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If we build it, the USN will buy it.

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SMS12	If we build it, the USN will buy it.	Lead	[-]
Posts: 683 (23-Apr-2008 19:31:38) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	That seems to be the story for USN carrier based fighters in the 1950s. Just off the top of my head the USN had 7 different types in squadron service during the decade. (F2H Banshee; F3H Demon, F3D Skynight; F7U Cutlass; F9F Cougar and F11F Tiger). I'm not sure if the Crusader made it to the fleet by the end of '59. I know that this was a period of great advancement but still... I must so though, they were a good looking lot of planes, especially the Cutlass. Too bad about its performance.
bager1968		#1	[-]
Posts: 2901 (23-Apr-2008 21:08:54) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	The F8U-1 (F-8A) and the F8U-1E (F-8B) were in service by 1958. The first production F8U-1s reached VX-3 in December of 1956. The first operational squadron to re-equip with the Crusader was VF-32 at NAS Cecil Field in March of 1957. The first squadron to operate the F8U-1 aboard an aircraft carrier was VF-32, which embarked aboard the USS Saratoga towards the end of 1957. A total of 218 F8U-1s were built before production switched in September of 1958 to the F8U-2. A total of 130 F8U-1Es were built. The F8U-2 (F-8C) was was the first true fleet Crusader fighter. A total of 187 F8U-2s were delivered to the Navy between January of 1959 and September of 1960. The first unit to use the F8U-2 was VF-84, entering service in January of 1959. And you forgot three... F9F Panther (straight-wing, the Cougar was swept-wing), FJ-2/FJ-3 & FJ-4 Fury and F4D Skyray. The FJ-2 Fury was a barely navalized F-86E/F Sabre (which itself had been developed from the straight-wing FJ Fury, which was in operational USN service 1948-1950, and afterwards as an advanced trainer). Marine Corps squadron VMF-122 based at Cherry Point, North Carolina received their first FJ-2s in January 1954, and most of the 200 FJ-2s built went to land-based Marine Corps units. It did have folding wings. The last of the 200 FJ-2s was accepted in September 1954. The FJ-3 Fury kept the FJ-2 wing, but the fuselage was modified to take a different engine (with a larger intake). Navy Squadron VF-173 based at Jacksonville, Florida was first to receive the FJ-3, becoming active with the fighter in September of 1954. The first of 149 FJ-3s was delivered in December of 1955, and the last (an FJ-3M) rolled out of the factory in August of 1956. The FJ-4 had completely redesigned wings and fuselage. The first squadron to use the FJ-4 was Marine Squadron VMF-451. Production FJ-4s began to appear in February 1955, and by March of 1957, all 152 aircraft on the first contract had been delivered. The FJ-4B was modified for ground attack, so I won't count it, even though it stayed in service with reserve units until the mid 1960s. The first truly operational F4D Skyray unit was VF-74 at NAS Oceana in Virginia, which came on line in mid 1956. A total of 419 production F4D-1s were built, the last example being delivered on December 22, 1958. Thus, for fighters in production in the 1950s, we have: F2H Banshee F3H Demon F3D Skynight FJ-2/3/4 Fury F7U Cutlass F9F Panther F9F Cougar F4D Skyray F11F Tiger F8U Crusader Attack aircraft in production in the 1950s were: AU-1 Corsair (prop) AD Skyraider (prop) AJ Savage (both prop & jet) AD-3 Skywarrior FJ-4B Fury AD-4 Skyhawk
emc		#2	[-]
Posts: 3698 (24-Apr-2008 02:31:14) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	SMS12 wrote: That seems to be the story for USN carrier based fighters in the 1950s. Just off the top of my head the USN had 7 different types in squadron service during the decade. (F2H Banshee; F3H Demon, F3D Skynight; F7U Cutlass; F9F Cougar and F11F Tiger). I'm not sure if the Crusader made it to the fleet by the end of '59. I know that this was a period of great advancement but still... I must so though, they were a good looking lot of planes, especially the Cutlass. Too bad about its performance. It was a great era in which to be working in the aerospace industry. Think of the USN and USAF procurement programs as less methods of improving the nation's defense, per se, than as a way to maximize employment (and profits) in the aerospace industry. After all, McDonnel, Douglas, Vought, Grumman, and North American no longer exist as independent companies
asavery		#3	[-]
Posts: 87 (24-Apr-2008 15:39:31) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	hmmm... while I don't disagree with the conclussions here, I think we must also recognise the rapid evolution of aviation technology and industrial methods that took place during this period, from prop aircraft to supersonic jet aircraft, and the associate issues with making them carrier capable. Basically, with much of the aircraft industry from WWII still in existance (minus the converted automotive plants) such varied types and production was possible. In the 60s & 70s, as technology stabalized and few standerd types were adopted, this would change.
Ed		#4	[-]
Posts: 2305 (29-Apr-2008 04:30:51) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	emc wrote: After all, McDonnel, Douglas, Vought, Grumman, and North American no longer exist as independent companies Don't forget that two US Aerospace companies from the 1950s are still with us today, Boeing and Lockheed. In the 1950s they designed and built the longest lasting and still viaable weapons platforms still in use, the B-52, C-130 and KC-135.
emc		#5	[-]
Posts: 3723 ( 1-May-2008 21:28:06) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Ed wrote: emc wrote: After all, McDonnel, Douglas, Vought, Grumman, and North American no longer exist as independent companies Don't forget that two US Aerospace companies from the 1950s are still with us today, Boeing and Lockheed. In the 1950s they designed and built the longest lasting and still viable weapons platforms still in use, the B-52, C-130 and KC-135. ...so is Northrop, which had a trainer (T-38) turned into a cheap fighter (F-5), a failed lightweight fighter (F-20) and an incredibly expensive bomber (B-2), and then got to pick up Grumman for free. Don't forget, too, that Grumman (A-6, F-14), Douglas (A-3, A-4), and McDonnel/Douglas (F-4) had some aircraft that served in combat roles for decades. Of course, the companies that designed and built some quite successful, long-serving military aircraft have vanished into the maw of mergers and acquisitions, with not even their name surviving.
Ed		#6	[-]
Posts: 2309 ( 2-May-2008 01:55:39) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	emc wrote: Of course, the companies that designed and built some quite successful, long-serving military aircraft have vanished into the maw of mergers and acquisitions, with not even their name surviving. Boeing is still Boeing, even though they aquired some others like MD and NA. Lockheed is now Lockheed/Martin, and both the Northrop and Grumman names survive, but together now.
bager1968		#7	[-]
Posts: 2915 ( 2-May-2008 19:03:59) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	McDonnell, Douglas, Vought, Curtis, Consolidated/Convair, Republic, and North American are now ghost names. Bell, Hughes, and Sikorsky no longer make fixed-wing aircraft... only helicopters. I'm not really counting Brewster & Vultee, but they could be in the first list too. Last Edited By: bager1968 2-May-2008 19:07:11. Edited 1 times.

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