The F4U Corsair was a US carrier-based fighter aircraft which saw action in World War II and the Korean War. The F4U was used by the US Navy, US Marines, the Royal Navy, and the French Navy Aeronavale. It was a low-winged, single-engine aircraft and, despite its initial problems at landing on deck, it was the most capable carrier-based fighter of the Second World War.
The F4U Corsair was designed and manufactured by the American firm Chance Vought. Its first flight took place in May 1940 and entered active service in December 1942. Approximately a total of 12,500 units were produced. The F4U had an inverted gull wing design, which was a solution to accomodate its stout and retracting landing gear. This design was similar to the German Junkers Ju 87 wing design. It began to fly combat missions in February 1943 from the Guadalcanal island and other bases in the Solomon islands.
Specifications
The F4U Corsair was powered by one Pratt & Whitney R-2800-8W, 2,250 hp, radial engine. It could fly at the maximum speed of 425 mph and had a range of 1,500 miles. Its service ceiling was 36,900 ft and its rate of climb 3,180 ft/minute. It had a wingspan of 41 ft and a length of 33 ft 4 inches. The F4U was armed with six 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns mounted in the wings, four 20 mm AN/M2 cannons, and eight high-velocity rockets. It could carry up to 2,000 lb of bombs. This fighter aircraft was also fitted with a radar dome, which was mounted in the right wing.
[...] by a Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W piston engine, the first F8F-1 was marginally slower than the F4U Corsair, but it was more maneuverable and climbed faster. The Bearcat had a hydraulically operated landing [...]