Flying Pancake: The Vought V-173
1.2 هزار بار بازدید -
پارسال
-
The Vought V-173 Flying Pancake
The Vought V-173 Flying Pancake was an experimental aircraft designed in the United States in the early 1940s. The aircraft was notable for its unconventional design, which featured a disc-shaped airframe with a flat top and bottom. The aircraft's wingspan was 23 feet.
The Flying Pancake was built to test the feasibility of a new type of aircraft design known as a "lift fan" configuration. This design used a large fan mounted in the center of the aircraft to provide lift, rather than relying on traditional wings. The conventional engine powered the fan and provided lift by drawing air through ducts and forcing it out through nozzles on the aircraft's upper surface.
The V-173 was first flown in November 1942, and initial tests showed that the lift fan concept was sound. The aircraft was very stable and handled well in flight, but it was limited in terms of speed and altitude. The aircraft's small engine and unconventional design meant that it was never intended to be a production aircraft, but rather a proof-of-concept for future designs.
The V-173 paved the way for the development of other lift fan aircraft, including the Convair XFY Pogo and the Lockheed XFV Salmon. The design of the Flying Pancake was also used in the development of the Vought XF5U, which was intended to be a fighter aircraft. However, the XF5U was never completed due to a lack of funding and changing military priorities.
Despite its success as a proof-of-concept aircraft, the V-173 was ultimately a failure in terms of its intended purpose. The concept of lift fan aircraft was never fully developed, and no production aircraft were ever built using this design. However, the V-173 remains an important milestone in aviation history and is remembered for its unconventional design and unique contribution to aviation technology.
The Flying Pancake was built to test the feasibility of a new type of aircraft design known as a "lift fan" configuration. This design used a large fan mounted in the center of the aircraft to provide lift, rather than relying on traditional wings. The conventional engine powered the fan and provided lift by drawing air through ducts and forcing it out through nozzles on the aircraft's upper surface.
The V-173 was first flown in November 1942, and initial tests showed that the lift fan concept was sound. The aircraft was very stable and handled well in flight, but it was limited in terms of speed and altitude. The aircraft's small engine and unconventional design meant that it was never intended to be a production aircraft, but rather a proof-of-concept for future designs.
The V-173 paved the way for the development of other lift fan aircraft, including the Convair XFY Pogo and the Lockheed XFV Salmon. The design of the Flying Pancake was also used in the development of the Vought XF5U, which was intended to be a fighter aircraft. However, the XF5U was never completed due to a lack of funding and changing military priorities.
Despite its success as a proof-of-concept aircraft, the V-173 was ultimately a failure in terms of its intended purpose. The concept of lift fan aircraft was never fully developed, and no production aircraft were ever built using this design. However, the V-173 remains an important milestone in aviation history and is remembered for its unconventional design and unique contribution to aviation technology.
پارسال
در تاریخ 1402/02/16 منتشر شده
است.
1,272
بـار بازدید شده