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North American FJ-2 / FJ-3 Fury

1954 COLD WAR

History of the North American FJ-2/FJ-3 Fury

The American jet fighter program developed significantly after the end of World War II in 1945. The original product was a straight-wing design with an engine nacelle integrated into the fuselage, in stark contrast to the German Messerschmitt Me 262, which had swept wings and suspended engines.

However, with the development of technology, this approach changed significantly and the Americans began to focus on the swept wing as well as the classic nose air intake shape, a work that would eventually become the classic North American F-86" Sabre of the Korean War era "Fighters (1950-1950s). - 1953) for the United States Air Force (USAF).

The United States Navy (USN) has made some commitments to another North American product, the FJ-1 Fury carrier-based jet fighter. The design continues the straight-wing approach with a seated pilot and features typical nose-mounted air intakes and applicable system ducts in the fuselage. The aircraft continues to play a developmental role more than anything else, and its design finally reveals some undesired shortcomings in carrier-based fighter jets.

As a result, only 30 airframes were obtained from the initial top 100 order. Neither side fought, and after its introduction in late 1947, the line was quickly withdrawn in 1953.

In practice, the FJ-2like the FJ-1 before ithas not been the long-term solution the US Navy was looking for. It was a heavy aircraft that lacked the performance and capability required for serious carrier work, and the F-86's conversion process didn't produce the type of fighter it was intended for.

Delays and resource allocations for the U.S. Air Force's F-86s also resulted in delayed service dates for about five aircraft available at the end of the Korean War in 1953 -- which had no impact on the war. As a result, production was cut and 200 of the expected 300 airframes were eventually procured, which the Navy quickly turned over to the U.S.

Marine Corps for use as land-based fighter jets. During the war, the U.S. Navy made its presence felt with its hybrid straight-wing and some other swept-wing jet fighters. The USMC FJ-2 Furys were phased out as early as 1958.

Participants in the FJ-2 program were unaware of the limitations of the original product, as work on an improved FJ-3 was already underway by the time the FJ-2 took off. It was decided to use a completely different engine, based on the successful British Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire turbojet design, which appeared in the US as the Wright J65 (under local license). Also, for the sake of simplicity, the aircraft remains largely faithful to the previous FJ-2. The first flight took place on July 3, 1953, with a high-quality airframe using the new J65 engine, and the U.S.

Navy ordered 389 of them (as early as March 1952). Deliveries began in September 1954though they arrived too late to be serviced through South Korea.

Initial operations with the FJ-3 proved promising, although the J65 engine had its own problems. However, overall performance is considered adequate for the needs of US Navy fighters on deck, and for the foreseeable future this branch will live with an energetic engine.

The new wings were eventually transferred from the F-86F model to the FJ-3 Furys, expanding the line's maneuverability. Later, the option to carry ordnance was also added, adding tactical value by incorporating fighter-bomber qualities into the aircraft - well beyond the single-target fighter approach originally envisioned.

This includes adding four underwing hardpoints, two on each wing, and clearance for transporting conventional ordnance and booster rockets.

The U.S. Navy returned to North America to purchase an additional 149 aircraft, resulting in 538 FJ-3 variants. An upgraded version of the FJ-3M was later introduced, which supports carrying (and launching) the AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missile. The brand's 194 were obtained by retrofitting existing FJ-3 airframes.

Some FJ-3 fighters later gained aerial refueling capability through underwing probes installed beginning in 1956. Some other forms were then modified for air control roles for drone and missile work.

The FJ-2 and FJ-3 Fury were never exported and operated only under the USN and USMC flags. Due to a massive change of aircraft designation by the US military in 1962, the Furies were redesignated to the "F-1" standard, the FJ-3 model became the F-1C, the FJ-3M became the MF-1C, and the FJ-3D Regulus missile control model became DF-1C, FJ-3D2 The target drone controller is DF-1D. The line was eventually further developed into the North American "FJ-4" Fury - a completely different aircraft, although its general appearance was similar to the FJ-2/FJ-3 line. The type appeared in 1954 and was procured for the U.S.

Navy and U.S. Marine Corps in 374 examples - it's detailed elsewhere on this site.