Vought XF5U Flying Flapjack

The Vought XF5U “Flying Flapjack” was an experimental U.S. Navy fighter aircraft designed during World War II. This unorthodox design consisted of a flat, somewhat disc-shaped body (hence its name) serving as the lifting surface. Two piston engines buried in the body drove propellers located on the leading edge at the wingtips.

Developed from the proof-of-concept Vought V-173 “Flying Pancake”, the XF5U suffered manufacturing delays with its unique propellors. Along with unresolved vibration and cost over-runs this resulted in it’s cancellation in 1947. At the time, the US Navy was moving to jet aircraft and the XF5U was overtaken by the new technology.