Much like the Spitfire, the Corsair attained great respect among World War II fighter pilots. The Chance Vought Division of United Aircraft first flew the F4U Corsair in 1940. The aircraft stayed in production from 1941 through the war and resumed briefly in the 1950s. Despite not qualifying for carrier operations until 1944, the Corsair became the most-produced carrier fighter of all time. To meet production demands, the Corsair was also built by Goodyear (the FG) and the Brewster (the F3A).
The Corsair’s unique inverted gull-wing allows for standard-length landing gear while still providing adequate ground clearance for the enormous 13-foot propeller. The wing meets the fuselage at a right angle, reduces drag and results in greater speed.
