Michael_C opened this issue on Feb 17, 2025 ยท 3 posts
Michael_C posted Mon, 17 February 2025 at 2:14 PM
The XF5U-1, two of which were built, was experimental in many ways. Designed for very slow takeoff and landing speed, but high cruise speed, was essentially a lifting body with no real wings although it had "ailavators" that resembled stubby wings. Its disc-shaped body earned the nickname "Flying Pancake". Although a smaller scaled prototype made many flights, including some flown by Charles Lindbergh, the XF5U never flew.
Here are a couple of early renders:
These images look asymmetrical, but the left-side structures will eventually be duplicated on the right side as seen in the construction drawings