Vought V-173

The Vought V-173 Flying Pancake designed by Charles H. Zimmerman was an American experimental test aircraft built as part of the Vought XF5U Flying Flapjack World War II United States Navy fighter aircraft program. Both aircraft featured an unorthodox all-wing design consisting of a flat somewhat disk-shaped body (hence its name) serving as the lifting surface. Two piston engines buried in the body drove propellers located on the leading edge at the wingtips.

The Vought V-173 was designed by Charles Horton Zimmerman to prove his concept of circular wing planforms.1
Vought V-173 in F5U colors (Vought) V-173 1942 = 1p circular-wing "flying pancake;" two 80hp Continental; span: 23'1" length: 26'0" v: 138; 2
The really crazy shape of the Vought V-173 "Flying Pancake" was designed by Zimmerman and built as an experimental test aircraft as part of the WWII "Flying Flapjack" fighter aircraft programme.3
Chance Vought V-173 crash lands on Russian Beach - JUNE 3,1943 - R. H.4

Made by Vought.

The Vought V-173 has some glazing under the cockpit to improve the view. The XF5U-1 had a small extended cockpit which placed a bit more forward.5
The Vought V-173 / XF5U-1 pictured in this thread is also not a true saucer shape (flat across the front) and it too has fins.6
the Navy's Chance Vought V-173 "Flying Flapjack" aircraft of the early 1940s.7
The Vought V-173 "Flying Pancake" was the brainchild of Charles H. Zimmerman, who built his flying wing while employed as an engineer with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA).8
Height Main
449.58000000000004
Height Alt
4.51 m
Developed Into
Vought XF5U
Length Alt
4.51 m
Jet Or Prop
prop
Lists
* List of fighter aircraft* List of military aircraft of the United States
Loaded Weight Main
2258.0
Max Speed Alt
222.0
Type Of Prop
inline engine
Sequence
F2U -F3U -F4U - V-173 -XF5U - F6U - F7U
Max Speed Main
138 mph
Status
--03-15
Number Built
1
Crew
One
pilot
Climb Rate Main
420.0
Area Main
427.0
Span Alt
7.1 m
Plane Or Copter?
plane
Power Alt
60
Engine(prop)
Continental A-80
Manufacturer
Vought
First Flight
23
Loaded Weight Alt
1024.0
Power Main
80 hp
Number Of Props
2
Climb Rate Alt
300.0
Length Main
812.8000000000001
Span Main
711.1999999999999
Area Alt
44.2 m²
Similar Aircraft
*Sack AS-6
Related
* Vought XF5U
Category
Flying saucers
United States experimental aircraft 1940-1949
Vought aircraft

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