Chance-Vought F4U "Corsair"
Model Airplane News Cover Art for October, 1940, Novmber, 1943 and August, 1953
by Jo Kotula
Click to Enlarge

The Chance Vought F4U Corsair was a carrier-capable fighter aircraft that saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War. The Corsair served in smaller air forces until the 1960s, following the longest production run of any piston-engined fighter in U.S. history (1942–1952). Some Japanese pilots regarded it as the most formidable American fighter of World War II. The U.S. Navy counted an 11:1 kill ratio with the F4U Corsair.

  

Photos of the Chance-Vought F4U "Corsair"
Click to Enlarge

Corsairs served with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines, Fleet Air Arm and the Royal New Zealand Air Force, as well the French Navy Aeronavale and other services postwar. It quickly became the most capable carrier-based fighter-bomber of World War II. Demand for the aircraft soon overwhelmed Vought's manufacturing capability, resulting in production by Goodyear (as the FG-1) and Brewster (as the F3A-1). From the first prototype delivery to the U.S. Navy in 1940, to final delivery in 1953 to the French, 12,571 F4U Corsairs were manufactured by Vought in 16 separate models. The unique "gull" wing was designed to provide clearance for the airplane's oversized propellor.

Here is a video of the Chance-Vought F4U "Corsair" in action:

In addition to the cover of Model Airplane News, this airplane was also featured in the WINGS "Friend or Foe" trading card series of the early 1950s

Trading card representation of the Chance-Vought F4U "Corsair"
Click Here to see all 200 cards in the series
Click to Enlarge

Click Here for more information about the Chance-Vought F4U "Corsair".

This was a popular Cleveland kit that taxed modelers skill in building the "Gull" wings.

  

Cleveland Model of the F4U "Corsair"

Click to Enlarge

You can buy the plans and patterns that will enable you to make this model right now. Click Here to go to the exact location on the Cleveland Website to get them.

F4U "Corsair" at the Cleveland Site
Click to Enlarge

Click to go back and select another cover.

Counter for the Entire Site (not just this page..)