The prototype mimicked the proposed V-340 quite closely and recorded a first flight on October 2nd, 1946 (World War 2 drew to a close in August of 1945). Flight testing uncovered an underpowered fighter which led to the selection of the Westinghouse J34-WE-30 series engine. This powerplant brought with it an afterburning capability which increased thrust output to 4,225 lb and became the first time an afterburning engine would be fitted to a naval jet fighter. Tests also showcased some lateral instability which forced a slight rewrite of the tail unit. Because of the revised operation of the new engine, a jet pipe and associated fuselage extension were added to the lower section of the aircraft to protect the underside of the tail. The lateral instability issue was rectified by the inclusion of "finlets" added along the leading edges of the horizontal tailplanes which gave the modern aircraft a rather archaic appearance.
In 1947 came an official production order for thirty of the type. Following the aforementioned changes, the Vought company model number was revised to become "V-352" and a first flight was had on March 5th, 1949. However, the end of the line for the Pirate came swiftly as though prevailed that the aircraft would never advance beyond its current state - as such it was not adopted by the USN at least operationally - indeed the Navy thought little of it as a frontline jet fighter and preferred to follow other avenues instead. The F6U Pirate went on to see a low-key service career as an experimental jet for USN squadron VX-3 and nothing more. Only 30 production-quality machines were built under the F6U-1 designation while a sole F6U-1 was pulled aside for conversion to the "F6U-1P" photographic-reconnaissance platform. This model form was also not adopted for frontline use.
The Pirate program was formally ended in 1950. Finalized performance specifications included a maximum speed of 596 miles per hour, a range out to 1,020 nautical miles, a service ceiling of 46,260 feet and a rate-of-climb nearing 8,060 feet-per-minute.
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