Vought VE-7 Bluebird Fighter / Trainer (1918)
The VE-7 made up the United States Navys first two fighter squadrons in the VF-1 and VF-2.
After World War 1, the US Army cancelled its order for 1,000 aircraft but the US Navy was still very interested in the VE-7 concept and received an evaluation machine in May of 1920. Testing the aircraft proved it sound for USN operational requirements and the adopted the VE-7 as its very first fighter aircraft. Full rate production orders soon followed and demand proved more than the young Vought organization was capable of. The US government had anticipated this and formed the Naval Aircraft Factory (NAF). The factory was established by the United States Navy in 1918 in Philadelphia to assist such companies in solving the problem of aircraft supply versus demand. The Navy Department surmised that it was necessary to build a Navy-owned aircraft factory to guarantee a constant supply of aircraft and to help in obtaining cost data for the comparison against private manufacturing firms. Some 128 VE-7s were ultimately built and the single-seat fighter version of the VE-7 was further designated as VE-7S complete with a faired over front cockpit and room for a single Vickers-brand .30 caliber machinegun off-set left and synchronized to fire through the two-bladed propeller.
The Navy created its first two fighter squadrons in VF-1 and VF-2 and equipped them both with these VE-7s. Fighter Squadron VF-1 was originally established on July 1s, 1922, and operated as VF-1 until July 1, 1934 . Squadron VF-2 was originally established as Combat Squadron Four on September 23rd, 1921, making its home base at Naval Air Station San Diego, California. The squadron was re-designated Fighter Squadron VF-2 on July 1st, 1922 and were assigned these Vought VE-7 biplanes. The squadron, also known as the "Flying Chiefs," operated from the carrier USS Langley. Lieutenant Virgil C. Griffin made history on October 17, 1922 when he took off in a VE-7 biplane from the deck of the new USS Langley marking the first such action completed from an American Navy carrier. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
Vought VE-7 Bluebird
Fighter / Trainer
Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: Lewis & Vought Corporation - USA
Initial Year of Service: 1918
Production: 128
Focus Model: Vought VE-7 Bluebird
Crew: 2
Length: 24.44ft (7.45m)
Width: 34.35ft (10.47m)
Height: 8.63ft (2.63m)
Weight (Empty): 1,391lbs (631kg)
Weight (MTOW): 1,938lbs (879kg)
Powerplant: 1 x Wright Hispano E-3 engine delivering 180 horsepower.
Maximum Speed: 106mph (171kmh; 92kts)
Maximum Range: 290miles (467km)
Service Ceiling: 15,092ft (4,600m; 2.9miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 738 feet per minute (225m/min)
Hardpoints: 0
Armament Suite:
1 x 7.7mm (.30) Vickers synchronized machine gun
Variants:
VE-7 - Appearing in 1918; produced for the US Army Air Service (14) and the US Navy (39).
VE-7F - Appearing in 1921; 29 examples produced for the US Navy.
VE-7G - Appearing in 1921; 23 VE-7's converted for the US Navy while 1 VE-7 converted for the USMC.
VE-7GF - Appearing in 1921; single example converted from a VE-7.
VE-7H - Appearing in 1924; 9 examples produced for the US Navy.
VE-7S - Appearing in 1925; single example converted from VE-7.
VE-7SF - Appearing in 1925; 11 examples produced for the US Navy.
VE-8 - Appearing in 1918; fitted with Wright-Hispano H engine of 340 horsepower; 2 x Vickers 7.7mm machine guns; decreased wingspan, wing area and overall length performance and MTOW increases; only two produced from original four ordered by the US Army.
VE-9 - Appearing in 1921; 2 examples converted from VE-7 for the US Army; increased performance specs in top speed (119 mph) and ceiling (18,840 ft).
VE-9 - Appearing in 1927; 22 examples produced for the US Army while 17 examples were produced for the US Navy.
VE-9H - Appearing in 1927; observation floatplane aircraft variants for use on USN battleships; sans armament; catapult provision; revised vertical tail section.
VE-9W - Proposed variant; never produced.
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