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They actually only flew the Cutlass in a few shows in 1952 because it was a maintinance nightmare.They had two aircraft assighned to them.

Wasn't it the first two off the production line? I mean, as being the reason for the maintinance nightmare.

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There were three XF7U-1s. There were 14 production F7U-1s, BuNos 124415 through 124428. The two assigned to the Blues were 124426 and 7, which were actually the last but one of the production F7U-1s. 124420 was also marked like a Blue Angels jet to be flown by Ron Puckett in at least one air show prior to being one of the last F7U-1s stricken. The Cutlass was very advanced (complicated) and not ready for prime time when it debuted with the Blues. Ironically, it joined the team just in time to be a temporary fill-in for the newly assigned F9F-5s that had been grounded due to engine problems.

Edited by Tailspin Turtle
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How complicated was it? The main landing gear had two positions - one for takeoff and the other for landing. On one flight during the Blue Angels period, the gear malfunctioned and the pilot had to land with one gear forward and the other aft...

F7U-1LandingGear.jpg

Edited by Tailspin Turtle
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