Surface microcrack propagation behavior was studied in extruded, textured Al-7475. Crack propagation rates in vacuum were measured for specimens oriented 0 degree and 45 degree to the extrusion direction within the extrusion plane. The propagation behavior of short cracks (depth less than 30 mu m) was similar for both orientations, showing high initial propagation rates, followed by crack arrest due to changes in crack direction. Further crack extension was easier in 0 degree specimens since the crack plane did not change, whereas in 45 degree specimens cracks had to reorient the crack plane drastically, even at crack lengths of 100 mu m.