The Vought XF5U Flying Pancake (or Flying Flapjack) was an experimental U.S. Navy fighter aircraft which was designed during World War II. It is one of the most unusual-looking aircraft to ever fly, consisting of a flat, somewhat disk-shaped body (hence its name) serving as the lifting surface. It was powered by two piston engines buried in the body, driving propellers on shafts which protruded from the leading edge.

The configuration was designed to create a low aspect ratio aircraft with a low takeoff and landing speed and high top speed. While the design proved to be extremely promising, it came at the time where the United States Navy was switching from propeller driven planes to jet propelled planes, and as soon as it was ready to enter production, the Navy cancelled the project and ordered the destruction of the two prototypes.

Specifications (XF5U-1)

General Characteristics

• Crew: one, pilot
• Length: 28 ft 7 in (8.73 m)
• Wingspan: 32 ft 6 in (9.91 m)
• Height: 14 ft 9 in (4.50 m)
• Wing area: 475 ft² (44.2 m²)
• Empty: 13,107 lb (5,958 kg)
• Loaded: 16,722 lb (7,600 kg)
• Maximum takeoff: 18,772 lb (8,533 kg)
• Powerplant: 2x Pratt & Whitney R-2000 -7, 1,350 hp (1,007 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 425 mph (775 km/h)
• Range: 1,064 miles (1,703 km)
• Service ceiling: 34,492 ft (10,516 m)
• Rate of climb: 718 ft/min (219 m/min)
• Wing loading: 35 lb/ft² (172 kg/m²)
• Power/Mass: 0.16 hp/lb (0.27 kW/kg)

Armament

• 6x .50 machine guns or
• 4x 20 mm machine guns or
• 2x 1000lb. bombs

Related content

Related development: Vought V-173

Comparable aircraft:

Designation sequence: FU - F2U - F3U - F4U - XF5U - F6U - F7U - F8U