The Brewster Aeronautical Corporation joined Goodyear in being selected to manufacture the classic F4U "Corsair" carrierborne single-seat, single-engine fighter developed by Chance Vought for the United States Navy (USN) during World War 2 (1939-1945). The company's contribution aircraft were known under the designation of "F3A" while Goodyear models became the "FG". The Brewster Corsair stock was primarily sent to Britain and operated under the name of "Corsair Mk.III" but their quality (deficiencies in the wing members were found, limited their aerobatics) suffered such that none of the mark saw frontline combat.
Because of internal labor issues causing delays for the USN, the Corsair contract was eventually cancelled, leading to the demise of Brewster as an aircraft-producer in America.
Regardless, the Brewster Corsair design was centered around the original F4U-1 production model - the initial production form offered by Chance Vought. These had a heavily-framed "birdcage" style canopy, carried 6 x 0.50 caliber Heavy Machine Guns (HMGs) as standard armament (three guns to a wing member), and were powered by the powerful Pratt & Whitney R-2800-8 "Double Wasp" air-cooled radial piston engine driving a sizeable (13-foot-diameter) three-bladed propeller unit at the nose. The aircraft used a "tail dragger" retractable undercarriage for ground running and the pilot at near midships aft of the long-running nose. The distinct "gull wing" mainplane configuration was a hallmark of the series and included in the Brewster copy of the aircraft.
Some 430 total Brewster Corsairs were completed for Britain's Fleet Air Arm (FAA), these comprising 334 F3A-1 and 96 F3A-1D production models, adding to the impressive Corsair wartime total of 12,571 airframes.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Air-to-Air Combat, Fighter
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.
✓Interception
Ability to intercept inbound aerial threats by way of high-performance, typically speed and rate-of-climb.
✓Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
✓Close-Air Support (CAS)
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.
✓Maritime / Navy
Land-based or shipborne capability for operating over-water in various maritime-related roles while supported by allied naval surface elements.
✓Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
ARMORING
Survivability enhanced by armor allocated to protect pilot / crewspaces and / or critical operating systems.
RUGGED AIRFRAME
Inherent ability of airframe to take considerable damage.
HIGH-SPEED PERFORMANCE
Can accelerate to higher speeds than average aircraft of its time.
HIGH-ALTITUDE PERFORMANCE
Can reach and operate at higher altitudes than average aircraft of its time.
MARITIME OPERATION
Ability to operate over ocean in addition to surviving the special rigors of the maritime environment.
BAILOUT PROCESS
Manual process of allowing its pilot and / or crew to exit in the event of an airborne emergency.
CREWSPACE PRESSURIZATION
Supports pressurization required at higher operating altitudes for crew survival.
ENCLOSED CREWSPACE(S)
Features partially- or wholly-enclosed crew workspaces.
RETRACTABLE UNDERCARRIAGE
Features retracting / retractable undercarriage to preserve aerodynamic efficiency.
Length
33.4 ft (10.18 m)
Width/Span
41.0 ft (12.50 m)
Height
16.0 ft (4.88 m)
MTOW
13,999 lb (6,350 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Brewster F3A Corsair Mk.III production variant)
monoplane / low-mounted / straight, inverted gull
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.
Low-Mounted
Mainplanes are low-mounted along the sides of the fuselage.
Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.
Straight, Inverted Gull
The planform relies on straight mainplane members which feature anhedral (downward angle) at the wing roots and dihedral (upward angle) for the remainder of their length.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the Brewster F3A Corsair Mk.III production variant)
Installed:
1 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-8 air-cooled radial piston engine developing 1,850 horsepower driving three-bladed propeller unit at the nose.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Brewster F3A Corsair Mk.III production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
6 x 0.50 caliber (12.7mm) Browning M2 air-cooled, belt-fed Heavy Machine Guns (HMGs) in wings (three guns to a wing member).
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 0
F3A - Base Series Designation; based in the Chance Vought F4U-1 production model.
F3A-1 - Initial production model designation; 334 examples completed.
F3A-1D - Variant; 96 examples completed.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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Image from the Public Domain.
Similar Aircraft
Aviation developments of similar form and function, or related to, the Brewster F3A (F4U-1) Corsair...
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