Flying Flapjack

[Abraham Gubler]

Great 10 minute History Channel documentary on Charles H. Zimmerman and HR aircraft (V-173 and XF5U).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z57vUC89CaQ

Mod edit: Link in now dead.

 

[Bill S]

V-162B in the model designation and listed as X-1800 Attack Bomber
in the drawing title block. From Vought Archives

 

[Abraham Gubler]

V-162B in the model designation and listed as X-1800 Attack Bomber
in the drawing title block

You're a hero! Any information on other vital statistics of the X-1800?

 

[saturncanuck]

Too bad she never flew...

 

[Stargazer]

Too bad she never flew...

What do you mean, she didn't fly? This design is earlier than the V-173 "Flying Pancake", which flew, and several times too! Even Charles Lindbergh piloted it.

The aircraft that didn't fly was the XF5U-1, an altogether pretty different and more advanced aircraft (don't have my files with me but that was in the VS-300 range of designations).

 

[saturncanuck]

Too bad she never flew...

What do you mean, she didn't fly? This design is earlier than the V-173 "Flying Pancake", which flew, and several times too! Even Charles Lindbergh piloted it.

The aircraft that didn't fly was the XF5U-1, an altogether pretty different and more advanced aircraft (don't have my files with me but that was in the VS-300 range of designations).

Obviously, THAT's what I was talking about.

The V-173 was only a proof-of-concept, but the REAL aircraft, the XF5U-1, never lfew. Incidently, the structure was so well-built that when they scrapped her they had to use wrecking balls!

 

[Nik]

Slightly ATL: Re: Flying Flapjack

Is there any plausible way such STOL could have been available for 'Battle of Atlantic' instead of those disposable catapulted hurricanes & spitfires ?

STOL might have 'landed back on a hatch-cover'...

Uh, the comments from U-boat skippers and Condor pilots would be unprintable...

 

[Bill S]

Sorry no further info on the X-1800 at the moment.
Will post them if I find any.

 

[Bill S]

This time I have three views of the V-172 to add for
your viewing pleasure. From Vought Archives

 

[robunos]

Sorry no further info on the X-1800 at the moment.
Will post them if I find any.

Sorry it's Wiki, here's a reference :-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratt_%26_Whitney_X-1800

I have something in one of my books, but, it's late, I'm tired,
and my scanner's off. Will sort it out tomorrow,


cheers,
Robin.

 

[Triton]

Video of Vought V-173 Flying Pancake found on YouTube.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfpTDOAfj7Y

 

[Abraham Gubler]

Sorry no further info on the X-1800 at the moment.
Will post them if I find any.

Sorry it's Wiki, here's a reference :-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratt_%26_Whitney_X-1800

That's the X-1800 the Pratt & Whitney engine... This the X-1800 the Vought/Zimmermann low aspect ratio bomber...

 

[Justo Miranda]

Some additional info -Post-1
From
-Aviation History-September 1997
-Flaps magazine unknown issue
-Le Fanatique de l'Aviation unknown isssue
-Air&Space april/may 2004
-"Naval Fighters"- number twenty one
-"Air enthusiast"-june 1973
-Aeroplane montly-september 1975

 

[Justo Miranda]

Some additional info -Post-2
From
-Aviation History-September 1997
-Flaps magazine unknown issue
-Le Fanatique de l'Aviation unknown isssue
-Air&Space april/may 2004
-"Naval Fighters"- number twenty one
-"Air enthusiast"-june 1973
-Aeroplane montly-september 1975

 

[Justo Miranda]

Some additional info -Post-3
From
-Aviation History-September 1997
-Flaps magazine unknown issue
-Le Fanatique de l'Aviation unknown isssue
-Air&Space april/may 2004
-"Naval Fighters"- number twenty one
-"Air enthusiast"-june 1973
-Aeroplane montly-september 1975

 

[robunos]

That's the X-1800 the Pratt & Whitney engine... This the X-1800 the Vought/Zimmermann low aspect ratio bomber...

Oops...my bad...... :-[ :'(
Told you I was tired......


cheers,
Robin.

 

[fightingirish]

Here is a short clip of Stu talking about his involvement in the restoration of the V-173 Pancake.

http://youtu.be/G4svtWctNb4

http://youtu.be/G4svtWctNb4

 

[hesham]

Hi,


here is the early patent which led to develop the V-173,and and anther patent of 1947 ?.


Lotnictwo 8-2015

 

[Stargazer]

The 1938 patent could be related to the built (but not flown) 1935 prototype, though there are a few notable differences:

 

[hesham]

Thank you for Info Skyblazer.

 

[Deleted member 2278]

Some Zimmerman-authored, Pancake-related patents, including a prone pilot position and an alternate, diagonal engine/shaft arrangement:

US2481379A - Aircraft having extensible landing gear positionable for horizontal and vertical take-off - Google Patents

US2411770A - Control column for prone positioned pilots - Google Patents

US2452281A - Aircraft propulsion means - Google Patents

 

[Justo Miranda]

Chance Vought XF5U-1

 

[Justo Miranda]

Chance Vought V-173

 

[hesham]

From Flying 1947-7.

 

[dannydale]

Why am I suddenly imagining a modernized tiltrotor version of this thing?

 

[Moose]

The return of the Flapjack?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1909587194936803626

View: https://x.com/BAESystemsInc/status/1909587194936803626?t=3nenvp6LUR8zRbVeC7wpIw&s=19