Not having worked on the machine I have no knowledge as to the
difficulty of maintenance. As for the "Ensign Killer" epitaph, everybody
that I knew who flew them, loved them. Their only bitch was that it
needed about 10,000 pounds more thrust. And yes, it's reputation
was well earned, it killed many ensigns along with any other ranks who
had the audacity to strap it on.
I remember that upon finishing FCLP's (Field Carrier Landing Practice)
and preparing to Qualify on USS Boat, our LSO (Landing signal officer)
showed us a 40 minute movie of nothing but Carrier landing accidents,
everything from early Biplanes to modern (mid 50's) jets. almost all
ended in spectacular fire balls The biggest star of the movie was the
F7U Cutlass, some incentive huh?
When the lights came back on, our LSO said "DOR (Drop On Request)
chits are on the desk by the door on your way out."
Not one was submitted. When you're 19 or 20, you are invincible.



"Richard Goldsberry" wrote in message
...
I joined the Navy in '59. First duty station after Aviation Ordnance "A"
School was NAS Cecil Field, FL.
I remember hearing that the Cutlass was also called the "Ensign Breaker".
That the nose gear would sometimes appear in the cockpit during a hard
landing.
Any truth to that rumor?
Also the 20mm cannons were mounted above the intakes, those must have been
a
bitch to load.
Dick...