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| XF3U / XSBU | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Fighter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Vought |
| Number built | 1 |
| History | |
| First flight | May 9, 1933[1] |
| Developed into | SBU Corsair |
TheVought XF3U was theprototype of a two-seat, all-metalbiplanefighter, built by Vought Aircraft Company of Dallas, Texas for theUnited States Navy.
The XF3U was designed to meet theBureau of Aeronautics 1932Design Specification No. 111, which called for a high-performance fighter with a fixedundercarriage and powered by aPratt & Whitney R-1535 Twin Wasp Junior air-cooled radial engine. Of the seven proposed aircraft the XF3U and theDouglas XFD were chosen. The XF3U was the first all-metal aircraft produced by Vought. The aircraft was also equipped with an enclosedcockpit. 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."[2]
The Navy was no longer interested in two-seat fighters, and therefore only the one XF3U prototype aircraft was built. The XF3U subsequently evolved into adive bomber, and became the XSBU prototype for theSBU-1 Corsair.[1]
The only one every built has a naval bureau number of 9222.[3][4]
Data fromAngelucci 1987, p. 434.
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
3 × .30 in (7.62 mm)machine guns
Media related toVought XF3U at Wikimedia Commons