The F7U-1 Cutlass was basically the same as the XF7U-1 airplane with changes resulting from the XF7U flight testing.  The tail area was substantially enlarged, the landing gear positions for take-off and landing were modified, and two wing pylons were added which permitted carrying two 250-gallon external fuel tanks for extended range.  Wing slat positions providing leading-edge flap slots for take-off and landing were maintained the same.

Production

Based on initial flights of the XF7U-1 airplane in 1948, the U.S. Navy ordered fourteen of the production versions of the airplane, the F7U-1.  Powered by two J34-WE-32 engines with Solar afterburners, the production model incorporated several improvements.  The vertical fins were extended to provide more area to eliminate directional “hunting” in high-speed flight.  Two wing pylons were added, which permitted the carrying of two 250-gallon external fuel tanks.  The main gear extension system was designed to permit a further forward wheel position for takeoff than the position used for landing.  The nose gear was designed so the “oleo” could be fully extended for takeoff, providing 3 degrees of increased wing angle-of-attack for takeoff while the main gear aft extended position provided three-3 degrees of increased angle-of-attack for landing on the carrier deck

First flight on March 1, 1950 and delivery in June provided the Navy with the airplane for carrier suitability testing.  This vigorous testing produced negative results which are as follows:

Pilot visibility was unsatisfactory in final carrier approach.

Wave-off characteristics for latter stage wave-offs were unsatisfactory.

The arresting hook assembly was so complicated that its practicability for service use was doubtful.

The carrier suitability testing, which was completed in August 1951, essentially doomed further production of the F7U-1 and led to the design of a completely modified F7U, the F7U-3.  F7U-1’s were used extensively for flight-testing and were flown briefly by the Navy Blue Angels Demonstration Team.