Chance Vought F7U Cutlass series
Last updated on: April 8, 2013
320 of these advanced single-seat carrier-borne fighters were produced in total. All four models are listed below in order of Bureau Numbers.
This is a work in progress and any help would be appreciated. Information on these planes is rather difficult to locate online and this work will remain incomplete unless you the readers offer to help me. Please feel free to pass along any information that you might have.
At the end of this page is a list of people who have graciously offered their help. Thank you all very much!
XF7U-1 prototype 122472
*9/29/1948: First flight.
*Crashed on take off from Ardmore AAF, OK.
Photo of XF7U-1 122472
XF7U-1 prototype 122473
*3/15/1949: Crashed during test flight into Chesapeake Bay, MD. Pilot was killed.
Photo of XF7U-1 122473
XF7U-1 prototype 122474
*7/7/1950: Crashed after engine fire during an air display at NAS Patuxent River, MD.
Photo of XF7U-1 122474
F7U-1 124415
*6/1950: Naval Air Test Center, at NAS Patuxent River, MD.
*7/1951: First carrier launch of the Cutlass, from the USS Midway.
Photo of F7U-1 124415
F7U-1 124416
*7/6/1950: Crashed after control systems failure. Pilot was killed.
F7U-1 124417
*9/28/1950: Crash landed due to anoxia into Mountain Creek Lake near NAS Dallas, TX.
Photo of F7U-1 124417
F7U-1 124418
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-1 124418
F7U-1 124419
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-1 124419
F7U-1 124420
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-1 124420
F7U-1 124421
*--info needed.
F7U-1 124422
*USN Missile Test Center.
Photo of F7U-1 124422
F7U-1 124423
*--info needed.
F7U-1 124424
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-1 124424
F7U-1 124425
*--info needed.
F7U-1 124426
*1953: Flown by the Blue Angels acrobatic team as a promotional side act.
*1953: Abandoned to become aircraft maintenance instructional airframe for the Naval Technical Training Center at NAS Memphis, TN.
Photo of F7U-1 124426
F7U-1 124427
*1953: Flown by the Blue Angels acrobatic team as a promotional side act.
*1953: Abandoned to become aircraft maintenance instructional airframe for the Naval Technical Training Center at NAS Memphis, TN.
Photo of F7U-1 124427
F7U-1 124428
*--info needed.--
F7U-3 128451
*6/23/1953: Ground looped while landing at NAS Dallas, TX.
*Was displayed in the Fred Weisbrod Aviation Museum in Pueblo, CO.
*Currently being restored at the USS Midway Museum, in San Diego, CA, to be combined with BuNo 129565 to make one complete aircraft.
Photo of F7U-3 128451
F7U-3 128452
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3 128452
F7U-3 128453
*--info needed.
F7U-3 128454
*7/1952: Naval Air Training Center, at NAS Patuxent River, MD.
Photo of F7U-3 128454
F7U-3 128455
*--info needed.
F7U-3 128456
*NAS China Lake, CA, for tests.
F7U-3 128457
*--info needed.
F7U-3 128458
*--info needed.
F7U-3 128459
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3 128459
F7U-3 128460
*12/9/1952: Crashed due to mechanical failure while landing at NAS Dallas, TX. Pilot was killed.
F7U-3 128461
*Naval Air Test Center, at NAS Patuxent River, MD.
Photo of F7U-3 128461
F7U-3 128462
*--info needed.
F7U-3 128463
*VX-3 as "XC-01".
Photo of F7U-3 128463
F7U-3 128464
*VX-3 as "XC-00".
Photo of F7U-3 128464
F7U-3 128465
*5/1953: VX-5 as "XE-1".
Photo of F7U-3 128465
F7U-3 128466
*5/1953: VX-5.
*MCAC Miami, FL.
*Used for high-speed mine-dropping tests.
Photo of F7U-3 128466
F7U-3 128467
*1956: Kirtland AFB, NM, for tests.
*NAF China Lakes, CA, for tests.
Photo of F7U-3 128467
F7U-3 128468
*--info needed.
F7U-3 128469
*--info needed.
F7U-3 128470
*--info needed.
F7U-3 128471
*--info needed.
F7U-3 128472
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3 128472
F7U-3 128473
*--info needed.
F7U-3 128474
*--info needed.
F7U-3 128475
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3 128475
F7U-3 128476
*--info needed.
F7U-3 128477
*2/1954: FASRon 12.
Photo of F7U-3 128477
F7U-3 128478
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129545
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129546
*VC-3.
Photo of F7U-3 129546
F7U-3 129547
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129548
*VC-3.
*1/20/1955: Crashed while searching for a missing aircraft from NAS Moffett Field, CA.
F7U-3 129549
*6/1954: VX-5 as "XE-1".
*USN Reserves at NAS Minneapolis, MN.
Photo of F7U-3 129549
F7U-3 129550
*VC-3.
Photo of F7U-3 129550
F7U-3 129551
*1957: Put into storage at NAF Litchfield Park, AZ.
Photo of F7U-3 129551
F7U-3 129552
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129553
*Naval Air Test Center, at NAS Patuxent River, MD.
Photo of F7U-3 129553
F7U-3 129554
*1957: Relegated to ground instructional use at Geiger Field, WA.
*5/1958: Prchased by Len Berryman of Bridgeport, WA. Was outside at Berryman War Memorial Park, Bridgeport, WA for 33 years from 1958 to 1992.
*6/1992: Sold to Tom Cathcart of Ephrata, WA for restoration to flying condition.
*Currently undergoing restoration at the Museum of Flight in Everett, WA.
Photo of F7U-3 129554
F7U-3 129555
*5/1954: VX-5.
*USN Reserves at NARB Oakland, CA.
Photo of F7U-3 129555
F7U-3 129556
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3 129556
F7U-3 129557
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129558
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129559
*VA-12 as "T-8".
Photo of F7U-3 129559
F7U-3 129560
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129561
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129562
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3 129562
F7U-3 129563
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3 129563
F7U-3 129564
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3 129564
F7U-3 129565
*Was on display on a pylon at NAS Olathe, KS.
*Was undergoing restoration for display at the USS Hornet Museum, in Alameda, CA.
*Currently being restored for the USS Midway Museum, in San Diego, CA.
Photo of F7U-3 129565
F7U-3 129566
*VC-3.
Photo of F7U-3 129566
F7U-3 129567
*YF7U-3 prototype.
*Naval Air Test Center, at NAS Patuxent River, MD.
Photo of F7U-3 129567
F7U-3 129568
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129569
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129570
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129571
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129572
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129573
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129574
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129575
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3 129575
F7U-3 129576
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3 129576
F7U-3 129577
*VF-124 as "D-403".
Photo of F7U-3 129577
F7U-3 129578
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129579
*VA-12.
*USN Reserves at NAS Niagara Falls, NY.
Photo of F7U-3 129579
F7U-3 129580
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129581
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129582
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129583
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129584
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129585
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129586
*VF-124.
*11/1/1955: Crash landed onboard USS Hancock and written off. Pilot was killed when ejection seat fired when plane hit barrier.
Photo of F7U-3 129586
F7U-3 129587
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3 129587
F7U-3 129588
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129589
*Modified as prototype for F7U-3M model.
Photo of F7U-3 129589
F7U-3 129590
*Modified as prototype for F7U-3M model.
F7U-3 129591
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129592
*VF-124.
F7U-3 129593
*VF-124 as "D-xxx".
*7/14/1955: Crashed and burned after a ramp strike on USS Hancock. Pilot was killed.
Photo of F7U-3 129593
F7U-3 129594
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129595
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129596
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3 129596
F7U-3 129597
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129598
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129599
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129600
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129601
*VF-124 as "D-415".
Photo of F7U-3 129601
F7U-3 129602
*VA-66.
F7U-3 129603
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129604
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129605
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129606
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129607
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129608
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129609
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129610
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129611
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129612
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129613
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129614
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129615
*VA-151 as "U-308".
Photo of F7U-3 129615
F7U-3 129616
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129617
*VA-151 as "U-302".
Photo of F7U-3 129617
F7U-3 129618
*VA-151 as "x-303".
Photo of F7U-3 129618
F7U-3 129619
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129620
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3 129620
F7U-3 129621
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129622
*VA-12.
*Crash-landed at NAS Glenview and was dissected and sold for its engines.
*Forward fuselage was part of Earl Reinarts collection in Mundelein, IL, while the rest of the aircraft went to J-46 dragster builder Fred Sibley.
*Its components were reunited and are currently in the collection of noted F7U historian Al Casby of Phoenix, AZ.
Photo of F7U-3 129622
F7U-3 129623
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3 129623
F7U-3 129624
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3 129624
F7U-3 129625
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129626
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129627
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129628
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129629
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129630
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129631
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129632
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129633
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129634
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129635
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129636
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129637
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3 129637
F7U-3 129638
*NOTS Chincoteague, VA.
Photo of F7U-3 129638
F7U-3 129639
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129640
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3 129640
F7U-3 129641
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129642
*9/1954: VF-81.
*11/1954: VF-83.
*12/1955: VA-12.
*5/1957: Flown to NAS Willow Grove, PA and stricken from active duty.
*It was given to the Navy Reserve as a ground training aircraft.
*Was a gate guard at NAS Willow Grove, PA.
*Currently on display at the Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum, at NAS Willow Grove, PA.
Photo of F7U-3 129642
F7U-3 129643
*VX-3 as "XC-03".
Photo of F7U-3 129643
F7U-3 129644
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129645
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129646
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129647
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129648
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3 129648
F7U-3 129649
*VX-3.
F7U-3 129650
*VF-81.
*VA-12.
Photo of F7U-3 129650
F7U-3 129651
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129652
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129653
*1956: VA-151 as "U-3xx".
*VA-83.
Photo of F7U-3 129653
F7U-3 129654
*VA-151.
Photo of F7U-3 129654
F7U-3 129655
*1954: VF-83
*12/1955: VF-212.
*4/1957: Naval Air Reserve Training Unit, at NAS Los Alamitos, CA.
*5/1957: Stricken off charge.
*Was displayed in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, CA.
*Displayed at the Naval Air Museaum at NAS Pensacola, FL since 1993.
Photo of F7U-3 129655
F7U-3 129656
*6/1955: Bailed to NACA at Ames for flight tests.
*10/1955: Returned to the US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3 129656
F7U-3 129657
*VF-124 as "D-4".
Photo of F7U-3 129657
F7U-3 129658
*VF-124.
*VA-126 as "D-305".
Photo of F7U-3 129658
F7U-3 129659
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129660
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129661
*2/1956: VX-5.
F7U-3 129662
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3 129662
F7U-3 129663
*VA-212 as "G-202".
Photo of F7U-3 129663
F7U-3 129664
*VA-151 as "U-xxx".
Photo of F7U-3 129664
F7U-3 129665
*3/1955: VX-5.
Photo of F7U-3 129665
F7U-3 129666
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129667
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129668
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129669
*VA-12.
*USN Reserves at NAS Memphis, TN.
Photo of F7U-3 129669
F7U-3 129670
*2/1955: VX-5.
F7U-3 129671
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129672
*VF-124 as "D-15".
Photo of F7U-3 129672
F7U-3 129673
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129674
*3/1955: VX-5.
Photo of F7U-3 129674
F7U-3 129675
*VC-3 as "NP-74".
Photo of F7U-3 129675
F7U-3 129676
*VF-83.
*VA-212.
Photo of F7U-3 129676
F7U-3M 129677
*Naval Air Missile Test Center.
Photo of F7U-3M 129677
F7U-3 129678
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3 129678
F7U-3 129679
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3 129679
F7U-3 129680
*VA-12 as "x-5".
Photo of F7U-3 129680
F7U-3 129681
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129682
*10/1954: VX-5.
F7U-3 129683
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129684
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129685
*11/1954: VF-81.
*7/1955: VA-66.
*9/1956: VA-12.
*5/1957: NART South Weymouth, MA.
*Currently in the Walter Soplata collection at Newbury, OH. Bought from NART South Weymouth, MA on April 1, 1962. Like most aircraft on this famous farm the aircraft appears complete, though it is exposed to the elements and unrestored.
Photo of F7U-3 129685
F7U-3 129686
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129687
*VF-124 as "D-10".
Photo of F7U-3 129687
F7U-3 129688
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3 129688
F7U-3 129689
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129690
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129691
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129692
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129693
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129694
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129695
*10/1954: VX-5.
F7U-3 129696
*--info needed.
F7U-3 129697
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129698
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129699
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129700
*VX-4.
Photo of F7U-3M 129700
F7U-3M 129701
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129702
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129703
*VX-4 as "XF-29".
Photo of F7U-3M 129703
F7U-3M 129704
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3M 129704
F7U-3M 129705
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129706
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129707
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129708
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129709
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129710
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129711
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129712
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129713
*VA-83.
Photo of F7U-3M 129713
F7U-3M 129714
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129715
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129716
*VA-116 as "W-211".
Photo of F7U-3M 129716
F7U-3M 129717
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129718
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129719
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129720
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129721
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129722
*Naval Air Test Center, at NAS Patuxent River, MD.
*Was displayed in a park in Wheaton, MD.
Photo of F7U-3M 129722
F7U-3M 129723
*Naval Air Missile Test Center.
*VX-4 as "XF-24".
Photo of F7U-3M 129723
F7U-3M 129724
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129725
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129726
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129727
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129728
*VA-83.
*7/8/1955: Crashed after hydraulic failure near NAS Oceana, VA.
F7U-3M 129729
*VF-83 as "x-316".
Photo of F7U-3M 129729
F7U-3M 129730
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3M 129730
F7U-3M 129731
*VF-83 as "x-307".
Photo of F7U-3M 129731
F7U-3M 129732
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129733
*VA-83 as "x-308".
Photo of F7U-3M 129733
F7U-3M 129734
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129735
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129736
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129737
*VF-83.
Photo of F7U-3M 129737
F7U-3M 129738
*VF-83 as "E-302".
Photo of F7U-3M 129738
F7U-3M 129739
*VF-83 as "E-305".
Photo of F7U-3M 129739
F7U-3M 129740
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129741
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129742
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129743
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 129744
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3M 129744
F7U-3P 129745
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3P 129745
F7U-3P 129746
*--info needed.
F7U-3P 129747
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3P 129747
F7U-3P 129748
*--info needed.
F7U-3P 129749
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3P 129749
F7U-3P 129750
*--info needed.
F7U-3P 129751
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3P 129751
F7U-3P 129752
*--info needed.
F7U-3P 129753
*VX-3 as "XC-04".
Photo of F7U-3P 129753
F7U-3P 129754
*Put into storage at NAF Litchfield Park, AZ.
*11/8/1955: US Navy Parachute Facility, at NAAS El Centro, CA.
*The last Cutlass of any model in service.
*3/1960: Put back into storage at NAF Litchfield Park, AZ.
F7U-3P 129755
*US Navy Parachute Facility, at NAAS El Centro, CA.
Photo of F7U-3P 129755
F7U-3P 129756
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139868
*Naval Air Test Center, at NAS Patuxent River, MD.
Photo of F7U-3M 139868
F7U-3M 139869
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139870
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139871
*VX-4 as "XF-23".
Photo of F7U-3M 139871
F7U-3M 139872
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139873
*VA-212.
*VX-4 as "XF-xx".
Photo of F7U-3M 139873
F7U-3M 139874
*VX-4 as "XF-19".
Photo of F7U-3M 139874
F7U-3M 139875
*VX-4 as "XF-15".
Photo of F7U-3M 139875
F7U-3M 139876
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139877
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139878
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139879
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139880
*VA-212 as "G-208".
Photo of F7U-3M 139880
F7U-3M 139881
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139882
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139883
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139884
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139885
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139886
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139887
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139888
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139889
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139890
*VA-116 as "W-213".
Photo of F7U-3M 139890
F7U-3M 139891
*VA-116.
Photo of F7U-3M 139891
F7U-3M 139892
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139893
*VA-116 as "W-207".
Photo of F7U-3M 139893
F7U-3M 139894
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139895
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139896
*VA-116 as "W-212".
Photo of F7U-3M 139896
F7U-3M 139897
*VA-86 as "I-303".
Photo of F7U-3M 139897
F7U-3M 139898
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139899
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139900
*VA-86.
F7U-3M 139901
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139902
*VA-116 as "NB-204".
Photo of F7U-3M 139902
F7U-3M 139903
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139904
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3M 139904
F7U-3M 139905
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139906
*6/1967: Damaged beyond repair at NAS Dallas, TX?
Photo of F7U-3M 139906
F7U-3M 139907
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139908
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139909
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139910
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139911
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139912
*VA-116 as "NB-xxx".
Photo of F7U-3M 139912
F7U-3M 139913
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139914
*US Navy.
Photo of F7U-3M 139914
F7U-3M 139915
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139916
*--info needed.
F7U-3M 139917
*VA-116 as "NB-203".
Photo of F7U-3M 139917
----------------------------END-----------------
For their assistance in various parts of this project, I would like to give thanks to the following individual
people...
Joseph F. Baugher for the bureau number list.
Ron Picciani
Tom Bispo
Charles Swinford
Tjalling Boelman
John Benton
Rick Centore
