The story
The Corsair was built around the most powerful engine and the largest propeller yet fitted to a naval fighter, which left a problem: the prop was so big the landing gear would have to be absurdly long. The fix was the wing. It bends down, then up, so the gear could stay short and strong for carrier landings. The result was one of the fastest fighters of World War II and a shape nobody mistakes. Production ran into the 1950s; a handful still fly at airshows.
In October 1940 the Corsair prototype became the first single-engine American fighter to beat 400 mph, averaging 405 mph between Stratford and Hartford, Connecticut.
Quick answers
How do you identify a F4U Corsair?
The inverted gull wing: it dips down from the fuselage, then bends up. Long nose, cockpit set far back, usually dark Navy blue. One of the easiest warbirds to name from the ground.
What does a F4U Corsair sound like?
A huge 18-cylinder Double Wasp radial: deep, smooth thunder that rolls down the crowd line.
How many people does the F4U Corsair carry?
Typical configuration: Single pilot.
When did the F4U Corsair first fly?
Its first flight was in 1940.
How many F4U Corsairs have been built?
12,571 built.
How rare is a F4U Corsair in Bogey?
RARE. A good day. Most spotters go weeks between sightings of something this rare. Your first F4U Corsair catch is worth 250 points.
