Brewster F3A-1 Corsair
Brewster Aeronautical Corporation · United States · first flew 1943 · fighter
The Brewster F3A-1 Corsair was a licence-built version of the Vought F4U Corsair produced by Brewster Aeronautical Corporation, externally identical to the Vought original but plagued by poor quality control.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.16 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Licence-built Vought F4U Corsair by Brewster
- Inverted gull wing identical to Vought original
- Single Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp
Visually indistinguishable from the Vought F4U-1 Corsair, sharing the inverted gull wing, long nose, and large four-blade propeller; identification requires inspection of manufacturer's data plates.
Specifications
- The Brewster F3A-1 Corsair has a length of 10.16 m (33 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.49 m (41 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 671 km/h (417 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The US Navy contracted Brewster to produce Corsairs alongside Vought and Goodyear to accelerate wartime output. Brewster's production was beset by labour disputes, mismanagement, and chronic quality deficiencies; their Corsairs frequently failed acceptance inspections. The government ultimately cancelled Brewster's contract in 1944 and closed the plant after fewer than 750 aircraft were delivered.
Variants
The F3A-1 was Brewster's sole Corsair variant, equivalent to Vought's F4U-1; no further Brewster sub-types were developed before contract cancellation.
Where you'll see it
Delivered primarily to the US Marine Corps and Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm; operational performance was satisfactory when the aircraft were properly maintained, though Brewster's reputation undermined confidence in the type.
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