[.041 Safety Wire]

Don't forget the Flying Flapjack



XF5U-1



V-173

The V-173 prototype first flew in 1942. It had a great STOL capability and was structually strong. The V-173 especially could have gone into service as a carrier based reconaissence/liason aircraft or a ground attack craft with 4x .50 machine guns. The XF5U-1 could have been a very good fighter if introduced earlier with an armament of either 6x .50 machine guns or 4x 20mm cannons in the nose and as seen in the prototype STOL capability and high structual strength.

V173 was horrendously underpowered and slow, I don't think it would have made a good ground attack aircraft. In its earlier forms it lacked adequate aileron authority. Boone Guyton had some very unflattering things to say about it.