Vought XF2U

XF2U
Role	Fighter
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Vought
Designer	Chance M. Vought
First flight	21 June 1929

The Vought XF2U was a prototype biplane fighter aircraft evaluated by the United States Navy at the end of the 1920s, but was already outclassed by competing designs and never put into production.

Development and design

Vought's O2U Corsair, first delivered in 1927, was a successful design that set several speed and altitude record in that year. To compete for the Bureau of Aeronautics requirement for a two-seat carrier-based fighter, Vought adapted this design, but progress was slow. Ordered on 30 June 1927, the plane was not completed until June 1929. It was no longer state-of-the-art; in particular Curtiss' F8C Falcon was further along.

The aircraft was constructed of welded steel tubing, covered in fabric. The wings were made of wood and fabric covered.The prototype first flew on 21 June 1929, and was tested on a simulated carrier deck in Norfolk, Virginia. It was found satisfactory, allaying concerns about problems due to the rather long cowling over the engine. The plane then went to the Naval Aircraft Factory, who operated it until 6 March 1931, when it was lost in a crash landing.

Specifications

Data from Angelucci, 1987. pp.433-434.

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 27 ft 0 in (8.22 m)
• Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m)
• Height: 10 ft 0 in (3.04 m)
• Wing area: 318 ft² (29.54 m²)
• Empty weight: 2,539 lb (1,152 kg)
• Gross weight: 3,907 lb (1,772 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340-C/D, 450 hp ( kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 146 mph (235 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 110 mph (177 km/h)
• Range: 495 miles (797 km)
• Service ceiling: 18,700 ft (5,700 m)
• Rate of climb: 910 ft/min (4.63 m/s)

Armament

• 3x .30in machine guns

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Lloyd S. Jones, U.S. Naval Fighters (Fallbrook CA: Aero Publishers, 1977, ISBN 0-8168-9254-7), pp. 68–70

External links

• Vought page on the XF2U