Navy unwraps its fastest fighter | Aviation Week, November 29, 1948

 

PATUXENT RIVER, Md. - Navy unveiled its fastest jet fighter here last week-the Chance Vought Cutlass (XF7U-1).

The twin jet, tailless, sweptwing Cutlass is the first Navy fighter designed for supersonic operations. Its speed range with its present power plants (two Westinghouse J-34 jet engines with Solar afterburners) is in the 650-700 mph. area.

Significance of the Cutlass from the Navy point of view is that it again closes the performance gap between carrier and land-based fighters.

Performance capabilities of the Cutlass are roughly comparable to the U. S. Air Force's F-86A, built by North American and the XF-88 made by McDonnell.