Vought FU: Difference between revisions
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Marigold100 (talk | contribs) Design para 1, "for 20" para 2, "eight" "to have" "resulting aircraft" para 3, "served primarily" Specifications, "Crew: one" |
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==Design and development== |
==Design and development== |
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Pleased with the company's [[Vought VE-7|VE-7]], in 1926 the Navy gave [[Vought]] a $459,709 contract for convertible land/sea |
Pleased with the company's [[Vought VE-7|VE-7]], in 1926 the Navy gave [[Vought]] a $459,709 contract for 20 convertible land/sea fighters. Vought already had a two-seat observation plane, the '''UO-1''', basically a VE with additional fuselage streamlining and a [[Wright J-3]] radial engine. This was made into a fighter simply by covering over the front cockpit of the observation plane, mounting machine guns in that area, and upgrading to a 220 hp [[Wright R-790 Whirlwind]] with a [[supercharger]]. With the help of the supercharger, the newly designated '''FU-1''' was able to reach a speed of 147 mph at 13,000 ft. |
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The FU-1s were delivered to [[VF-2B]] based in [[San Diego, California]]. With their float gear mounted, one was assigned to each of the [[battleship]]s of the [[United States Pacific Fleet|Pacific Fleet]], where they were launched from [[catapult]]s. They spent |
The FU-1s were delivered to [[VF-2B]] based in [[San Diego, California]]. With their float gear mounted, one was assigned to each of the [[battleship]]s of the [[United States Pacific Fleet|Pacific Fleet]], where they were launched from [[catapult]]s. They spent eight months in this role, but as the squadron went to [[aircraft carrier]] operations, the further-aft cockpit proved to have a visibility problem when maneuvering around a carrier deck. In response, the forward cockpit was re-opened, the resulting aircraft being designated '''FU-2'''. |
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By this time they were obsolescent, and the two-seaters |
By this time they were obsolescent, and the two-seaters served primarily as trainers and utility aircraft. |
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==Operators== |
==Operators== |
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|ref=''United States Navy Aircraft since 1911'' <ref name="Swan Navy p389">Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p.389.</ref> |
|ref=''United States Navy Aircraft since 1911'' <ref name="Swan Navy p389">Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p.389.</ref> |
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|crew= |
|crew=one |
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|capacity= |
|capacity= |
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|payload main= |
|payload main= |
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Revision as of 04:56, 1 March 2017
| FU | |
|---|---|
| |
| FU-1 of VF-2 in 1928 | |
| Role | Fighter aircraft |
| National origin | United States of America |
| Manufacturer | Vought |
| Introduction | 1927 |
| Retired | 1929 |
| Primary user | United States Navy |
| Number built | 20 |
The Vought FU was a biplane fighter aircraft of the United States Navy in service during the late 1920s.
Design and development
Pleased with the company's VE-7, in 1926 the Navy gave Vought a $459,709 contract for 20 convertible land/sea fighters. Vought already had a two-seat observation plane, the UO-1, basically a VE with additional fuselage streamlining and a Wright J-3 radial engine. This was made into a fighter simply by covering over the front cockpit of the observation plane, mounting machine guns in that area, and upgrading to a 220 hp Wright R-790 Whirlwind with a supercharger. With the help of the supercharger, the newly designated FU-1 was able to reach a speed of 147 mph at 13,000 ft.
The FU-1s were delivered to VF-2B based in San Diego, California. With their float gear mounted, one was assigned to each of the battleships of the Pacific Fleet, where they were launched from catapults. They spent eight months in this role, but as the squadron went to aircraft carrier operations, the further-aft cockpit proved to have a visibility problem when maneuvering around a carrier deck. In response, the forward cockpit was re-opened, the resulting aircraft being designated FU-2.
By this time they were obsolescent, and the two-seaters served primarily as trainers and utility aircraft.
Operators
- Peruvian Air Force - Two aircraft.
- Peruvian Navy - Two aircraft.
Specifications (FU-1)
Data from United States Navy Aircraft since 1911 [1]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Airfoil: Navy N-9
Performance
- Climb to 5,000 ft (1,520 m): 5 minutes
Armament
- Guns: 2 x .30 in machine guns
References
Notes
Bibliography
- Jones, Lloyd S. U.S. Naval Fighters. Fallbrook CA: Aero Publishers, 1977, ISBN 0-8168-9254-7), pp. 53–54.
- Swanborough, Gordon and Bowers, Peter. United States Navy Aircraft since 1911. London:Putnam, Second edition, 1976. ISBN 0-370-10054-9.
External links
Media related to Vought FU at Wikimedia Commons