The powerplant pumped out an impressive 2,000 horsepower. The new fighter would incorporate the largest engine under development at the time: the 18-cylinder Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp twin row radial.

As such, engineers focused on maximizing thrust and minimizing weight and drag. Regardless, Rex Beisel, head of the Vought engineering team designing the new fighter, made it clear that speed for the proposed aircraft was king. The nature of the military’s request strongly suggested - at least to the Vought design team - that the Navy wanted the fastest fighter ever built. Navy requirement for a single-seat shipboard fighter. The Corsair was designed to meet a 1938 U.S. Īfter making its combat debut over Guadalcanal in February 1943 – eight full months before the first F6F Hellcats entered service – the F4U Corsair would go on to become one of the most successful fighters of all times. Japanese pilots quickly learned to fear it.”īETWEEN Grumman and Vought Aircraft, the United States produced two of the best carrier-based fighters of World War II: the F6F Hellcat and the F4U Corsair.

Navy) “ By 1944, the Corsair was being deployed in the Pacific in ever-increasing numbers. Nick Ziroli Plans has building and scale accessories available for the F4U-1 Corsair.(Image source: U.S. Nick Ziroli Plans recommends covering the airframe with 1 oz fiberglass cloth and ZAP Z-poxy finishing resin and elevator and rudder with iron on cloth covering such as Solartex. If you choose gear or an engine not shown on the plans you should have them on hand when you start construction to make any changes needed for mounting. If you would like to purchase a wood kit see KIT CUTTER'S on selection bar at the top of each page.The plans have a separate instruction guide and building notes on the plans. The plan includes full-size templates for all the required parts allowing you to cut a complete “kit” before you start construction. Tech support is also available via email at or by phone 9:00 to 5:00 Mon - Fri EST 63. There are many online building threads at forums and forums for Nick’s plans. The basic structures use conventional “modeling” tools and materials such as balsa and plywood, and the techniques are straightforward easily accomplished by anyone with previous model building experience. The F4U-1 Corsair plan shows the installation of Robart retracts, fixed wire gear, servos and generic 3-6 cu in engine and features one piece wing. The giant scale F4U-1 Corsair plan set is 1/5.3 scale and consists of four large sheets that clearly illustrate all structure as well as showing installation of flaps and retracts. Dummy Engines (NZP - Vac-formed Plastic).B & B Specialties Fuel Tanks, Mufflers and Spring Starters.

Plan corsair f4u