Vought V-143

The V-141 having acquired a somewhat alarming reputation, the aircraft was redesignated V-143 and, with modifications to the tail unit, entered in an Argentine fighter contest. As the spinning characteristics of the fighter were still unsatisfactory, the prototype was fitted with an anti-spin chute before demonstration, a fact of which a competing manufacturer made capital. In May 1937, in an attempt to improve the marketing prospects of the V-143, a number of engineering changes were introduced. The rear fuselage was lengthened considerably and an SB2U-1-style tail assembly was fitted in an attempt to eradicate the handling shortcomings of the fighter. At the same time, a Pratt & Whitney R-1535-SB4G engine of 825hp was installed. The USAAC evaluated the modified prototype on 18 June 1937, but again rejected the aircraft. As no export orders for the fighter - which was also offered with a 525hp Wasp Junior engine as the V-150 - materialised, the sole V-143 prototype was sold to the Japanese Imperial Navy, which assigned it the designation AXV1. Although it was later to be widely alleged that the Mitsubishi A6M Zero-Sen was based on the V-143, there was no truth in such allegations, although Vought's method of undercarriage retraction provided the inspiration for that of the Japanese fighter.

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A three-view drawing (1280 x 916)

jcf, e-mail, 08.02.2021 John Kress, jwkress47@yahoo.com

Jiro Horikoshi didn't use the V-143 as a starting point for the A6M, the Northrop /Vought design has nothing to do with the Zero, even the landing gear claim is dubious.

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