The Vought V-143: The Fighter That Time Forgot

The Vought V-143 was a curious little fighter, a machine built in a time when aviation was evolving at breakneck speed. Imagine the late 1930s—a world where nations scrambled to modernize their air forces, where sleek monoplanes were replacing biplanes, and where speed, firepower, and ruggedness were the hallmarks of a good fighter.

Now, the V-143 didn’t quite make a name for itself in the grand halls of aviation history, but it was an interesting aircraft nonetheless. Originally conceived by Northrop and later modified by Vought, the fighter was something of a patchwork project—tweaked and adjusted over time to fit shifting needs. It had a rather streamlined look, with a metal fuselage and metal control surfaces, and it was built tough—exactly the kind of thing a country with limited resources might find appealing.

Performance-wise, it wasn’t bad for its day. With a Pratt & Whitney “Twin Wasp, Jr.” engine delivering 750 horsepower, the V-143 could hit a respectable 226 mph at 6,000 feet. It had a climb rate of about 750 feet per minute and could reach a service ceiling of up to 31,000 feet, depending on its configuration. Not the fastest or highest-climbing fighter out there, but it wasn’t a slouch either.

What made it particularly interesting was its intended market. The V-143 wasn’t meant for the U.S. military. Instead, it was marketed as an export fighter—something smaller nations with less industrial might could buy to bolster their air forces. It was rugged, relatively simple, and carried a decent punch for its size. The standard armament consisted of two .30 caliber machine guns, but they could be swapped out for heavier .50 caliber guns if needed. It wasn’t a flying fortress, but against comparable aircraft of the time, it could hold its own.

Despite its merits, the V-143 never really found a home. It was one of those aircraft that looked good on paper but struggled to find buyers. Some nations were undoubtedly interested in an affordable, well-built fighter, but by the late 1930s, aviation technology was advancing so rapidly that an aircraft like the V-143 could quickly become outdated before it even got a chance to prove itself in combat.

Still, it’s a fascinating relic of an era when aviation was in constant flux, and every design had the potential to change the game—if only it found the right moment and the right buyer.

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