Excellent info Norab.
I also have some info on general handling characteristics from the book
Report Of Joint Fighter Conference: NAS Patuxent River, MD 16-23 Oct. 1944 if anyone is interested.
It's somewhat subjective and it's in relation to an early F7F-1 flight tested there, before they made some improvements to its stability and control. The most interesting point being, that with an engine failure at military power, it required almost full aileron and full rudder to control the aircraft at 135 to 140 knots. Anything below that speed, forget it; In fact, one pilot said below 140 to 145 knots you're going into the ocean or the carrier's island. That was also worse case, with the left engine throttled all the way back and the right engine at military power.
It also reports that the F7F dives faster, climbs faster, and can turn with a P-38. But that the P-38 has better range and is better above 20K ft. Of course, to show the subjective nature of these reports, two different pilots that flew it during the test each fought it against the Hellcat. One bested the Hellcat and the other did not, which lead to some of their conclusions being different.
They all complained about the cockpit layout and the lack of rear visibility. But they all commented on what a great night fighter it would make, if they could just slow it down. I believe that is in reference for landing at night. They were somewhat prescient in that regard.
They also said it would make a great fighter-bomber as it's visibility for strafing and attacking is excellent, although there was some distortion when looking down to the side through the canopy.
Of course, I might have to mess with my 3DSmax and the F7F when Milton is done and make a "what-if" bubble canopy USAAC day fighter variant, as a result.
