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Vought F4U Corsair test aircraft
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Vought F4U Corsair
The Corsair started life as a US Navy requirement for a carrier aircraft which could match the performance of the best land based fighter planes.
Designed in 1938 the first prototype Corsair designated XF4U-1 flew in 1940.
The new aircraft powered by a Double Wasp radial engine was the first US warplane to exceed 400mph in level flight. The plane featured an unusual inverted gull wing to keep the undercarriage short while allowing the use of the large diameter propeller demanded by the powerful engine fitted.
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Other features on the Corsair were self sealing fuel tanks, armour protection and folding wings for aircraft carrier hanger storage.
The Corsair first entered service in 1942. Although designed as a carrier plane, initial operation from carrier decks was proving troublesome. The aircraft was fast and the slow speed handling was tricky. This together with poor visibilty over the long nose made landing a Corsair on a carrier a difficult job.
For these reasons most Corsairs initially went to Marine Corp squadrons who operated off land based runways.
The Royal Navy also received Corsairs however and went ahead with flying them from Fleet Air Arm carriers successfully. First major action by British carrier based Corsairs was against the Tirpitz.
The British had found some flying techniques to tame the Corsair to a degree by flying the final approach in a curve so as to allow better visibility of the carrier deck. The aircraft was always to require skillful handling however.
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Vought F4U Corsair and P51 Mustang formation
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USN Vought Sikorsky Corsair
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In the pacific theatre the Corsair was making a name for itself as a potent and very capable aircraft. The plane was used as both a fighter and fighter bomber with great success.
Later versions included the F4U-4 with a 2,100 hp radial engine of which over 2,500 were built by Vought and Goodyear.
Postwar the aircraft was extensively used in Korea.
Later versions of the Corsair included the F4U-5 Corsair, F4U-6 (AU-1) and F4U-7. The last of these variants being used by the French.
The plane served in some airforces until the 1960s.
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| Vought F4U-1 Corsair |
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| Engine | Double Wasp radial
2000hp |
Top Speed | approx 417mph |
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| Weight | over 11,000lb take off weight |
Wingspan | approx. 41ft |
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| Length | approx. 33.4 ft |
Weapons | 6 half inch calliber browning machine guns in the wing
2000lb external ordnance |
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| Country | USA |
Crew | one |
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Corsair F4U-5 model model aircraft
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