What You Need to Know: The Vought V-173, or “Flying Pancake,” defied traditional aircraft design with its flat, flying-wing shape. Invented in the 1930s by Charles Zimmerman, the V-173 was ...

With the 22-degree deck angle on the Vought V-173, the pilot was forced to look forward, past his feet, through windows on the underside of the nose. [Courtesy: U.S. Navy] If one were to claim ...

The V-173 Pancake Prototype Flipped Flapjack Naval Interest Leads to the XF5U The Pancake is one Tough Cookie Working in the 1930’s with the Chance Vought Division of the United Aircraft ...