Vought F4U Corsair
The Vought F4U Corsair was a carrier-capable fighter designed by Vought. It was the United States' first successful turbojet fighter and the only carrier-based fighter of World War II to see service in all combat theaters. The F4U, nicknamed "Corsair" after the legendary British ship, was distinguished by its sharp gull-winged design and relatively slender, tapered fuselage.
Its armament consisted of four .50 caliber machine guns, one mounted in the nose and three more in each wing. It was also among the fastest aircraft of its day with a maximum speed of 405 mph (650 km/h) at 39,000 feet (11,000 m). Driven by a pair of Wright R-1820 Cyclone engines with 1,200 horsepower (890 kW), the F4U's design could withstand extensive battle damage and keep on flying for thousands of miles. Although it never saw combat against other aircraft of equal power, it proved its reliability during numerous operational tests and played a crucial role in the North Atlantic campaign.
In spite of its clear advantages on paper and in practice, the Corsair remained an elite aircraft until 1940 when more sophisticated fighters like the Grumman F6F Hellcat began to enter service. PlaneHistoria website contains more interesting facts and knowledge.
