The Vought XF5U "Flying Flapjack" was an experimental U.S. Navy fighter aircraft designed by Charles H. Zimmerman for Vought during World War II. This unorthodox design consisted of a flat, somewhat disc-shaped body (resembling a flying flapjack /pancake, hence its nickname) serving as the lifting surface. [1] .

The Vought XF5U "Flying Flapjack" was an experimental U.S. Navy fighter aircraft designed by Charles H. Zimmerman for Vought during World War II. This unorthodox design consisted of a flat, somewhat disc-shaped body (resembling a flying flapjack/pancake, hence its nickname) serving as the lifting surface. [1] .

Feb 5, 2017 · Following the successful wind tunnel tests of the Vought V-173 low-aspect ratio, flying wing aircraft in late 1941, the US Navy asked Vought to propose a fighter built along similar lines. Charles H. Zimmerman had been working on such a design as early as 1940.

Dec 15, 2024 · Conceived as revolutionary and advanced naval fighter, its design fueled by the rapid advancement in aviation technology at the time, the Vought XF5U project promised a highly efficient and...

Designed as a "proof-of-concept" prototype, the initial configuration V-173 was built as a lightweight test model powered by two 80 hp (60 kW) Continental A-80 engines turning F4U Corsair propellers. Later the aircraft was fitted with a pair of specially modified 16 ft 6 in. three-bladed propellers.

While continuing production of the F4U Corsair, Vought developed the SV5U "Flying Pancake" of "Flying Flapjack" which gained its nickname because of its flattened, rounded shape, and the F6U...

Jul 13, 2018 · US Navy authorities were already thinking ahead with their possible fleet of wingless aircraft. They envisioned a fighter-type entity with support for two external fuel drop tanks to counter the ranges required of over-sea travel.

The Navy had already ordered a production version, the F5U. It was exactly the same size as the V-173, but of all-metal construction and powered by two 1,350-hp P&W R-2000 engines. The mockup had three-bladed propellers but it was soon apparent to the engineers that the installed power and necessary rotor-hub gimbal (the blades had to "flap" to ...

Vought XF5U (Flying Flapjack) HistoryThe promising nature of the Vought V-173 technology demonstrator produced a US Navy fighter contract for an expanded prototype form on June 30th, 1942. Engineer Charles Zimmerman had developed his wing-less pancake concept into the 1930s and was able to.

The scale-model Chance Vought V-173 demonstrated the flight characteristics of the planned F5U “flying pancake.”