The Vought V-173 (or "Flying Pancake") is an experimental test aircraft. Created in Second Life by Velocity Aeronautics, the V-173 was based on the real-life Vought V-173 designed by Charles H. Zimmerman.
Background
The V-173 "Flying Pancake" designed by Charles H. Zimmerman was an American experimental test aircraft built as part of the Vought XF5U "Flying Flapjack" fighter aircraft program for the United States Navy during the Second World War.
It featured an unorthodox "all-wing" design consisting of a flat, somewhat disk-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. Noted American aviator, Charles Lindbergh, piloted the V-173 during this time and found it surprisingly easy to handle and exhibiting impressive low-speed capabilities.
Features
- Working cockpit gauges - vertical speed, fuel, compass.
- Fuel system (proprietary).
- Water crash detection (prevents flying below water-level).
- Dynamic Camera.
- Custom Sounds.
- Animated control surfaces.
- Moving canopy.
- Adjustable sit position.
Images
_1.png "Vought V-173 (Velocity) 1.png (2.2 MB)")
.jpg "Flying Pancake (Velocity).jpg (95 KB)")