The F7U made its maiden flight in 1948. For an aircraft that would lose a quarter of its rolling stock to accidents, many of them fatal, the Cutlass had a fairly trouble-free first few test flights.

It looked like the future but flew like a death sentence. The F7U Cutlass, born from post-WW2 experimental designs, entered service with promise—yet quickly earned a deadly reputation. What went ...

“The Cutlass could be made into a pretty good flying machine with a few modifications,” wrote F7U-3 pilot John Moore in The Wrong Stuff, about his Navy flying days.

Despite its Oldsmobile namesake, from 1953 to 1957, the Vought F7U Cutlass was an unconventionally designed jet known for its mechanical shortcomings.

The Oldsmobile Cutlass was produced from 1961 to 1999. This mint 1986 Cutlass Supreme, finished in Medium Red Metallic, is being auctioned on Bring a Trailer.

But Beisel also invented the F7U Cutlass jet, which was not anyone’s idea of a fine fighter. The Cutlass “was ahead of its time and the capabilities of available power plants, resulting in its ...

1972 marked the final year for the third generation Oldsmobile Cutlass. This Covert Tan 1972 Cutlass Supreme convertible is being auctioned on Bring a Trailer.

But Beisel also invented the F7U Cutlass jet, which was not anyone’s idea of a fine fighter. The Cutlass “was ahead of its time and the capabilities of available power plants, resulting in its ...

CC0 Usage Conditions ApplyClick for more information. A letter and poster from John Konrad, Chief Pilot with Chance Vought, to Wilson C. Travis, a young boy, regarding the Chance Vought F7U-3 Cutlass.

Montgomery County kids climb onto a 1950s-era F7U Cutlass jet that was installed in 1964 in Wheaton Regional Park, one of several outfitted at the time with disused military equipment. (Wheaton ...