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Chance Vought F7U Cutlass Aircraft Photos and Info |
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Click here for hints on using this site; for my "easy" photo use policy; and disclaimer.
I have many old, original black and white 8x10's and slides of warbirds and other aircraft in my collection, and will be posting them from time to time. All are for sale. Scans will remain on this site after the prints are sold.
Aircraft are posted below by military serial number. Click on the links to see the photo. I don't have the serial number on some but they are interesting photos so I'm posting them anyway. I welcome your comments and further details on these aircraft. Contact me. |
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124419 |
Chance Vought F7U-1 Cutlass 124419 in flight, Navy blue with checkered tail. Baugher says: Baugher: 124419 was derelict at Fort Lauderdale Executive for many years. Official factory photo. |
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124426 |
Chance Vought F7U-1 Cutlass 124426, Blue Angels #7, probably in 1953. Wikipedia says, "The Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, flew two F7U-1 Cutlasses as a side act during their 1953 show season in an effort to promote the new aircraft, but did not use them as part of their regular formation act." |
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Chance Vought F7U-3 Cutlass 128466, 466, Marines, Miami. |
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Chance Vought F7U-3 Cutlass 128477 in front, with 128452 and 128474 behind it. Factory photo, see text. |
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Chance Vought F7U-3 Cutlass 129549 in flight, Navy, 549. Mostly bare metal. |
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Chance Vought F7U-3 Cutlass 129622, 3, Navy |
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Chance Vought F7U-3 Cutlass 129642, 11, Navy, on display at Willow Grove, probably in the 1960s. I visited the Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum at Willow Grove on 12/10/05 and got these shots of a snow-covered Cutlass: - 1-, - 2-, - 3-, - 4-, - 5-, - 6- and - 7-. |
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Chance Vought F7U-3 Cutlass 129669, 1, 6M, Navy. Note 1950's cars. |
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Chance Vought F7U-3 Cutlass 129675, 3, Navy, with 4 in foreground |
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In August 2009 I visited Walter Soplata, along with my sons Ken Jr., Brian and Mark, and grandsons Colby, Austin and Garrett Stoltzfus. Mr. Soplata was gracious and gave us the grand tour. He is sometimes critized for not better protecting his collection but on the other hand most of them would have been scrapped long ago without his labor of love in hauling them home. He passed away on Nov. 5, 2010 and there is an article on him on the EAA we web site.
Here's a series of photos of his F7U-3 Cutlass. It seemed to be one of the aircraft that he most enjoyed talking about and he patiently told us all about it. I'm so pleased to have some shots of Mr. Soplata wearing a Preferred Airparts baseball cap! - 1-, - 2-, - 3-, - 4-, - 5-, - 6-, - 7-, - 8- and - 9-. |
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Chance Vought F7U-3 Cutlass 129687, with F7U-3P 129747 and 129753 behind it. Probably at the Chance Vought factory, see the fire truck. |
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Chance Vought F7U-3P Cutlass 129745, photo version close up of nose; in flight; and nose only, in flight, factory photo, see text. Partial bare metal but with some trim. |
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Chance Vought F7U-3P Cutlass129747, partial bare metal, probably at the factory; and later, in full paint I believe. |
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Chance Vought F7U-3M Cutlass 139914, with four wing pylons to carry Sperry Sparrow guided missiles. Factory photo with comments about the paint job. |
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Chance Vought test pilot Jack Walton standing on top of an F7U-3 in a partial pressure suit. Factory photo, see text. |
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A fully painted F7U-3, 1284?? in flight, with nose probe. |
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F7U-3 from underneath, factory photo, see text. (Not a real good photo!) |
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F7U, 7, T, Navy, unknown serial number or location, grainy photo.
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