Vought F3U

The Vought F3U-1 was the prototype of a two seat, all metal biplane fighter built by Vought Aircraft Company of Dallas, Texas for the U.S. Navy. The aircraft was equipped with a closed cockpit, had fixed landing gear, and was powered by a Pratt and Whitney R-1535-80 radial air-cooled engine. Only one aircraft was built, in 1933, as the Navy no longer was interested in two seat fighters. The F3U-1 subsequently evolved into the SBU-1 Corsair dive bomber.

Specifications (F3U-1)

General characteristics

• Crew: Two: pilot, navigator
• Length: 27 ft 10 in (8.4 m)
• Wingspan: 33 ft 3 in (10.1 m)
• Height: 11 ft 11 in (3.6 m)
• Wing area: 295 ft² (27.4 m²)
• Empty weight: 3,435 lb (1,558 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 5,297 lb (2,402 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Pratt and Whitney R-1535-80 Twin Wasp Jr. double row radial air-cooled engine, 700 hp (518 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 208 mph (334 km/h)
• Cruise speed: mph (km/h)
• Range: 570 mi (917 km)
• Service ceiling: 25,300 ft (7,700 m)
• Rate of climb: ft/min (m/s)
• Wing loading: 18 lb/ft² (88 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.13 hp/lb (0.22 kW/kg)

Armament

• three 7.62 mm machine guns