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Vought F4U Corsair

The F4U Corsair was a low wing monoplane fighter developed by the Chance Vought Corporation in WWII.  Similar to other aircraft built at the time, due to the need to produce a large number of aircraft to meet wartime demands the F4U design was licensed out to both Brewster Aeronautical and Goodyear, designated the F3A and FG, respectively.  Per Reference [8] first flight for the Corsair was on 29 May 1940 wih the type entering service on 28 December 1942.  A total of 12,571 of all variants were produced.

The Corsair had a distinctive inverted gull wing and razorback profile, though a later post variant designated the F2G was developed configured with a bubble canopy, though only a very limited number were produced. In addition the main landing gear would be rotated 90 degrees to allow them to fit within covered wells in the wings when retracted.  The Corsair along with the Grumman F6F Hellcat would serve as the primary fighters of the US Navy and US Marine Corps during the second half of the war in the Pacific.  It would also serve with the UK and New Zealand during the war, as well as France, Honduras, El Salvador, and Argentina post WWII.

The primary variants analyzed at this website include:
 Per Reference [8] the F4U-1 was the initial production variant of ths Corsair family and had a Birdcage type framed canopy and a lower seating position than later variants.  This variant was also called the Corsair Mk I in Royal Navy service.  The F4U-1D was fitted with an upgraded engine with water injection, and also had a revised "blown" single piece canopy.  In Royal Navy service it was designated the Corsair Mk II.  The F4U-4 was the last variant to see active service during WWII.   It was fitted with a four bladed propeller and an improved engine capable of producing more power.  

As shown in the images below distinguishing features of this aircraft including;
F4U
[Image Sources: Public Domain via Ref [8] - as annotated by this site]

F4U-1D_3-view
                      [Source: Ref [4] - Public Domain]

The table below summarizes the current data collected on this type aircraft, identifying sources for the data
    F4U-1 F4U-1D F4U-4 F4U-4 Source Notes
Reference Sources   3, 4, 5 3, 4, 5 2, 3, 5 3, 4, 5
No of Crew   1 1 1 1
Engine:  
   Qty   1 1 1 1
   Model   R-2800-8 R-2800-8W R-2800-18W R-2800-18W
   Displacement  (cu in) 2800 2800 2800 2800
   Power  
     Military (HP) 2000 2000 2100 2100
     War Emergency (HP) 2250 2250
    Normal (HP) 1675 1675 1700 1700
    Take Off (HP) 2000 2000 2100 2100
   Eng Dims  
     Length (ft) 7.81 7.81 7.81 7.81
     Width/Dia (ft) 4.4 4.4 4.4 4.4
     Height (ft)
   Base Engine Wt (lb) 2560 2560 2560 2560
Propeller  
   # Blades   3 3 4 4
   Dia (ft) 13.33 13.08 13.33 13.17
   Manufacturer  
   Type  
Wing  
   Span (ft) 40.98 40.98 41 40.98
   Root Thickness (%) 18.0% 18.0% 18.0% 18.0%
  (in) 18.9 18.9 18.8 18.9
   Total Area  (sq ft) 314 314 314 314
     Wing (less Ailerons & Flaps) (sq ft) 259.5 259.5 259.5
     Ailerons (sq ft) 18.1 18.1 18.1
     Flaps (sq ft) 36.4 36.4 36.4
Tail Area (sq ft) 79.9 79.9 79.9 79.9
   V Tail Area (sq ft) 22 22 22 22
     Fin (sq ft) 9 9   9
     Rudder (sq ft) 13 13   13
   H Tail Area (sq ft) 57.9 57.9 57.9 57.9
     Stabilizer (sq ft) 36 36   36
     Elevator (sq ft) 21.9 21.9   21.9
Total Control Surf Area (sq ft) 89.4 89.4 89.4
Length  
   Overall (ft) 33.34 33.34 33.25 33.69
   Fuselage (ft) 44.69
   Body  (ft) 29.83 29.83 29.83 29.83
     Body Depth (ft)
    Body Width (ft)
Fuel Tank Volume (gal) 178 237 234 250
   Wing Tanks (gal) 250
    FuselageTanks (gal)
Oil Tank Volume (gal) 20 24.25 23.5 23.5
Water Injection Fluid Tank Volume (gal) 10 13.5
Wetted Area (sqf) (sq ft) 404
Pwr Ldng (lb/HP) 5.57 5.67 5.83 5.91
Wing Ldng (lb/sq ft) 35.49 36.12 39.01 39.51
Struct. Des. GW  (lb) 12036
Ultimate Load Factor (G's) 11.25
Design Speed (mph) 555
Not to Exceed Speed (mph)
           
Total Struct Weight   4067.1 4141.7 4238 4232.3
   Total Wing   2121.7 2144.9 2180 2185.5
     Wing   1966.8 1969.7   1996.9
     Ailerons   57.6 72.1   74.1
     Flaps   97.3 103.1   114.5
     Fuselage Carry-Through          
   Tail   164.2 172.6 175 179.8
     H Tail   122.7 127.7 131 134.8
       Stabilizer   67.6 67.2   78
       Elevator   55.1 60.5   56.8
     V Tail   41.5 44.9 44 45
       Fin   13.9 13.9   13.6
       Rudder   27.6 31   31.4
   Body + Eng Section + LG  
   Body + LG   1840 1825.3
   Body   1064.9 1080.3 1139 1121.2
     Fuselage   757.5 772.1   761.5
     Engine Section   307.4 308.2   359.7
   Landing Gear   676.1 704.1 701 704.1
     Mn Landing Gr   581.1 598.9 595 594.3
     Tail/Nose Aux LG   95 105.2 106 109.8
   Tail Hook   40.2 39.8 43 41.7
   Booms  
   Nacelles          
Total Propulsion Weight   3767.7 3747.7 4018 4024.9
   Engine w/ Accessories   2738.1 2735.5 2825 2822.5
   Engine(s) as Installed   2459.2 2476.5 2545 2537
     Accessories   278.9 259 280 285.5
    Turbocharger(s)  
   Controls   45.1 49.2 60 60.7
   Propeller(s)   493.7 490.9 647 644.6
     2-Blade          
     3-Blade   493.7 490.9    
     4-Blade       647 644.6
   Starting System   60.8 39.6 40 29.7
   Water Injection System   37 36 36.3
     Tanks         14.2
     Piping Etc         22.1
   Cooling System  
   Lube System   143.2 128.6 163 175.8
     Tanks   21.5 21.5   31.4
     Piping Etc   121.7 107.1   144.4
   Fuel System   286.8 266.9 247 255.3
     Tanks   176.7 179.3   169.9
     Piping Etc   110.1 87.6   85.4
Total Sys. & Eqpmt.   917.6 933.6 1016 984.6
   Instruments   48.6 48.3 48 46.8
   Surface Controls    139.9 140.6 118 117.8
   Hydraulics   121.6 120.2 114 125
   Electrical Equip   187.6 199.8 176 195.5
Electronics (Purple means incl in Furn/Gray in Useful Ld)   152 131.7
   Arm Prov/Equipment & Armor   336 329.4 347 310.3
    Furnishings   83.9 95.3 61 57.5
   Anti-Ice (If not in Furn)  
   Other /Misc  
     Hoisting Gear  
     Floatation Gear  
     Armor Plate          
           
Empty Wt   8752.4 8823 9272 9241.8
Basic Mission Useful Load   2390.2 2520.2 2978 3163
   Crew   200 200 200 200
   Equipment  
   Oil   90 90 139 120
   Fuel   1068 1068 1404 1404
   Fuel & Oil Trapped in Systems   88 111 154
   Water Solution for Engine Injection   75 101
   Bombs/Torp Etc   0
   Radio (if Not Included in Empty Wt)   122.5 146.7
   Nav Equipment   4.3 4.3 4.3
   Oxygen System  
   Armament   767.2 768.7 1170 1130.2
     Guns & Ammo   762.7 761.1 1170 1125.7
       Guns       450  
       Ammo       720  
     Pyrotechnics   0 3.7    
     Camera   4.5 3.9   4.5
     Other          
   Other Useful Load   50.2 56.5 65 49.5
Basic Mission GW   11142.6 11343.2 12250 12404.8

Notes: This website has been developed with a number of low cost or free programs including Hot Metal Pro, KompoZer, MicroSoft Designer and Da Button Factory.com

Rev 3-13-25

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