Vought XF5U (Flying Flapjack)

History

Vought's V-173 technology demonstrator was promising, and upon his joining a contract was signed with the US Navy on June 30, 1942 to expand the prototype to produce a variety of scale models, including the small V- The 162 test car joins Vought. The V-173 shows some of the sound of the concept, with a design that incorporates a circular fuselage, two state-of-the-art propeller engines and a central single-seat cockpit.

Of course, the military version required significant revisions, making the successor to the XF5U a whole new beast.

The basic concept remains the same, although the structural dimensions have been increased to accommodate more powerful engines, a new cockpit and airframe, and armament is considered (it was meant to be a naval fighter after all). The original 80 hp engine gave way to 2 Pratt & Whitney R-2000-7 "Twin Wasp" radial piston engines, each 1,350 hp (driving four-blade propellers). Measurements include a length of 28' 7", a width of 32' 6" and a height of 14' 9". By comparison, the V-173 is 26 feet 8 inches long, 23 feet 4 inches wide, and the same height.

Loaded weights for both designs are impressive, with the V-173 weighing in at 2,260 pounds, and the modified XF5U at 16,720 pounds. The V-173 was also constructed of wood, covered in fabric, and had fixed landing gear. The XF5U will feature a metal structure and skin and retractable landing gear. One of the most notable additions to the XF5U model is the inclusion of two circular air intakes on the leading edge of the fuselage for intake of radial piston engines buried in the fuselage.

Like the V-173, the XF5U relies on a network of shafts to power its unconventional engine setup.

U.S. naval authorities are already considering their possible wingless aircraft fleet. They envisioned a fighter-type unit supporting two external fuel tanks to offset the range required for overseas voyages. She will be able to armed with 6 x .50 heavy Browning machine guns or up to 4 x 20mm cannons. She was also intended for light bombing and was soon ready for 2 x 1,000 lb bombs.

The Navy is looking for a new plane with a top speed of 500 mph and a range of 1,000 miles.

Vought was awarded a contract to build two airframes - one as a static test bed and the other as a full-fledged airworthy platform. Walter returned with a wooden model, which was inspected by U.S. Navy personnel in June 1943. This paved the way for a more explicit form to emerge on June 25, 1945.

Testing of the "flyable" prototype revealed various technical issues, mostly related to the engine (often overheating) and the complex gearbox arrangement that made the flyable XF5U-1 a recognized danger when propelled.

The European War ended in May 1945 and the Pacific War ended in September. Many military plans have either been shelved or completely shelved, and the XF5U is now in jeopardy. Additionally, advances in turbojet-powered flight marked the end of the propeller-driven cutting-edge XF5U. Its technical struggles, along with the expense of the balloon program, eventually led to its cancellation on March 17, 1947.

The two airframes were subsequently scrapped, ending the U.S. Navy's "flying pancake" efforts.

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes