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Old 01-12-2020, 05:01 PM
hyair hyair is offline
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F7U-3M Cutlass VX-4 Evaluation Squadron - Strike 3

The Cutlass F7U-3 was the standard version of the navy which went into service in mid 1954
after project cutlass with VF-24. However the definitive version was the 3M which had some changes. Two integral fuel tanks were added inside the wings 200 galon each wing - 400 total. APQ-51 radar that worked together with the 4 first generation sparrow beam riding
missiles. These missiles were good only against targets that had a limited maneuverability
and there is a short movie in youtube from 1956 that shows how the sparrow had a direct hit
in a radio controlled B-17 that served as a drone.
Now VX-4 was a special squadron that evaluated new weapons. The sparrow missile
was first operational in 1956 with VA -83 Cutlass squadron that was sent to the Mediterranean sea with the 6th fleet of the navy. The regular Cutlass squadron had 12 Cutlasses while a VX-4 usually operated 4 Cutlasses. The VX-4 were testing and evaluating
the new weapon and recommended how to use it for the getting best results.Every Cutlass
pilot of the 3M had to fire the missile twice at least in order to be familiar with the system.
Last VX -4 deployment with the Cutlass was in mid 1957 with Shangri la carrier.
After returning to the states VX-4 received the Fury FJ-4B with the bullpap missile and again
checked and evaluated the new weapon.
The F7U-3M model here has the VX-4 scheme and the small yellow stars in the tail and rear part of the Canopy. I attach here close up photos of the VX-4 Cutlass.

Yair
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