Vought AU-1 Corsair
Vought · United States · first flew 1952 · fighter
The AU-1 Corsair is a dedicated close-air-support variant of the famous F4U Corsair, optimised for low-altitude attack missions with additional armor and hardpoints.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, elliptical |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.26 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Inverted gull wing Corsair optimised for ground attack
- Low-altitude close support variant with additional armor
- Large radial engine in an elongated nose cowl
Shares the Corsair's distinctive inverted gull wing and long-nosed Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial; the AU-1 differs subtly from F4U variants in its oil cooler intake placement.
Specifications
- The Vought AU-1 Corsair has a length of 10.26 m (34 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.47 m (41 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 640 km/h (398 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed from the F4U-6 to meet a Marine Corps requirement for a ground-attack aircraft, the AU-1 entered service in 1952 and saw combat during the Korean War with the USMC flying close-support sorties.
Variants
The AU-1 was the final production variant of the Corsair family; it differed from earlier marks primarily in its armor, oil-cooler configuration, and deletion of supercharger stages suited only to high altitude.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War era; exported to France, who flew it in Indochina.
Related aircraft
- Vought F7U-3 Cutlass
- Vought F-8 Crusader
- Vought F7U Cutlass
- Vought F7U-1 Cutlass
- Beriev R-1
- Canadair Sabre Mk 4
- Dassault MD 454 Mystère IV
- Fouga CM.170 Magister
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