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{{Short description|1917–1992 series of American aerospace companies}}
{{Other uses||Vought (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Vought
| logo = File:Chance Vought Corporation Logo.png
| image = File:VOUGHT VE-7 USAF.JPG
| image_caption = The VE-7 was the first aircraft to launch from a U.S. Navy [[aircraft carrier]].
| type =
| industry = [[Aerospace]]
| fate =
| predecessor = <!-- or: | predecessors = -->
| successor =
| founded = 1917
| founders = {{Unbulleted list|Robert B. Knowles<ref>{{cite news |title=Robert B. Knowles, Founded Aircraft Firm |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/525144784 |access-date=7 February 2022 |work=Herald-News |date=5 December 1958 |page=2}}</ref>|Birdseye Lewis|[[Chance M. Vought]]}}
| defunct =
| hq_location_city =
| hq_location_country =
| area_served = <!-- or: | areas_served = -->
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list|[[Rex Beisel]]|[[Boone Guyton]]|[[Charles H. Zimmerman]]}}
| products =
| owner = <!-- or: | owners = -->
| num_employees =
| num_employees_year = <!-- Year of num_employees data (if known) -->
| parent = {{Unbulleted list|[[United Aircraft and Transport Corporation]]<br/>(1928-1954)|[[Ling-Temco-Vought]]<br/>(1962-1992)}}
| website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
}}
'''Vought''' was the name of several related American [[aerospace]] firms. These have included, in the past, '''Lewis and Vought Corporation''', '''Chance Vought''', '''Vought-Sikorsky''', '''LTV Aerospace''' (part of [[Ling-Temco-Vought]]), '''Vought Aircraft Companies''', and '''Vought Aircraft Industries'''.
The first incarnation of Vought was established by [[Chance M. Vought]] and Birdseye Lewis in 1917. In 1928, it was acquired by [[United Aircraft and Transport Corporation]], which a few years later became [[United Aircraft|United Aircraft Corporation]]; this was the first of many reorganizations and buyouts. During the 1920s and 1930s, Vought Aircraft and Chance Vought specialized in [[carrier-based aircraft]] for the [[United States Navy]], by far its biggest customer. Chance Vought produced thousands of planes during [[World War II]], including the [[F4U Corsair]].
Vought became independent again in 1954, and was purchased by [[Ling-Temco-Vought]] (LTV) in 1961. The company designed and produced a variety of planes and missiles throughout the [[Cold War]]. Vought was sold from LTV and owned in various degrees by the [[Carlyle Group]] and [[Northrop Grumman]] in the early 1990s. It was then fully bought by Carlyle, renamed Vought Aircraft Industries, with headquarters in [[Dallas]], [[Texas]]. In June 2010, the Carlyle Group sold Vought to the [[Triumph Group]].
==History==
===Chance Vought years 1917–1928===
[[File:USS Los Angeles (ZR-3) equipped with a trapeze and a VOUGHT bi-plane (UO-1), probably a VE-7 BLUEBIRD, for parasite fighter tests---ec.jpg|thumb|USS Los Angeles (ZR-3) equipped with a trapeze and a VOUGHT bi-plane (UO-1), probably a VE-7 Bluebird, for parasite fighter tests|320x320px]]
In 1917, the Lewis and Vought Corporation was founded by Lewis, an early aviator, and Vought, a former chief engineer of the [[Wright Company]]. They sought to take advantage of the growing field of military and civilian aviation after [[World War I]]. Operations began in [[Astoria, New York]]; in 1919, they moved to [[Long Island City, New York]]. After Lewis retired in 1922, it was renamed the Chance Vought Corporation.
Vought made history in 1922 when the [[Vought VE-7]] trainer made the first takeoff from the deck of the [[USS Langley (CV-1)|USS ''Langley'']], the first American aircraft carrier. Later came the VE-11 naval fighter and the [[Vought O2U Corsair]], the first of the Corsair aircraft.
In 1928, the company was acquired by the [[United Aircraft and Transport Corporation]], but stayed its own separate division among the lines of [[Pratt & Whitney]] and [[Boeing]]. Vought died from [[sepsis]] in 1930, having seen his company produce a variety of [[Fighter aircraft|fighters]], [[Trainer (aircraft)|trainers]], [[flying boat]]s, and [[surveillance aircraft]] for the [[United States Navy]] and the [[United States Army Air Service]].
=== 1930s–1960===
Despite the [[Great Depression]], Vought continued to design and manufacture aircraft at a growing pace. Soon after Chance Vought's death in 1930, the company moved its operations to [[East Hartford, Connecticut]]. Under the [[Air Mail Act]] of 1934, United Aircraft and Transportation Corp. was forced by law to divide its businesses, resulting in Boeing Aircraft, [[United Airlines]], and the United Aircraft Corp, of which Vought was a part. In 1939, United Aircraft moved Vought to [[Stratford, Connecticut]], where it merged with the [[Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation|Sikorsky]] division to become Vought-Sikorsky Aircraft.
[[File:Chance-Vought Corsairs with British markings.jpg|thumb|left|A formation of British Corsairs in 1944]]
Chief engineer [[Rex Beisel]] began in 1938 to develop the XF4U, recognized by its distinctive [[Gull wings|inverted gull wings]].  After its first flight, in 1940, thousands of [[F4U Corsair]]s were produced for the Navy and Marines in [[World War II]].  By the end of its production in 1952, Vought, [[Goodyear Aerospace|Goodyear]], and [[Brewster Aeronautical Corporation|Brewster]] had all produced the Corsair fighters. Vought was reestablished as a separate division in United Aircraft in 1942.
In postwar 1949, Vought moved operations to the former [[North American Aviation]] "B" plant in [[Dallas, Texas]]. The move was pushed by the Navy, who believed that having both of its main aircraft suppliers on the East Coast was an unnecessary risk. Vought moved 27 million pounds of equipment and 1,300 employees in 14 months, a record-breaking industrial move at the time.
In 1954, the company separated from United Aircraft and became the independent Chance Vought Aircraft Inc.
Vought began making its [[F-8 Crusader]] for the Navy in 1957; it was one of the Navy's first [[supersonic]] fighters and its last all-gun fighter.  The same basic design was later heavily revised and shortened to produce Vought's [[A-7 Corsair II]], a carrier-borne close-air-support and attack plane. Entering service in 1965, the Corsair II was heavily engaged in a close support and strike missions during the [[Vietnam War]], beginning in 1967.  The A-7 also participated in the U.S. invasion of Grenada in 1983; a punitive raid on Syrian missile sites in 1983; reprisal raids against Libya during [[Operation El Dorado Canyon]] in 1986; strikes against Iranian coastal platforms and naval forces during [[Operation Praying Mantis]] in 1988; support of the 1989 invasion of Panama; and throughout operations during [[Desert Storm]] in 1991.  The A-7A, A-7B, A-7C and A-7E served with the US Navy while the A-7D was purchased by the US Air Force and Air National Guard. Two-seat models known as TA-7C/Es served with the U.S. Navy while the US Air Force purchased the TA-7K.   The A-7 served in limited numbers with three foreign air forces, including Greece ([[A-7H/TA-7H]]), Portugal ([[LTV A-7P Corsair II|A-7P/TA-7P]]) and Thailand (ex-USN A-7E/TA-7E).
===LTV acquisition 1960–1990===
[[File:ASAT missile launch.jpg|thumb|right|Launch of Vought's [[ASM-135 ASAT|ASAT]] in 1983]]
{{Further information|Ling-Temco-Vought}}
IN 1962, Vought was bought by [[James Ling]], who formed a conglomerate dubbed Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV).  Vought Aeronautics and Vought Missiles and Space continued to develop and produce for the Air Force and Navy under the umbrella of LTV Aerospace.
The first of two decades of reorganizations began in 1972 with the creation of Vought Systems by the merging of the Vought Missiles and Space and Aeronautics divisions. All of LTV Aerospace was renamed the Vought Corporation in 1976, but by 1983 the Vought company was again split along aeronautic and missile lines under LTV Aerospace and Defense.
By the early 1980s, LTV was struggling, and Vought laid off many employees.
In 1992, LTV sold Vought to [[Northrop Corporation|Northrop]] and the [[Carlyle Group]], each owning roughly half of the company. It sold the missile division to the [[Loral Corporation]], part of [[Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control]].
===1990s to present===
[[Northrop Grumman]], the successor to [[Northrop Corporation|Northrop]] and [[Grumman]], bought the Carlyle Group's Vought interest for $130 million in 1994.
In 2000, Carlyle Group established Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc.{{clarify|date=September 2024|reason=Was this a new company? Or the old one back with Carlyle? Compare with Introduction}} It is primarily an [[aerostructure]]s subcontractor. Vought is heavily involved in the [[Boeing 747]], [[Boeing 787]] aircraft as well as supplying parts for the [[F-22 Raptor]] and [[F-35 Lightning II]] and the [[V-22 Osprey]]. In July 2003, the Aerostructures Corp., owned by the Carlyle Group and based in [[Nashville, Tennessee]], merged with Vought.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.voughtaircraft.com/newsFactGallery/factsheets/sites/nashville.htm |title=Vought Nashville Site |access-date=2007-06-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071103204501/http://voughtaircraft.com/newsFactGallery/factsheets/sites/nashville.htm |archive-date=2007-11-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Vought's Nashville site supplies wing components for [[Airbus]] [[Airbus A319|A319]], [[Airbus A320|A320]], [[Airbus A330|A330]], and [[Airbus A340|A340]].
[[Boeing]] announced in July 2009 that it had agreed to acquire the North Charleston, South Carolina, facility of Vought Aircraft Industries, where Vought builds sections 47 and 48 of the aft fuselage for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner. Boeing agreed to pay $580 million for the facility.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/jul2009/db2009077_590474.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710011508/http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/jul2009/db2009077_590474.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 10, 2009|title=Boeing Buys a Vought Aircraft Plant|author=Joseph Weber|work=Businessweek.com|access-date=10 August 2015}}</ref>
In June 2010, the Carlyle Group sold Vought to the [[Triumph Group]], an aerospace component manufacturer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ir.triumphgroup.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=61870&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1438930&highlight=|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710214419/http://ir.triumphgroup.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=61870&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1438930&highlight=|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 July 2012|title=Triumph Group - News Release|access-date=10 August 2015}}</ref> The Vought acquisitions now operate as Triumph Aerostructures - Vought Aircraft Division.<ref>{{Cite web | title = History : Triumph Aerostructures - Vought Aircraft Division | url = http://www.triumphgroup.com/companies/triumph-aerostructures-vought-aircraft-division/about-us/history | access-date = 3 January 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110114082715/http://www.triumphgroup.com/companies/triumph-aerostructures-vought-aircraft-division/about-us/history | archive-date = 14 January 2011 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref>  The Dallas/Grand Prairie facility was closed; operations moved to a new facility in [[Red Oak, Texas]].
==Products==
===Aircraft===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Model name
! First flight
! Number built
! Type
|-
|align=left| [[Vought VE-7]]
|align=center| 1917
|align=center| 128
|align=left| Piston engine biplane trainer and fighter
|-
|align=left| [[Vought O2U Corsair]]
|align=center| 1926
|align=center| 580
|align=left| Piston engine biplane observation aircraft
|-
|align=left| [[Vought FU]]
|align=center| 1927
|align=center| 20
|align=left| Piston engine biplane fighter
|-
|align=left| [[Vought XF2U]]
|align=center| 1929
|align=center| 1
|align=left| Prototype piston engine biplane fighter
|-
|align=left| [[Vought O4U Corsair]]
|align=center| 1931
|align=center| 2
|align=left| Prototype piston engine biplane observation aircraft
|-
|align=left| [[Vought XF3U]]
|align=center| 1933
|align=center| 1
|align=left| Prototype piston engine biplane fighter
|-
|align=left| [[Vought SBU Corsair]]
|align=center| 1933
|align=center| 125
|align=left| Piston engine biplane dive bomber
|-
|align=left| [[Vought O5U]]
|align=center| 1934
|align=center| 1
|align=left| Prototype piston engine biplane observation floatplane
|-
|align=left| [[Vought SB2U Vindicator]]
|align=center| 1936
|align=center| 260
|align=left| Piston engine monoplane dive bomber
|-
|align=left| [[Vought V-141]]
|align=center| 1936
|align=center| 1
|align=left| Prototype piston engine monoplane fighter
|-
|align=left| [[Vought XSB3U]]
|align=center| 1936
|align=center| 1
|align=left| Prototype piston engine biplane dive bomber
|-
|align=left| [[Vought OS2U Kingfisher]]
|align=center| 1938
|align=center| 1,519
|align=left| Piston engine monoplane observation floatplane
|-
|align=left| [[Vought XSO2U]]
|align=center| 1939
|align=center| 1
|align=left| Piston engine monoplane observation floatplane
|-
|align=left| [[Vought F4U Corsair]]
|align=center| 1940
|align=center| 12,571
|align=left| Piston engine monoplane fighter
|-
|align=left| [[Vought TBU Sea Wolf]]
|align=center| 1941
|align=center| 1
|align=left| Piston engine monoplane torpedo bomber
|-
|align=left| [[Vought V-173]]
|align=center| 1942
|align=center| 1
|align=left| Experimental piston engine "circular wing" aircraft
|-
|align=left| [[Vought F6U Pirate]]
|align=center| 1946
|align=center| 33
|align=left| Jet engine monoplane fighter
|-
|align=left| [[Vought XF5U]]
|align=center| 1943
|align=center| 2
|align=left| Prototype piston engine "circular wing" fighter
|-
|align=left| [[Vought F7U Cutlass]]
|align=center| 1948
|align=center| 320
|align=left| Jet engine monoplane tailless fighter
|-
|align=left| [[Vought XS2U]]
|align=center| N/A
|align=center| 0
|align=left| Unbuilt piston engine monoplane anti-submarine aircraft
|-
|align=left| [[Vought F8U Crusader]]
|align=center| 1955
|align=center| 1,219
|align=left| Jet engine monoplane fighter
|-
|align=left| [[Vought XF8U-3 Crusader III]]
|align=center| 1958
|align=center| 5
|align=left| Prototype jet engine monoplane fighter
|-
|align=left| [[LTV XC-142]]
|align=center| 1964
|align=center| 5
|align=left| Prototype turboprop tiltwing cargo aircraft
|-
|align=left| [[LTV A-7 Corsair II]]
|align=center| 1965
|align=center| 1,545
|align=left| Jet engine monoplane attack aircraft
|-
|align=left| [[LTV L450F]]
|align=center| 1970
|align=center| 1
|align=left| Prototype turboprop monoplane reconnaissance aircraft
|-
|align=left| [[LTV YA-7F]]
|align=center| 1989
|align=center| 2
|align=left| Prototype jet engine monoplane attack aircraft
|-
|align=left| [[Vought Model 1600]]
|align=center| N/A
|align=center| 0
|align=left| Unbuilt jet engine monoplane fighter
|-
|}
===Unmanned aerial vehicles===
* [[LTV XQM-93]]
===Missiles===
* [[M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System]] ([[1983 in aviation|1983]])
* [[ASM-135 ASAT]] ([[1984 in aviation|1984]])
* [[MGM-52 Lance]] ([[1972 in aviation|1972]])
* [[MGM-140 ATACMS]] ([[1988 in aviation|1988]])
* [[SSM-N-8 Regulus]] ([[1951 in aviation|1951]])
* [[SSM-N-9 Regulus II]] ([[1956 in aviation|1956]])
* Vought HVM (1980s)
===Rockets===
*[[Scout (rocket family)]]
**[[RM-89 Blue Scout I]]
**[[RM-90 Blue Scout II]]
**[[Scout X]]
**[[Scout X-1]]
**[[Scout X-1A]]
**[[Scout X-2]]
**[[Scout X-2B]]
**[[Scout X-2M]]
===Workshare projects===
{{More references|section|date=January 2023}}
* [[Airbus A320 family]] (upper wing panel assemblies)
* [[Airbus A330]] and [[Airbus A340|A340-200/-300]] (mid- and outer-leading edge assemblies, mid-rear spars, center spar assembly, flaps, fairings and upper panel assemblies )
* [[Airbus A340|Airbus A340-500/-600]] (mid- and outer-leading edge assemblies, mid-rear spars, center spar assembly, upper panels and stringers)
* [[Boeing C-17 Globemaster III]] (ailerons, elevators, and rudders)
* [[Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey]] ([[empennage]], ramp/ramp door)
* [[Boeing 747]] (fuselage panels, tail section)
* [[Boeing 767]] (center wingbox, horizontal stabilizer)
* [[Boeing 777]] (spoilers, flaps)
* [[Boeing 787]] (fuselage barrels&mdash;Sections 47 and 48)
* [[Rockwell B-1B Lancer]] (aft fuselage and aft intermediate fuselage<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.ausairpower.net/TE-LR-Penetrators.html|title=THE LONG RANGE PENETRATOR Parts I - III|author=Dr Carlo Kopp |journal=Australian Aviation |date=November 1986 |volume=1986 |issue=November |access-date=10 August 2015}}</ref>)
* [[Lockheed C-5 Galaxy|Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy]] (flight control surfaces)
* [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules]] (empennage)
* [[Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor]] (stabilator)
* [[Northrop B-2 Spirit]] (intermediate wing section)
* [[Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk]]/[[Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk]]
==References==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}
=== General and cited references ===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |title=Wings for the Navy: A History of Chance Vought Aircraft |url=http://aircorpslibrary.com/document/viewer/74f33773-a2ac-44d9-acae-af8c90f76d4a |url-access=subscription |location=Stratford, Connecticut |publisher=United Aircraft Corporation, Chance Vought Aircraft Division |date=1943 |access-date=14 January 2021}}
{{Refend}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Vought}}
* {{Official website|http://www.vought.com}}
* [http://www.vought.com/heritage Vought Aircraft Industries website's "Heritage" section, with history, photos, and original line drawings of Vought aircraft]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051125233444/http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Aerospace/Vought/Aero23.htm US Centennial of Flight Commission]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051123204028/http://www.utdallas.edu/library/collections/speccoll/hac/vought/LTV.html LTV/Chance Vought Archive from McDermott Library at the University of Texas at Dallas]
{{Vought aircraft}}
[[Category:Vought| ]]
[[Category:Vought aircraft| ]]
[[Category:Aircraft manufacturers of the United States]]
[[Category:Defense companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in South Carolina]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1917]]
[[Category:1917 establishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Private equity portfolio companies]]
[[Category:The Carlyle Group companies]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1917]]
[[Category:Technology companies established in 1917]]