Vought XF2U

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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 Aeronatics 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 6 1931, when it was lost in a crash landing.

pecifications

aerospecs
ref=Angelucci, 1987. pp.433-434.
met or eng?=eng

crew=2
capacity=
length m=8.22
length ft=27
length in=0
span m=10.97
span ft=36
span in=0
height m=3.04
height ft=10
height in=0
wing area sqm=29.54
wing area sqft=318
empty weight kg=1,152
empty weight lb=2,539
gross weight kg=1,772
gross weight lb=3,907

eng1 number=1
eng1 type=Pratt & Whitney R-1340-C/D
eng1 kw=
eng1 hp=450
eng2 number=
eng2 type=
eng2 kw=
eng2 hp=

max speed kmh=235
max speed mph=146
cruise speed kmh=177
cruise speed mph=110
stall speed kmh=
stall speed mph=
range km=797
range miles=495
endurance h=
endurance min=
ceiling m=5,700
ceiling ft=18,700
g limits=
roll rate=
climb rate ms=4.63
climb rate ftmin=910

armament1=3x .30in machine guns
armament2=
armament3=
armament4=
armament5=
armament6=

aircontent
see also=
related=
similar aircraft=
lists=

References

Bibliography

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

External links

* [http://www.vought.com/heritage/products/html/xf2u-1.html Vought page on the XF2U]