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Vought F4U Corsair
The F4U Corsair series was the first Allied aircraft capable of going up against the Japanese Zero.
By Staff Writer
The F4U Corsair series of aircraft was one of the finer fighter developments of the Second World War, primarily seeing combat in the Pacific Theater of War. The uniquely designed bent-wings and ever-improving powerplant assured the system success over any enemy it encountered. The F4U would become the first Allied aircraft to even be able to contend with the might A6M Zero's fielded by the Empire of Japan.
Though initially rejected by the United States Navy for carrier duty, the F4U was accepted and utilized to great success by the United States Marines. As a land-based fighter, the 400mph fighter could contend with most any other enemy fighter, utilizing its maneuverability, turning radius and sheer speed to outperform adversaries. With the Marine success, the system was then utilized (albeit slightly modified for stowage on the smaller British carriers) by the British Fleet Air Arm and performed well. Upon these revelations, the United States Navy then reassessed the system and put it into service aboard its carrier groups.
Success for the F4U Corsair series did not end with the finality of World War Two. Instead, the system was put to good use against Communist forces in the Korean War, accounting for over 80 percent of all ground attack missions flown by Marine and Navy units combined. The piston-engine Corsairs would also be credited for the downing of the Soviet-produced jet-powered MiG-15 aircraft debuted in the conflict. The system was also fielded by French forces against the Viet Minh during the early and mid-fifties.
In the end, various manufacturers would produce various model types capable of nightfighting, ground attack and dogfighting. The success of the system solidified the position of the F4U Corsair as one of the best fighters in the war and was the subject of the television series "Black Sheep Squadron". The system would later be considered a classic warbird along with the P-51 Mustangs, P-38 Lightnings and the Supermarine Spitfires among others.
Text ©2003-2010 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved •
No Reproduction Without Permission • Corrections / Comments to MilitaryFactory at Gmail dot com
Last Revision: 9/18/2009
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| Specifications for the Vought F4U Corsair |
 Dimensions: |
Length: 33.30ft (10.15m)
Width:41.01ft (12.50m)
Height: 16.08ft (4.90m)
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| Performance: |
About MACH |
Max Speed: 417mph (671kmh; 362kts)
Max Range: 1,015miles (1,633km)
Rate-of-Climb: 3,120ft/min (951m/min)
Service Ceiling: 36,900ft (11,247m; 7.0miles)
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| Structure: |
Accommodation: 1
Hardpoints: 2
Empty Weight: 8,982lbs (4,074kg)
MTOW: 13,999lbs (6,350kg)
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| Powerplant: |
| Engine(s): 1 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-8 18-cylinder Double Wasp two-row air-cooled radial engine generating 2,000hp. |
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| Armament Suite: |
6 x 12.7mm machine guns
4 x 20mm cannons (F4U-1C)
Mission-specific armament added up to a maximum of 2,000lbs including air-to-surface rockets and bombs.
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| Pictures of the Vought F4U Corsair |
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Aircraft Quick Profile |
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| 1942 |
Designation: Vought F4U Corsair
Classification Type: Fighter
Contractor: Vought - USA
Country of Origin: United States
Production Total: 12,500 |
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Operators: France, New Zealand, the United States of America and the United Kingdom.
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| Variants |
V.166A - Prototype Model Designation; fitted with Pratt & Whitney 2,000hp XR-2800 Double Wasp radial engine.
V.166B - Second Prototype Development Model
XF4U-1 Designation of the V.166B prototype model for US Navy consideration.
F4U-1 - Production Model designation initially provided to Britain's Fleet Arm Arm (FAA); 758 aircraft constructed.
F4U-1A - Frameless canopy version of which 2,066 produced.
F4U-1C - Fitted with 4 x 20mm cannons in place of the 6 x 12.7mm machine guns; 200 produced.
F4U-1D - Fighter-Bomber Variant of which 1,375 were produced.
F4U-1P - Photographic Reconnaissance Conversion Model based on the F4U-1 model.
FG-1 - Goodyear-produced variant of which 1,704 were constructed.
FG-1D - Goodyear-produced variant.
FG-1E - Goodyear-produced Nightfighter variant.
F3A-1 - Brewster-produced sub-variant.
F3A-1D - Brewster-produced sub-variant.
F4U-4 - Fitted with R-2800-18W(C) 2,450hp engine of which 2,351 were produced of this model.
F25 - Goodyear-produced conversion model of the F4U-4 base model.
F4U-5
F4U-7
AU-1
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