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Chance Vought F4U-4 Corsair
The Vought F4U Corsair, an American fighter aircraft, played a pivotal role in both World War II and the Korean War. Designed and initially manufactured by Chance Vought, the Corsair was introduced on December 28, 1942, and its performance was so impressive that it was soon in great demand. Additional production contracts were given to Goodyear, whose Corsairs were designated FG, and Brewster, designated F3A, further emphasizing the aircraft's importance in the war effort.
The Corsair, a carrier-based aircraft, was deployed in significant numbers by the U.S. Navy in late 1944 and early 1945. It swiftly established itself as one of World War II's most capable carrier-based fighter-bombers. Its prowess was such that some Japanese pilots considered it the most formidable American fighter of the war. Its naval aviators achieved an impressive 11:1 kill ratio, a testament to its combat success and the skill of its pilots.
The Corsair, with its sleek design and innovative features, was a testament to the technological advancements of its time. It used flush riveting and a new technique developed jointly by Vought and the Naval Aircraft Factory called 'spot-welding.' In order to make the Corsair as aerodynamically clean as possible, they left nothing protruding into the air stream. The intake for the turbo-supercharger, intercooler, and oil cooler is located in slots in the inboard leading edges of the wings, showcasing the aircraft's cutting-edge design.
The F4U was the first Navy craft to have landing gear that retracted flush into the bottom of the wing, a significant technological advancement at the time. Other craft had retracting gear, but there was always some bulge or part of the wheel exposed. Vought engineers designed the Corsair wheels to swivel 90º and retract straight back to fit flat inside the bottom of the wing. The swivel gear was a Boeing development that was also used in the Boeing Monomail, Curtiss P-36, and P-40. Two panels then closed over the gear making a perfectly smooth fairing. The idea was to mate the most powerful engine with the smallest, cleanest possible airframe, a design philosophy that greatly influenced future aircraft development.
