F4U Corsair

The Chance Vought F4U Corsair was a fighter aircraft that saw service in World War II and the Korean War. Goodyear-built Corsairs were designated FG and Brewster-built aircraft F3A.

Related Topics:
Chance Vought - Fighter aircraft - World War II - Korean War - Goodyear - Brewster

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When flown in 1940, the XF4U-1 became the first U.S. single-engine production aircraft capable of 400 mph in level flight. It was a remarkable achievement for Vought, as carrier aircraft were necessarily heavier than their land-based counterparts to withstand the rigors of deck landings.

Related Topics:
1940 - Carrier aircraft

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The most striking feature of the aircraft is the inverted gull wing. The design concept for the Corsair incorporated the largest available fighter engine ? the 2,000 hp, 18-cylinder Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radial ? turning an enormous 13'4" (4.06 m) Hamilton Standard propeller. The dimensions required the bent wing in order to keep the landing gear reasonably short, as well as sturdy enough for carrier landings, and to provide ground clearance for the propeller.

Related Topics:
Gull wing - Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp - Radial - Propeller - Landing gear

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However, numerous technical problems had to be solved before the Corsair entered service. Carrier suitability was especially troublesome, leading to changes of the landing gear, tailwheel, and tailhook. Additionally, a small spoiler was added to the leading edge of the port wing to reduce adverse stall characteristics. A noticable problem with the Corsair design was its inability to recover from a developed spin, as its wing shape interfered with elevator control.

Related Topics:
Landing gear - Tailhook - Spoiler

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Due to visibility problems on landing caused by a combination of the pilot's position and the length of the nose, which made landing tricky for poorly trained pilots, Corsairs were largely barred from U.S. carrier service until the end of 1944. When the aircraft finally saw combat it was nonetheless a superb fighter compared to its contemporaries, achieving a 10 to 1 victory ratio. However, nearly as many Corsairs were lost to landing accidents as the type downed enemy aircraft. Growing pains aside, Marine Corps squadrons readily took to the radical new fighter.

Related Topics:
1944 - Marine Corps

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From February 1943 onward, the "U-Bird" flew from Guadalcanal and ultimately other bases in the Solomon Islands. Corsairs were flown by the famous Black Sheep Squadron VMF-214 led by Marine Fighter Ace Gregory "Pappy" Boyington in an area of the Solomon Islands called The Slot. Corsairs also served well as fighter-bombers in the Central Pacific and the Philippines. Night-fighter versions were produced, equipping Navy and Marine units ashore and afloat. British units flying from carriers developed a curved approach to the carrier that allowed the Corsair pilot to maintain a view of the carrier's deck, allowing safe carrier operations. At war's end, Corsairs were ashore on Okinawa combating the Kamikaze suicide pilots and flying from fleet and escort carriers.

Related Topics:
1943 - Guadalcanal - Solomon Islands - Philippines - Night-fighter - Okinawa - Kamikaze

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During the war, Corsair production expanded beyond Vought to include Brewster (F3A) and Goodyear (FG) models. Allied nations flying the aircraft included the Royal Navy and Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Related Topics:
Brewster - Goodyear - Royal Navy - Royal New Zealand Air Force

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