Corsair Information

Vought F4U-1A Corsair

History
The Vought F4U Corsair was one of the greatest WWII aircraft ever built. Its minute airframe and extremely powerful engine allowed us to even the playing field with the deadly Japanese Zeros. The plane was first flown in May of 1940, but over 12,500 more were built. Nicknamed "The Whistling Death", the F4U was first used in combat in 1943 by the Marine Corps in Guadalcanal's Cactus Air Force. By 1944, this amazing machine had given the United States supreme air superiority. In 1945, the Corsair had been outfitted with airborne intercept radar with a wing mounted antenna for use as a night fighter. By 1951, the Air Force recognized its capabilities as a bomber. The Corsair could carry rockets and up to 4,400 pounds of bombs. It became a mainstay in the Korean War. Eventually, the F4U Corsair was replaced as a fighter by the new jet planes, but remained a ground attack fighter for a number of years. In fact, the Corsair even shot down a few MiG-15 jet fighters in the Korean Conflict.

Plane InformationThe Vought F4U Corsair was a leap in technology for the time. It used an 18-cylinder Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp engine to drive an enormous 3 blade Hamilton Standard Propellor that was 13 feet in diameter, which was the biggest on any fighter at that time. The cockpit was set back, reducing forward and downward visibility, causing some carrier landing problems, but allowing room for a 237 gallon self-sealing fuel tank. The structure of the F4U was traditional all metal, but an increased use of spot welding created a smoother skin. Perhaps the distinguishing feature of the Corsair was its gull wings, which gave the propellor clearance, and made sure that the propellor was at a right angle to the wings, reducing drag. It was outfitted with the conventional U.S. armament of six .50 caliber machine guns, which were capable of sinking small warships, but later versions carried four cannon. The F4U had a maximum speed of 417 m.p.h. @ 20,000 feet, a range of 1,010 miles, and a ordinance capability of 4,400 pounds plus 375-400 rounds per gun.

Facts and Figures

The F4U's propellor was 1/3 larger than that of the Messerschmitt Bf 109.
The final F4U Corsair was delivered to France in 1953, just as the last attack Corsairs were reaching the Marines.
The ultimate Corsair was the Goodyear F2G, fitted with a Pratt & Whitney R-4360 engine delivering 3,600 hp.
Charles Lindbergh demonstrated Corsair tactics during a Pacific tour in 1943.
A U.S> Navy Corsair night-fighter pilot was the only Allied ace of the Korean War who did not fly the F-86 Sabre.
12,571 Corsairs were built; they were the last piston fighters produced, except for Yugoslavia's S-49 and Spain's Ha 1112.