What’s Inside The F4U Corsair?

The F4U Corsair was one of the most revered fighters of WWII and beyond, a marvel of aeronautical engineering. It features a distinctive wing design and powerful engine, achieving a top speed of 440 mph in level flight.

Pilots are impressed with its robust construction and survivability, which, combined with its performance, helped it achieve its legendary status in military and aviation history. The Corsair’s incredible engine made it feared as it was respected.

Fuselage & Wings

The Corsair’s fuselage was made of aluminum, intricately shaped for aerodynamic efficiency, and connected by longerons for lightweight and sturdy construction. Aluminum sheets up to 2.5 mm thick covered the frame except for the control surfaces, which were covered in fabric. This made the Corsair strong and lightweight.

To maximize the efficiency of its powerful engine, the Corsair was equipped with a large propeller and adopted an inverted gullwing (W-shaped) design. The wing at the roots was angled at -23 degrees. Meanwhile, the outer folding wing sections were bent upwards at +8.5 degrees. This innovative wing design allowed for a shorter landing gear which significantly reduced drag and the wing’s junction and the airframe. The overall design was remarkably sturdy and could withstand maneuvers up to 11G.

Engine, Armament & Cockpit

The Corsair was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-2800 18W Double Wasp, an air-cooled engine known for its robust performance. The engine could achieve a power output of 2,450 hp. The F4U-4 was equipped with a 4-bladed Hamilton Standard Hydromatic propeller that measures 13 ft. and 2 inches in diameter. The combination of the engine and propeller is key in achieving the plane’s maximum speed of 446 mph.

The Corsair’s built-in armament consists of six 0.50 Browning machine guns. Below its wings was an option for eight 5-inch HVAR rockets in the launch racks as well as a combination of bombs, rockets, or drop tanks on the two underwing pylons. Having this kind of flexibility meant that it could be equipped as a close support fighter bomber or a long-range fighter.

The cockpit featured an instinctively designed canopy with a slightly bulging midsection and forward panel made of 38 mm bulletproof glass, providing vital protection while maintaining visibility.

In Summary

All in all, more than 12,500 Corsairs of all modifications were produced of which more than 2,300 were different variants of the F4U-4. During WWII, Corsairs had a win/loss ratio with enemy planes of 11.3:1. During the Korean War, most Corsairs served in a ground support role but still scored many victories.

The Corsair stayed in production for over a decade from 1942 to 1953 well into the jet age. The aircraft had been a mainstay in the USAF and several other countries for over 30 years.