"On This Day" In Engineering History

On this day in engineering history, the FJ-4B Fury made its first flight from the factory. Built by North American Aviation, Inc. of Columbus, Ohio, this single-seat aircraft was issued to nine U.S. Navy and three Marine Corps squadrons, including the legendary "Black Sheep" (VMA-214) of World War II fame. Powered by a Wright J65-W-16A engine that produced 7,800 lbs. of thrust, the North American FJ-4B Fury achieved altitudes of 46,800 feet and reached sea-level speeds of 680 mph. To boost its operational range to 1,300 miles, this carrier-based aircraft used external fuel tanks, allowing it to carry 50% more jet fuel than the FJ-3 Fury. Before production ended in May of 1958, a total of 372 FJ-4s Furies were built.

After the Korean War ended in 1953, the U.S. Navy needed an interim jet fighter while two afterburner-equipped aircraft, the F8U Crusader and the F11F Tiger, were under development. Although some observers likened the FJ-4 to either the FJ-3 or the F-86 Sabre, the new airplane was more than a modified design. Whereas the first Navy Furies used aerodynamically-actuated, leading-edge slats, the FJ-4 used a drooping-wing design. The FJ-4's successor, the FJ-4B Fury, also incorporated this feature to improve low-speed handling and provide additional life during landing. The drooping leading edges were linked mechanically to the trailing-edge flaps, and could be extended only when these flaps were down.

The FJ-4B Fury was billed as the ground-attack version of the FJ-4, but was characterized by some important differences. Strengthened to carry six under-wing ordinance stations, the FJ-4B could hold two drop tanks, each with 200 gallons of jet fuel. The FJ-4B was also fitted with a permanent inflight refueling probe and an additional pair of brakes to reduce speeds during low-level bombing runs. The aircraft's low altitude bombing system (LABS) could carry a nuclear weapon on the second wing station, but required the removal of the radar-ranging gun sight. Five Martin ASM-N-7 Bullpup surface-to-air (SAM) guided missiles were driven by solid rocket motors made by Aerojet General Corporation of California. Each of these weapons weighed a hefty 571 lbs.

Editor's Note: The picture which accompanies this story is a restored version of the aircraft taken at the EAA Airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Resources:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/fj.htm*

http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/p86_24.html

http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/AC/aircraft/North-American-Fury/fury_info/fury_info.htm

http://mofak.com/Blacksheep_History.htm

http://www.simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2060610

http://yosemite.epa.gov/r9/sfund/overview.nsf/0/4974e8b6c43585f58825672a00826d1a!OpenDocument#descr

*This web site provides valuable material, but the link has been reported as containing a virus.