Vought F4U-4 Corsair

Vought · US · first flew 1944 · fighter

The F4U-4 was the definitive World War II Corsair, introducing a four-blade propeller and bubble canopy that transformed pilot visibility and performance, and remaining in production through the Korean War.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	Full bubble canopy with cut-down rear fuselage — clear, unobstructed 360-degree view
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Four-blade propeller (replacing the -1's three-blade) — the most immediate external difference from earlier Corsairs
Full bubble canopy with cut-down rear fuselage — clear, unobstructed 360-degree view
R-2800-18W engine with revised chin intake below the cowl

The four-blade prop is the single clearest cue against any F4U-1 series — no -1 variant used four blades. Bubble canopy with cut-down rear fuselage is a strong secondary cue. At distance the prop disc and canopy shape make identification straightforward.

Specifications

The Vought F4U-4 Corsair has a length of 10.26 m (34 ft).
It has a wingspan of 12.49 m (41 ft).
Its maximum speed is 718 km/h (446 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

2,356 F4U-4s built between 1944 and 1947. Arrived in the Pacific in late 1944 and saw intensive service in the final months of the war. It carried the Corsair into the jet age and flew combat missions in Korea.

Variants

F4U-4B (four 20 mm cannon instead of six .50 cal), F4U-4C (revised cannon fit), F4U-4P (photo-reconnaissance).

Where you'll see it

USN, USMC Pacific and Korea; French Aéronavale (post-war). The F4U-4 is one of the most common airworthy Corsairs worldwide — many on the warbird circuit are -4s or post-war -5s.

Related aircraft

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