Chance Vought V-173

Type (Muster)
Single-Seat Experimental Aircraft

Country (Land)
USA

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Chance Vought Division of United Aircraft, Stratford/Connecticut

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 1

Power plant (Antrieb): 2 x Continental A-80
Power (Leistung): 2 x 80 PS (2 x 59 kW)

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Length (Länge): 8,13 m
Height (Höhe): 3,94 m
Span (Spannweite): 7,11 m
Wing area (Flügelfläche): 39,7 sq m

Weights (Massen)
Max. take-off weight (max. Startmasse): 915 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Max. speed (max. Fluggeschwindigkeit): 222 km/h
Takeoff Distance (Startstrecke): 0 m at windspeeds of 45 km/h, 60 m with no winds
Rate of Climb (Steigleistung): 1525 m in 7 minutes
Landing Speed (Landegeschwindigkeit): below 80 km/h

Customers (Kunden)
US Navy

Competitors (Konkurrenz)
none

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The Vought V-173 was designed by Charles Horton Zimmerman to prove his concept of circular wing planforms. The peculiar looking aircraft first flew November 23, 1942 and despite several emergency landings the test program was successful. Take-off and landing distances were very short, stalls and spins were almost impossible to achieve. Zimmerman had developed a very stable and safe aircraft design with the V-173. His ideas led to the Vought XF5U-1 STOL fighter with a similiar layout as the "flying pancake" V-173. But technical and budgetary problems lead to the US Navy's decision to abandon the program. The unflown prototype XF5U-1 had to be destroyed in 1948 before it could prove its revolutionary abilities.

Last updated November 20, 1997

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