RESTORATION
The Vought F7U Cutlass originated with a 1945 Navy fighter competition for a carrier-based fighter able to fly at 600 mph and 40,000 feet. Vought Aircraft was known for unusual designs, and the futuristic-looking V-346A proposal was certainly that. It would be the Navy’s first swept-wing fighter and America’s first tailless fighter to go into production. The proposal resulted in a contract for three XF7U-1 prototypes.
The prototypes of the bat-like fighter first flew in 1948 and the initial test flights were encouraging. Powered by two Westinghouse J-34 turbojets, the airplane promised speed and exceptional maneuverability. But a litany of woes soon dogged the
