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[Sleepingdragon]

Didn't need a tail hook. Had very high performance if I remember correctly, but for some political reason the Navy was never allowed to fly any of the service prototypes. I think the powers that be were afraid of how good it might be compared to conventional designs  . The actual combat model would have been pretty impressive.

Maybe the Navy was afraid of losing funds for other AC. There was actually no technical reason not to put it in service methinks. 

The experimental one created many UFO type sightings when it was flying around early in the war.

Would've been perfect for escort carriers.

[brett16]

Thanks for the extra info, and i am very happy to see this post grow thanks every one.

edited: pics removed.
brett, please do not quote pictures, especially if those same pictures are only a few posts earlier in the same thread. thanks, Malone   

[wb21]

Didn't need a tail hook. Had very high performance if I remember correctly, but for some political reason the Navy was never allowed to fly any of the service prototypes. I think the powers that be were afraid of how good it might be compared to conventional designs  . The actual combat model would have been pretty impressive.

Maybe the Navy was afraid of losing funds for other AC. There was actually no technical reason not to put it in service methinks. 

Development cost overruns and the Navy's views of jets being the future were to blame.

Would have been a good contender against a Shinden or over Korea.  BTW from what I've read on the Wiki:

The only completed XF5U-1 proved to be so structurally solid that it had to be destroyed by a wrecking ball.

 

[brett16]

Didn't need a tail hook. Had very high performance if I remember correctly, but for some political reason the Navy was never allowed to fly any of the service prototypes. I think the powers that be were afraid of how good it might be compared to conventional designs  . The actual combat model would have been pretty impressive.

Maybe the Navy was afraid of losing funds for other AC. There was actually no technical reason not to put it in service methinks. 

Development cost overruns and the Navy's views of jets being the future were to blame.

Would have been a good contender against a Shinden or over Korea.  BTW from what I've read on the Wiki:

The only completed XF5U-1 proved to be so structurally solid that it had to be destroyed by a wrecking ball.

 

Wow a wrecking ball i did not know that it's true you do learn something every day, and yes this was an impressive prototype

[nonaiansia]

I think this plane have a very special FM. Apart the short take-off it would also have a great maneuverability and high speed.
But I think if he suffered a malfunction in one of its engines would become quite unstable due to loss of air pressure below of their particular body-wing, unlike other twin engine fighters that can go home with one engine.

But even so, who would not want a dogfight with them in the japan skies? 

[zdragon]

I agree, a loss of an engine would cause a great deal of asymmetric thrust seeing as how the props are on the ends of the wing body but i would love to fly this plane. I would love to see what it can do against other fighters.

[A1_Phoenix]

Sorry to ruin your worries, but i think (i hope) Vought engineers weren't totally fools in the (BIG) cutaway scheme, i see a central shaft, coming out from the internal sides of reductors. imho this can be a "rpm synchronizator" shaft, even for normal flight and not only in emergency..

also, this is one of my most desired US planes..

S!

[nonaiansia]

That would be great news, or would have to use very often Ctrl + E!   

Regards

[zdragon]

That is great news.  I've always liked the designers and engineers from back then.  They were all very crafty and innovative people that were extremely bright and intelligent (though that goes without saying, they were designing crazy looking planes that worked well, that should be sufficient enough to know that)

[A1_Phoenix]

i was searching for details about this plane, but i'm still NOT 100 sure my hypotesis is correct..

i've found this analysis with photos and text for both V-173 and XF5U-1

http://www.scribd.com/doc/52161502/Chance-Vought-v-173-Xf5U-1-Flying-Pancakes

S!
Andrea

[VF111Sundowner]

  Is there life in this project, (IE being worked on)

Just curious

[hoddyman]

I would love to fly this! Anyway, I think it's a much more believeable airplane than the Heinkel Lerche, which we have in the game, but which was never even built, in the real world. It could have been the "Harrier" of the Korean war. I think that dive-bombing, and rocket-firing through those big propellers would have posed a problem, however.