The Vought VE-7 "Bluebird" was an early biplane of the United States. First flying in 1917, it was designed as a two-seat trainer for the United States Army, then adopted by the United States Navy as its first fighter aircraft. In 1922, a VE-7 became the first airplane to take off from an American aircraft carrier.[1]
The Lewis & Vought Corporation was formed just months after the U.S. entered World War I, with the intention of servicing war needs. The company's trainer was patterned after successful European designs; for instance, the engine was a Wright Hispano Suiza of the type used by the French Spads. In practice, the VE-7's performance was much better than usual for a trainer, and the Army ordered 1,000 of an improved design called the VE-8. However, the contract was cancelled due to the end of the war.[1]
However, the Navy was very interested in the VE-7, and received the first machine in May 1920. Production orders soon followed, and in accordance to Navy policy at the time, examples were also built by the Naval Aircraft Factory. In all, 128 VE-7s were built.[1]
Vought VE-7 - McCook Field, Ohio 1917
The fighter version of the VE-7 was designated VE-7S. It was a single-seater, the front cockpit being faired over and a .30 in (7.62 mm) Vickersmachine gun mounted over it on the left side and synchronized to fire through the propeller. Some planes, designated VE-7SF, had flotation gear consisting of inflatable bags stowed away, available to help keep the plane afloat when ditching at sea.[1]
The Bluebird won the 1918 Army competition for advanced training machines.[2]
The VE-8 variant completed in July 1919 had a 340hp Wright-Hispano H engine, reduced overall dimensions, increased wing area, a shorter faired cabane, and two Vickers guns. Two were completed. Flight test results were disappointing, the aircraft was overweight, with heavy controls, inadequate stability and sluggish performance.[3]
The VE-9 variant, first delivered to the Navy on 24 June 1922, was essentially an improved VE-7, with most of the improvements in the fuel system area. Four of the 21 ordered by the U.S. Navy were unarmed observation float seaplanes for battleship catapult use.[3]
Operational historyedit
Vought VE-7 approaching USS Langley, 1922. Note the Landing Signal Officer.
The VE-7s equipped the Navy's first two fighter squadrons VF-1 and VF-2. A VE-7 flown by Lieutenant Virgil C. Griffin made history on October 17, 1922, when it took off from the deck of the newly commissioned carrier Langley. The VE-7s were the Navy's frontline fighters for several years, with three still assigned to the Langley in 1927; all were retired the following year.[1]
VE-7 (1918) - 14 built for the U.S. Army Air Service; 39 built for the U.S. Navy; (one of two known, built at McCook Field. Reportedly four more were built by Springfield Co)
VE-7F (1921) - 29 built for the U.S. Navy
VE-7G (1921) - One converted from VE-7 for U.S. Marine Corps, 23 converted from VE-7 for U.S. Navy
VE-8 (1918) - Four ordered by the U.S. Army on October 11, 1918; two were canceled; 340 hp Wright-Hispano H engine installed, two Vickers guns, wingspan decreased to 31 ft (9.4 m), wing area increased to 307 sq ft (28.5 m2), shortened to 21 ft 4 in (6.50 m), speed increased to 140 mph (230 km/h), loaded weight increased to 2,435 lb (1,104 kg)[3]
VE-9 (1921) - Two converted from VE-7 for U.S. Army; speed increased to 119 mph (192 km/h), service ceiling increased to 18,840 ft (5,740 m)
VE-9 (1927) - 22 built for the U.S. Army, 17 built for the U.S. Navy. (U.S. Army used same designation as U.S. Navy)
VE-9H (1927) - Four unarmed observation float seaplanes built for the U.S. Navy battleships, modified vertical tail surfaces for improved catapult and water stability[3]
VE-9W - canceled
Surviving aircraftedit
No survivors remain, however a replica Bluebird was completed in early 2007 by volunteers of the Vought Aircraft Heritage Foundation.[4] It is now on display at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida.[5]
Data from Janes Fighting Aircraft of World War I by Michael John Haddrick Taylor (Random House Group Ltd. 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 2SA, 2001, ISBN1-85170-347-0), 320 pp.
Propellers: 2-bladed, 8 ft 8 in (2.64 m) diameter wooden fixed pitch propeller
Performance
Maximum speed: 106 mph (171 km/h, 92 kn)
Range: 290 mi (467 km, 250 nmi)
Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4,600 m)
Rate of climb: 738 ft/min (3.75 m/s)
Armament
Guns: (VE-7S) 1 x .30 in (7.62 mm) Vickers machine gun machine gun synchronized to fire through the propeller
Referencesedit
Notesedit
^ abcde[Lloyd S. Jones, U.S. Naval Fighters (Fallbrook CA: Aero Publishers, 1977, ISBN0-8168-9254-7), pp. 11-13]
^Janes Fighting Aircraft of World War I by Michael John Haddrick Taylor (Random House Group Ltd. 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 2SA, 2001, ISBN1-85170-347-0), page 252.
^ abcdThe Complete Book of Fighters cover 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine Editors: William Green & Gordon Swanborough (Barnes & Noble Books New York, 1998, ISBN0-7607-0904-1), pp. 336-337
^Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". Retrieved 16 April 2019.
Bibliographyedit
Millot, Bernard (October 1971). "Lewis-Vought VE.8 ou le malchanceux "Spad" americain" [Lewis-Vought VE.8 or the unlucky American "Spad"]. Le Album de Fanatique de l'Aviation (in French) (26): 2–3. ISSN 0757-4169.
K.O. Eckland's Aerofiles; accessed 13 May 2007
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vought VE Bluebird.
December 20, 2023
vought, bluebird, early, biplane, united, states, first, flying, 1917, designed, seat, trainer, united, states, army, then, adopted, united, states, navy, first, fighter, aircraft, 1922, became, first, airplane, take, from, american, aircraft, carrier, bluebir. The Vought VE 7 Bluebird was an early biplane of the United States First flying in 1917 it was designed as a two seat trainer for the United States Army then adopted by the United States Navy as its first fighter aircraft In 1922 a VE 7 became the first airplane to take off from an American aircraft carrier 1 VE 7 Bluebird Mechanics work on a VE 7Role Fighter and trainerManufacturer Lewis amp Vought CorporationDesigner Chance M VoughtFirst flight 1917Primary users United States NavyUnited States Army Air ServiceProduced 1918 1928Number built 128 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Surviving aircraft 5 Operators 6 Specifications VE 7 7 References 7 1 Notes 7 2 Bibliography 8 External linksDesign and development editThe Lewis amp Vought Corporation was formed just months after the U S entered World War I with the intention of servicing war needs The company s trainer was patterned after successful European designs for instance the engine was a Wright Hispano Suiza of the type used by the French Spads In practice the VE 7 s performance was much better than usual for a trainer and the Army ordered 1 000 of an improved design called the VE 8 However the contract was cancelled due to the end of the war 1 However the Navy was very interested in the VE 7 and received the first machine in May 1920 Production orders soon followed and in accordance to Navy policy at the time examples were also built by the Naval Aircraft Factory In all 128 VE 7s were built 1 nbsp Vought VE 7 McCook Field Ohio 1917The fighter version of the VE 7 was designated VE 7S It was a single seater the front cockpit being faired over and a 30 in 7 62 mm Vickers machine gun mounted over it on the left side and synchronized to fire through the propeller Some planes designated VE 7SF had flotation gear consisting of inflatable bags stowed away available to help keep the plane afloat when ditching at sea 1 The Bluebird won the 1918 Army competition for advanced training machines 2 The VE 8 variant completed in July 1919 had a 340hp Wright Hispano H engine reduced overall dimensions increased wing area a shorter faired cabane and two Vickers guns Two were completed Flight test results were disappointing the aircraft was overweight with heavy controls inadequate stability and sluggish performance 3 The VE 9 variant first delivered to the Navy on 24 June 1922 was essentially an improved VE 7 with most of the improvements in the fuel system area Four of the 21 ordered by the U S Navy were unarmed observation float seaplanes for battleship catapult use 3 Operational history edit nbsp Vought VE 7 approaching USS Langley 1922 Note the Landing Signal Officer The VE 7s equipped the Navy s first two fighter squadrons VF 1 and VF 2 A VE 7 flown by Lieutenant Virgil C Griffin made history on October 17 1922 when it took off from the deck of the newly commissioned carrier Langley The VE 7s were the Navy s frontline fighters for several years with three still assigned to the Langley in 1927 all were retired the following year 1 Variants edit nbsp VE 7 being catapulted from the USS Maryland BB 46 VE 7 1918 14 built for the U S Army Air Service 39 built for the U S Navy one of two known built at McCook Field Reportedly four more were built by Springfield Co VE 7F 1921 29 built for the U S Navy VE 7G 1921 One converted from VE 7 for U S Marine Corps 23 converted from VE 7 for U S Navy VE 7GF 1921 One converted from VE 7 VE 7H 1924 Nine observation seaplanes built for the U S Navy VE 7S 1925 One converted from VE 7 VE 7SF 1925 11 built for the U S Navy VE 7SH One VE 7SF converted into a floatplane VE 8 1918 Four ordered by the U S Army on October 11 1918 two were canceled 340 hp Wright Hispano H engine installed two Vickers guns wingspan decreased to 31 ft 9 4 m wing area increased to 307 sq ft 28 5 m2 shortened to 21 ft 4 in 6 50 m speed increased to 140 mph 230 km h loaded weight increased to 2 435 lb 1 104 kg 3 VE 9 1921 Two converted from VE 7 for U S Army speed increased to 119 mph 192 km h service ceiling increased to 18 840 ft 5 740 m VE 9 1927 22 built for the U S Army 17 built for the U S Navy U S Army used same designation as U S Navy VE 9H 1927 Four unarmed observation float seaplanes built for the U S Navy battleships modified vertical tail surfaces for improved catapult and water stability 3 VE 9W canceledSurviving aircraft editNo survivors remain however a replica Bluebird was completed in early 2007 by volunteers of the Vought Aircraft Heritage Foundation 4 It is now on display at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola Florida 5 Operators edit nbsp United StatesUnited States Army Air Service United States NavySpecifications VE 7 edit nbsp Vought VE 7 3 view drawingData from Janes Fighting Aircraft of World War I by Michael John Haddrick Taylor Random House Group Ltd 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road London SW1V 2SA 2001 ISBN 1 85170 347 0 320 pp General characteristicsCrew two Length 24 ft 5 375 in 7 45 m Wingspan 34 ft 4 in 10 47 m Height 8 ft 7 5 in 2 63 m Wing area 284 5 sq ft 26 43 m2 Airfoil RAF 15 6 Empty weight 1 392 lb 631 kg Gross weight 1 937 lb 879 kg Powerplant 1 Wright Hispano E 3 liquid cooled V 8 180 hp 134 kW Propellers 2 bladed 8 ft 8 in 2 64 m diameter wooden fixed pitch propellerPerformance Maximum speed 106 mph 171 km h 92 kn Range 290 mi 467 km 250 nmi Service ceiling 15 000 ft 4 600 m Rate of climb 738 ft min 3 75 m s Armament Guns VE 7S 1 x 30 in 7 62 mm Vickers machine gun machine gun synchronized to fire through the propellerReferences editNotes edit a b c d e Lloyd S Jones U S Naval Fighters Fallbrook CA Aero Publishers 1977 ISBN 0 8168 9254 7 pp 11 13 Janes Fighting Aircraft of World War I by Michael John Haddrick Taylor Random House Group Ltd 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road London SW1V 2SA 2001 ISBN 1 85170 347 0 page 252 a b c d The Complete Book of Fighters cover Archived 2007 09 29 at the Wayback Machine Editors William Green amp Gordon Swanborough Barnes amp Noble Books New York 1998 ISBN 0 7607 0904 1 pp 336 337 Vought Aircraft Heritage Foundation VE 7 Bluebird History navy mil 1922 10 17 Retrieved 2022 05 02 Lednicer David The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage Retrieved 16 April 2019 Bibliography edit Millot Bernard October 1971 Lewis Vought VE 8 ou le malchanceux Spad americain Lewis Vought VE 8 or the unlucky American Spad Le Album de Fanatique de l Aviation in French 26 2 3 ISSN 0757 4169 K O Eckland s Aerofiles accessed 13 May 2007External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vought VE Bluebird Vought Aircraft Industries Inc Company Heritage Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vought VE 7 amp oldid 1175432332, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
