{"id":2708,"date":"2024-11-09T18:56:37","date_gmt":"2024-11-09T18:56:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=2708"},"modified":"2024-11-09T18:56:37","modified_gmt":"2024-11-09T18:56:37","slug":"vought-v-173-flying-pancake-origins-of-the-flying-saucer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=2708","title":{"rendered":"Vought V-173 Flying Pancake \u2014 Origins of the Flying Saucer?"},"content":{"rendered":"


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By Friedrich Seiltgen<\/a><\/p>\n

Humans haven\u2019t been flying for very long when you look at the totality of history. From the Wright Brothers to today, it\u2019s barely been more than a century \u2014 yet during that time period there have been many experiments and advancements made. In today\u2019s article, Friedrich Seiltgen describes America\u2019s disc-shaped airplane: the Vought V-173 Flying Pancake. Looking like something out of a 1950s sci-fi movie, the V-173 originated in the 1930, with much development work being done in World War II.<\/em><\/p>\n

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The Vought V-173 Flying Pancake during a December 1942 test flight. Conceived in the 1930s, the experimental plane held a great deal of potential, but did not develop into a successful platform.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I<\/span>n the early 1930s, aeronautical engineer Charles Zimmerman advocated discoidal aircraft, which were disc-shaped wing designs with a circular outer planform. This design was a lifting body with a short span that made up the aircraft\u2019s fuselage. His design used two large counter-rotating propellers that would rotate slowly, creating a uniform airflow over the surface of the plane and eliminating the drag of wingtip vortices.<\/p>\n

\"Vought\n<\/picture>
The Vought V-173 is prepared for testing. The United States Navy was interested in the design due to its flight characteristics that made it a good fit for the aircraft carriers of World War II. Image:\u00a0U.S. Navy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Zimmerman built a proof-of-concept aircraft, but it was underpowered and never flew. He then built a small rubber band-powered model, which showed great promise, and moved on to large-scale models of his design, including an electric-powered model.<\/p>\n

Enter Vought Aircraft<\/h2>\n

Zimmerman worked on several projects independently and was hired by Vought Aircraft in 1937 to continue his work. The original prototype was designated the Vought V-173. The majority of the aircraft was constructed of wood and covered with canvas. However, the front part of the fuselage to the middle of the cockpit was covered in wood, and the forward cockpit structure and propeller nacelles were constructed of aluminum. It was powered by two C75 Continental 80-horsepower engines.<\/p>\n

\"Vought\n<\/picture>
The Vought V-173 had fixed landing gear that gave the plane a significant nose up angle when on the ground. This angle worked very well with the plane\u2019s aerodynamic design. Image:\u00a0NARA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The V-173 used two vertical stabilizers at the rear of the aircraft. Attached to each side near the rear were horizontal stabilizers that acted as an aileron and an elevator known as an ailevator. The aircraft had tall fixed main landing gear, with a small tail wheel, and sat at a 22-degree nose-up angle to take advantage of the lift created by the two 16-foot, three-bladed propellers.<\/p>\n

It was definitely a unique look.<\/p>\n

In the Navy<\/h2>\n

While the U.S. Army Air Corps turned down the Zimmerman design, the U.S. Navy was interested in a short wingspan aircraft with a slow takeoff and landing speed that could operate from a ship. On May 4, 1940, the Navy signed a contract with Vought to produce a test aircraft designated the V-173.<\/p>\n

On November 23, 1942, after extended taxi tests, what became known as the Flying Pancake made its first flight at Bridgeport Airport in Stratford, Connecticut. Vought\u2019s chief test pilot, Boone Guyton, was in the cockpit.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Vought\n<\/picture>
While the fixed landing gear gave the plane an ungainly appearance, the aerodynamics were sound on the Vought V-173. Image:\u00a0United States Navy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Guyton landed after a 13-minute test flight, and the debrief began. During the flight, Guyton stated the controls were heavy and thought he would have to make a forced landing. Much of this was attributed to severe vibration from the complicated gearbox that routed power via long driveshafts to the propellers.<\/p>\n

The gearbox was known to be an issue from the start as it produced unacceptable amounts of vibration during ground testing. It caused months of delays in the aircraft\u2019s development which had pushed back the first test flight.<\/p>\n

Another issue was the inability to get the aircraft in level flight due to insufficient airflow over the control surfaces. Guyton also had issues with the cockpit. It was uncomfortable, and the pilot\u2019s seat was too high, which made the clear bottom panels useless during takeoff and landing.<\/p>\n

\"NASA\n<\/picture>
A Vought V-173 mockup undergoes wind tunnel testing by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). This was the predecessor agency to the modern day NASA. Image:\u00a0NASA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another major issue was air getting trapped under the aircraft during the landing approach, forcing the tail up. This pushed the nose down, and the aircraft would drop suddenly as it landed, causing it to slam onto the runway and bounce back up.<\/p>\n

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Changes were made, and in 1942-43, Zimmerman\u2019s Skimmer made another 190 test flights, causing an unknown number of UFO sightings by locals. The aircraft was also flown by Charles Lindbergh, who was impressed by its low-speed capabilities and easy handling. Both Lindbergh and Guyton discovered that they were almost unable to stall the aircraft.<\/p>\n

A Tiny Crash<\/h2>\n

During one of the test flights, Vought test pilot Richard Burroughs was forced to make an emergency landing on a local beach.<\/p>\n

\"Vought\n<\/picture>
Although the Vought V-173 crash did not injure the pilot or substantially damage the plane, the image of the crash is certainly dramatic. Image:\u00a0NARA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The pancake managed to make it down to the sand without issues, but unfortunately, a beachgoer was enjoying the sun where he was trying to land. Burroughs braked hard to avoid hitting him, and the pancake flipped over on its back. Fortunately, both Burroughs and the aircraft were uninjured.<\/p>\n

V-173 Specifications<\/h2>\n