This unorthodox design consisted of a flat, somewhat disc-shaped body (resembling a flying flapjack/pancake, hence its nickname) serving as the lifting surface.

[2] The aircraft was designed to keep the low stall speed and high angle of attack from the V-173 prototype while providing for better pilot visibility, cockpit comfort, less vibration, and provisions to install armament.

The usual approach to reducing these vortices is to build a wing with a high aspect ratio, i.e. one that is long and narrow.

However, such wings compromise the maneuverability and roll rate of the aircraft, or present a structural challenge in building them stiff enough.

[4] The propellers are arranged to rotate in the opposite direction to the tip vortices, with the aim of retaining the higher-pressure air below the wing.

[2] Although the prototype was unarmed, a combination of six M2 Browning 50-caliber machine guns or four M3 20 mm cannons would be mounted in the wing roots in service.