Vought XF3U explained

The Vought XF3U was the prototype of a two-seat, all-metal biplane fighter, built by Vought Aircraft Company of Dallas, Texas for the United States Navy.

Development and design

The XF3U was designed to meet the Bureau of Aeronautics 1932 Design Specification No. 111, which called for a high-performance fighter with a fixed undercarriage and powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1535 Twin Wasp Junior air-cooled radial engine. Of the seven proposed aircraft the XF3U and the Douglas XFD were chosen. The XF3U was the first all-metal aircraft produced by Vought. The aircraft was also equipped with an enclosed cockpit. During flight testing in 1933, it outperformed the Douglas entry and was chosen the winner.

The XF3U was also redesignated the XSBU, meaning "scout bomber."^[1]

Operational history

The Navy no longer was interested in two-seat fighters, and therefore only the one XF3U prototype aircraft was built. The XF3U subsequently evolved into a dive bomber, and became the XSBU prototype for the SBU-1 Corsair.

The only one every built has a naval bureau number of 9222.^{[2] [3]}

References

Bibliography

• Angelucci,Enzo. The American Fighter from 1917 to the present. New York: Orion Books, 1987. .

Notes and References

1. Web site: Chance Vought/LTV History . 9 July 2024 . Environmental Protection Agency (.gov) . 13.
2. Web site: Appendix 9 - Bureau (Serial) Numbers of Naval Aircraft . 9 July 2024 . United States Navy (.mil) . 530.
3. Web site: Appendix E . 9 July 2024 . NASA (.gov) . 485.