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vt ( jolt . ? 7 a ‘Wane a aj mm) » i fk | | ee a I J | a a | rate od fall Above: Exterior of the completed 15ft Spin Tunnel Building at NACA Langley 1935. NASA Above right: NACA Langley’s 5ft High-Speed Wind Tunnel under construction. NASA Right: 5ft Vertical Spin Tunnel at NACA Langley in 1932. NASA While trials of the V-173 continued at Lang- ley, it was becoming clear to the Navy that air- craft carriers had become the most important type of warship in any major battle group. Mobile floating airfields offered a new level of power projection and the Japanese Navy had demonstrated their effectiveness on 7th December 1941, when a devastating surprise attack was launched against US warships belonging to the US Pacific Fleet that were anchored in Pearl Harbor. If STOL or, ideally, VTOL fighters based on V-173 proved viable, this might allow the use of much smaller air- craft carriers, converted merchant ships or simply the carriage of more warplanes by big- ger vessels. At the start of November 1942, V-173 was ready for its first test flight at Stratford and on _ been less than 50ft (15m). The V-173 was 26ft —200ft (60m), depending on wind conditions. 23rd November the company’s senior test 8%in (8.13m) in length, it had a 23ft 3%in Maximum speed was a pedestrian 138mph pilot, Boone Guyton, took the V-173 onabrief (7.16m) wingspan and a wing area of 427ft? (222km/h), but the V-173 was never intended trip around the perimeter of the company’s _(39.66m?). Largely constructed from wood _ to be a high-performance aircraft. It could airfield. By now, the aircraft was being and aluminium with a fabric covering, it cruise at 75mph (120km/h) with no difficulty referred to as the ‘Flying Pancake’. Although weighed a mere 2,258lb (1,024kg) and and never stalled or showed any tendency to the flight was relatively uneventful, Guyton propulsion was provided by two 80hp - spin. found that the controls were very sluggish (59.6kW) Continental A-80 piston engines. Piloting the V-173 was unlike any other air- and this was later traced to improperly bal- Just 16.5 gallons (75 litres) of fuel were car- craft. With both engines running at full power anced control surfaces. ried, but that was more than adequate for this _ and the stick pulled right back, it was possible That aside, the V-173 completed its first test. lightweight prototype. Although grossly _ to fly with a nose-up attitude of 45°, while circuit, which lasted for 13 minutes and the — underpowered, the low weight and high lift, | maintaining complete lateral and longitudi- aircraft touched down safely on the runway in assisted by the steeply raised undercarriage nal control. In fact, because of inadequate an astonishingly short distance, said to have _ angle of 22°, would allow take-offs inlessthan engine power, the V-173 always tended to fly been less than 50ft (15m). The V-173 was 26ft 8%in (8.13m) in length, it had a 23ft 3%in (7.16m) wingspan and a wing area of 427ft® (39.66m?’). Largely constructed from wood and aluminium with a fabric covering, it weighed a mere 2,258Ib (1,024kg) and propulsion was provided by two 80hp (59.6kW) Continental A-80 piston engines. Just 16.5 gallons (75 litres) of fuel were car- ried, but that was more than adequate for this lightweight prototype. Although — grossly underpowered, the low weight and high lift, assisted by the steeply raised undercarriage angle of 22°, would allow take-offs in less than 200ft (60m), depending on wind conditions. Maximum speed was a pedestrian 138mph (222km/h), but the V-173 was never intended to be a high-performance aircraft. It could cruise at 75mph (120km/h) with no difficulty and never stalled or showed any tendency to spin. Piloting the V-173 was unlike any other air- craft. With both engines running at full power and the stick pulled right back, it was possible to fly with a nose-up attitude of 45°, while maintaining complete lateral and longitudi- nal control. In fact, because of inadequate engine power, the V-173 always tended to fly 25 Above: Exterior of the completed 15ft Spin Tunnel Building at NACA Langley 1935. NASA Above right: NACA Langley’s 5ft High-Speed Wind Tunnel under construction. NASA Right: 5ft Vertical Spin Tunnel at NACA Langley in 1932. NASA Early Circular-Winged Aircraft