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Small piloted aircraft completed in the 1935 by Charles Zimmerman. It never flew due to engine balancing problems, which was probably for the best as the aircraft was considered rather dangerous. via Bill Rose Vought V-162, a small proof-of-concept demonstrator model designed and built by Charles Zimmerman, who flew it at Vought’s factory during 1937. Vought Heritage 13th Anniversary Air Show, when Guyton experienced lift problems and just managed to clear some high-tension cables and a rock face near the end of the runway. After its 171st flight during the same year, trials of the V-173 were concluded and the aircraft was passed to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, who placed it in storage at their facility in Suitland, Maryland, where it remained until the end of the century. In 2000, a group of Vought retiree members of the company’s Heritage Foundation talked senior museum staff into allowing them to take the aircraft away and restore it to original condition. As a result of these negotiations, V-173 was partly dismantled, crated (at a 32°- angled position) inside a large custom-built metal and plywood container and moved by flatbed truck across six states to Vought’s facility in Dallas, Texas, arriving in late 2003. Restoration work was soon under way, with a team of 22 former Vought engineers (now in their eighties) working on the historic aircraft. Amongst the tasks undertaken was a complete overhaul of both engines, replace- ment of the aircraft’s cotton fabric skin, some cockpit Plexiglas and a number of internal nose-up although the situation was reversed _ dent took place on 3rd June 1943, when a fue! during landing and all pilots agreed that con- supply problem forced Vought’s test pilot trolling the aircraft could be difficult. The | Richard Burroughs to put down on Lordship V-173 also suffered from significant engine Beach, just below Bridgeport on Long Island noise in the cockpit, accompanied by an Sound. As he touched down, Burroughs nar- unpleasant resonant frequency that was gen- _ rowly avoided a sunbather and then the air- erated by the propellers. Zimmerman man- craft flipped over as its wheels sank into soft aged to reduce this second problem with — sand. vibration dampers, but the V-173 remained a Almost two years later, Burroughs made a noisy aircraft throughout its life. second crash landing on the Mill River Golf During its flight history, there were two Course near Stratford after suffering engine crash landings, although damage was rela- _ trouble. One final near-catastrophe was nar- tively minor in each instance. The first acci- rowly avoided in 1947 at Chance Vought’s Charles Zimmerman. US Navy Small piloted aircraft completed in the 1935 by Charles Zimmerman. It never flew due to engine balancing problems, which was probably for the best as the aircraft was considered rather dangerous. via Bill Rose nose-up although the situation was reversed during landing and all pilots agreed that con- trolling the aircraft could be difficult. The V-173 also suffered from significant engine noise in the cockpit, accompanied by an unpleasant resonant frequency that was gen- erated by the propellers. Zimmerman man- aged to reduce this second problem with vibration dampers, but the V-173 remained a noisy aircraft throughout its life. During its flight history, there were two crash landings, although damage was rela- tively minor in each instance. The first acci- dent took place on 3rd June 1943, whena fuel supply problem forced Vought’s test pilot Richard Burroughs to put down on Lordship Beach, just below Bridgeport on Long Island Sound. As he touched down, Burroughs nar- rowly avoided a sunbather and then the air- craft flipped over as its wheels sank into soft sand. 26 Charles Zimmerman. US Navy Secret Projects: Flying Saucer Aircraft