recently de- classified and is here reprinted in book form. This facsimile has been reformatted. Care has been taken however to preserve the integrity of the text.