Vought

Vought
Company type	Private (historically), now a division of Triumph Group
Industry	Aerospace and defense
Predecessor	Lewis and Vought Corporation
Founded	January 1, 1917; 109 years ago in Astoria, New York, United States
Founder	Chance M. Vought, Birdseye Lewis
Fate	Acquired by United Aircraft and Transport Corporation (1928), later independent again (1954), acquired by Ling-Temco-Vought (1961), ownership changes including Carlyle Group and Northrop Grumman, divested to Triumph Group (2010)
Successor	Triumph Aerostructures - Vought Aircraft Division
Headquarters	Dallas, Texas, United States
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Aircraft, missiles, aerospace components
Owner	Triumph Group (since 2010)
Parent	Triumph Group

Vought refers to a series of interconnected American aerospace enterprises, encompassing entities such as Lewis and Vought Corporation, Chance Vought, Vought-Sikorsky, LTV Aerospace (a division of Ling-Temco-Vought), Vought Aircraft Companies, and Vought Aircraft Industries.

Established in 1917 by Chance M. Vought alongside Birdseye Lewis, the firm was purchased in 1928 by United Aircraft and Transport Corporation, which subsequently evolved into United Aircraft Corporation. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Vought concentrated on producing carrier-based aircraft primarily for the United States Navy, its main customer. During World War II, the company manufactured thousands of aircraft, most notably the F4U Corsair.

Vought regained its autonomy in 1954 before being acquired by Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) in 1961. Throughout the Cold War era, it developed a variety of aircraft and missile systems. The early 1990s saw ownership transition between the Carlyle Group and Northrop Grumman, with Carlyle ultimately securing full ownership and rebranding it as Vought Aircraft Industries, headquartered in Dallas, Texas. In June 2010, Carlyle divested Vought to the Triumph Group.

Chance Vought era 1917–1928

The company originated in 1917 under the name Lewis and Vought Corporation, founded by aviator Birdseye Lewis and engineer Chance Vought, seizing opportunities in the burgeoning military and commercial aviation sectors following World War I. Initially situated in Astoria, New York, it moved to Long Island City in 1919. Upon Lewis's retirement in 1922, the firm was renamed Chance Vought Corporation.

In 1922, the Vought VE-7 trainer became the first aircraft to take off from the deck of the USS Langley, America’s inaugural aircraft carrier. Later designs included the VE-11 naval fighter and the Vought O2U Corsair line.

Following its acquisition by United Aircraft and Transport Corporation in 1928, Vought functioned as an independent division alongside Pratt & Whitney and Boeing. After Chance Vought's death in 1930, the company had already produced a range of fighters, trainers, flying boats, and reconnaissance aircraft predominantly for the U.S. Navy and Army Air Service.

1930s–1960

After Chance Vought passed away in 1930, despite the challenges posed by the Great Depression, the company continued to expand its aircraft design and manufacturing capabilities, relocating to East Hartford, Connecticut. The 1934 Air Mail Act forced United Aircraft and Transportation Corp. to separate its operations, resulting in Vought becoming part of United Aircraft Corp. In 1939, United Aircraft shifted Vought’s base to Stratford, Connecticut, merging it with Sikorsky Aircraft to create Vought-Sikorsky Aircraft.

Chief engineer Rex Beisel designed the XF4U in 1938, distinguished by its inverted gull wing configuration. Following its maiden flight in 1940, thousands of F4U Corsairs were produced for use by Navy and Marine forces during World War II. By 1952, alongside Goodyear and Brewster, Vought had manufactured Corsair fighters. In 1942, Vought was reestablished as a distinct division within United Aircraft.

In response to a Navy directive aimed at reducing supplier concentration on the East Coast, Vought relocated operations to Dallas, Texas in 1949—a massive industrial move involving transferring 27 million pounds of equipment along with 1,300 employees.

In 1954, Chance Vought Aircraft Inc. became an independent entity again. The firm introduced the F-8 Crusader in 1957—one of the Navy’s earliest supersonic fighters and its final all-gun fighter model. This aircraft evolved into the A-7 Corsair II, a carrier-based attack plane designed for close air support that entered service in 1965. The A-7 played significant roles in Vietnam War strike missions starting in 1967 and participated in numerous U.S. military engagements including Grenada (1983), Syrian missile strikes (1983), Libya retaliatory raids (1986), Operation Praying Mantis against Iran (1988), Panama invasion (1989), and Desert Storm (1991).

The A-7 family comprised various versions: A-7A/B/C/E models served with the U.S. Navy; A-7D was operated by the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard; two-seat TA-7C/E variants for Navy training; TA-7K for Air Force use; plus limited exports such as Greece’s A-7H/TA-7H, Portugal’s A-7P/TA-7P, and Thailand’s former U.S. Navy A-7E/TA-7E models.

LTV acquisition 1960–1990

In 1962, entrepreneur James Ling purchased Vought, leading to the formation of the conglomerate Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV). Under the LTV Aerospace division, both Vought Aeronautics and Vought Missiles and Space continued providing services to the Air Force and Navy.

The year 1972 saw the establishment of Vought Systems through the consolidation of the Missiles and Space and Aeronautics branches. By 1976, LTV Aerospace was rebranded as Vought Corporation; however, in 1983, it was divided once more into separate aeronautic and missile units operating under LTV Aerospace and Defense.

During the early 1980s, financial difficulties led LTV to reduce personnel at Vought. In 1992, ownership of Vought was transferred to Northrop Corporation and the Carlyle Group, each acquiring roughly equal shares. Meanwhile, the missile division was sold off to Loral Corporation, which later became part of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

1990s to present

Northrop Grumman, the successor entity formed from Northrop and Grumman, purchased Carlyle’s interest in Vought for $130 million in 1994.

In 2000, the Carlyle Group launched Vought Aircraft Industries with a focus on subcontracting aerostructures. Their main products included components for Boeing’s 747 and 787 aircraft models, along with parts for military platforms such as the F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II, and V-22 Osprey. In July 2003, Carlyle combined its Nashville-based Aerostructures Corp. with Vought; this facility produces wing assemblies for Airbus A319, A320, A330, and A340 aircraft.

Boeing acquired Vought’s North Charleston plant in South Carolina in July 2009 for $580 million; this site is responsible for manufacturing sections of the aft fuselage on the 787 Dreamliner.

Carlyle divested Vought to aerospace component manufacturer Triumph Group in June 2010. The business now operates as Triumph Aerostructures - Vought Aircraft Division. Operations previously conducted at the Dallas/Grand Prairie location were consolidated into a new facility in Red Oak, Texas.

Aircraft

Model name	First flight	Number built	Type
Vought VE-7	1917	128	Piston-engine biplane used as trainer and fighter
Vought O2U Corsair	1926	580	Piston-engine biplane designed for observation
Vought FU	1927	20	Piston-engine biplane fighter aircraft
Vought SBU Corsair	1933	125	Piston-engine biplane dive bomber
Vought SB2U Vindicator	1936	260	Piston-engine monoplane dive bomber
Vought OS2U Kingfisher	1938	1,519	Piston-engine monoplane observation floatplane
Vought F4U Corsair	1940	12,571	Piston-engine monoplane fighter aircraft
Vought F6U Pirate	1946	33	Jet-powered monoplane fighter
Vought F7U Cutlass	1948	320	Jet-powered tailless monoplane fighter
Vought F8U Crusader	1955	1,219	Jet-powered monoplane fighter aircraft

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

LTV XQM-93

Missile Systems

M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (introduced 1983)
ASM-135 ASAT (introduced 1984)
MGM-52 Lance (introduced 1972)
MGM-140 ATACMS (introduced 1988)
SSM-N-8 Regulus (introduced 1951)
SSM-N-9 Regulus II (introduced 1956)
Vought Hyper-Velocity Missile (developed during the 1980s)

Rocket Vehicles

Scout (rocket family)

Collaborative Manufacturing Programs

Airbus A320 family (assembly of upper wing panels)
Airbus A330, A340-200/-300, and A340-500/-600 (components including leading edge assemblies, spars, center spar, flaps, fairings, upper panels, and stringers)
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III (ailerons, elevators, and rudders production)
Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey (empennage and ramp/ramp door fabrication)
Boeing 747 (manufacture of fuselage panels and tail section)
Boeing 767 (center wingbox and horizontal stabilizer construction)
Boeing 777 (spoilers and flaps manufacturing)
Boeing 787 (production of fuselage barrels—Sections 47 and 48)
Rockwell B-1B Lancer (aft fuselage segment fabrication)
Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy (flight control surface components)
Lockheed C-130 Hercules (empennage assembly)
Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor (stabilator manufacturing)
Northrop B-2 Spirit (intermediate wing section production)
Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk, Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk

General and Cited Sources

External Links