XTBU-1 Mockup 76 Years Later Part Two

     Continuing with the series on the XTBU-1 mockup here are photos of the aircraft in the flight level position, wing folded, from the front and a side view with the cabin enclosure open. Of additional interest is the XF4U mockup with the original tail hook concept sharing the same space in the hangar. NARA II Photos RG 72AC Box101.

VS-1121-XTBU-1-Mockup-Torpedo-Bomber-Flight-Attitude-1940504

VS-1138-XTBU-1-Mockup-Torpedo-Bomber-Rear-View-Wing-Folded-1940504

VS-1139-XTBU-1-Mockup-Torpedo-Bomber-Front-View-1940504

VS-1140-XTBU-1-Mockup-Torpedo-Bomber-Front-View-Wing-Folded-1940504

VS-1141-XTBU-1-Mockup-Torpedo-Bomber-Left-Side-Cabins-Open-1940504

XTBU-1 Mockup 76 Years Later Part One

     Vought's entry in the competition to replace the Douglas TBD torpedo bomber became a footnote in history due to the success of it's stablemate the F4U and the lack of production space at the factory. The aircraft was sleeker and provided better performance than it's Grumman competitor the XTBF-1. 
     Production rights were transferred to Consolidated as the TBY-2 and eventually less than 200 were manufactured before the end of the war caused contract cancellation.

     Here are the mockup photos of the XTBU-1 taken on May 4, 1940 showing the design from several different angles. Photos are from NARA II Collection 72AC Box101C.

VS-1120-XTBU-1-Mockup-Torpedo-Bomber-3-Point-Attitude-1940504

VS-1137-XTBU-1-Mockup-Torpedo-Bomber-Rear-View-1940504

VS-1147-XTBU-1-Mockup-Powerplant-and-Fixed-Gun-Right-Side-1940504

VS-1154-XTBU-1-Mockup-Torpedo-Installation-1940504

F7U-3 129558

     Here is a set of factory images of F7U-3 129558 as she looked factory fresh in October 28, 1953.

     129558 was the 42nd F7U-3 built. The initial delivery date was April 28, 1954. The aircraft returned to CVA for modification on November 20, 1954. The aircraft was then delivered to VA-12 on December 13, 1955. 129558 was Stricken at Cecil Field, FL October 5, 1956 after a fire on the ground.  NARA II RG72AC photos

CVA-18346-F7U-3-129558-Left-Side-View-19531028

CVA-18348-F7U-3-129558-Front-View-Rocket-Pack-and-Pylons-19531028

CVA-18349-F7U-3-129558-Left-Front-View-19531028

CVA-18350-F7U-3-129558-Right-Front-View-19531028

CVA-18351-F7U-3-129558-Right-Rear-View-19531028

CVA-18352-F7U-3-129558-Left-Side-View-Wings-Folded-19531028

CVA-18353-F7U-3-129558-Front-View-Wings-Folded-19531028

CVA-18354-F7U-3-129558-Right-Side-View-19531028

CVA-18355-F7U-3-129558-Front-View-19531028

CVA-18357-F7U-3-129558-Rear-View-19531028

ADAM (Air Deflection and Modulation)

     Sitting here wondering if there is any interest in doing a series of posts on the ADAM designs.

Here are a couple of drawings and a photo of models (courtesy VAHF Archives) that look interesting:

Great VE-7 Images

     While researching Vought aircraft at NARA II, I came across these great images, It is a Vought VE-7 uncovered and uncowled sitting on the airfield at Dayton. It gives a great view into how thing are arranged and the various wires and supports used in biplane construction.

342FH-B3246-Vought VE-7 Uncovered Right Front View 

342FH-B3248-Vought VE-7 Uncovered Right Side View 

End of the Biplane Series

     It is fairly well documented that in 1934 the US Navy issued the requirement for a new Scout Bomber. This was at the time the Navy was starting the transition from biplane to monoplane aircraft.

     The XSB3U-1 was built as hedge against the Navy not accepting the XSB2U-1 Vindicator in the 1934-35 time frame. There was discussion about monoplanes being too large to handle on deck, high approach speeds, and longer take-off distances, some of the same arguments in the discussion of progressing from propeller driven aircraft to jets just about 10 years later.

3617-XSB3U-1-9634-Right-Side-View-19360228 VAHF Archives

     The top speed for the XSB3U-1 was listed at 215 mph which meant the retractable landing gear bought approximately 10 mph over the previous SBU-1/-2 aircraft that it was intended to replace. That speed was a good 30 mph slower than the SB2U-1.

3620-XSB3U-1-9634-Left-Rear-View-19360228 VAHF Archives

     One XSB3U-1 was built and the contract went to Vought to build the SB2U series. Here is a general arrangement for the XSB3U-1 from the Vought Heritage Archives

    

     In the end the XSB3U-1 was the last vestige of the biplane dive bomber line at Vought that started with the end of another era, the two seat fighter (pilot and rear gunner) XF3U-1. The XSBU-1 was the XF3U-1 prototype re-purposed into the dive bomber series SBU-1 and SBU-2.

FLIR/LST Tests on YA-7D 67-14582 In July 1973

VSD-10173U-A-7D-67-14582-Front-View-Mockup-FLIR-LST-19730716

   
     This series of images shows one of the configurations tested on YA-7D 67-14582 during the summer of 1973 for incorporating the FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) and LST (Laser Spot Tracker) onto the existing Corsair II air-frame.

VSD-10177U-A-7D-67-14582-Right-Side-View-Mockup-FLIR-LST-19730716

     It appears that the chin mounted configuration was associated with the Hughes FLIR system that was canceled which led to the development of the Texas Instruments pod mounted FLIR system. The LST  known as Pave Penny was later incorporated onto the bottom of the engine air inlet of Air Force A-7D/K aircraft.

VSD-10176U-A-7D-67-14582-Left-Front-View-Mockup-FLIR-LST-19730716

     This particular configuration was labeled 4J and the pictures taken prior to flight number 330. Yet to be discovered are the engineering reports that would capture the data and testing results for this and obviously other similar configurations tested on 67-14582. It is also interesting to note that 582 had accumulated 332 flights since its maiden voyage on April 5, 1968

VSD-10175U-A-7D-67-14582-Left-Side-View-Mockup-FLIR-LST-19730716

     All photos from the Vought Aircraft Historical Archives.