Physical difference between the F4u models?

[lasersailor184]

I was wondering if it was possible to be able to tell the difference by sight of the F4u's ignoring paint schemes and guns...

[AdmRose]

Nope.

[gwshaw]

Yes, in real life just look at the engine cowling.

No cowl inlets - F4U-1

Single chin inlet - F4U-4

Cheek & Chin inlets, paired exhaust outlets on side - F4U-5

Greg Shaw

[Rafe35]

F4U-1 - No Cowl inlets (not sure)
F4U-4 - The air intake was under the belly.
F4U-5 - The air intake was doubled and was positioned on either side of the front lower cowling ring.
F4U-6/AU-1 - Two stage compressor had disappered, the entires were filled but the bumbs remained.
F4U-7 - A two stage compressor was added, hence the apperarance of a ventral air intake like on the F4U-4s.

There's alot type of Canopy in 1941 thur 1951 and the "early" birdcage has 3 different types.

If you more info about Canopy, I'll be glad to answer that for you.

Rafe

[gwshaw]

Originally posted by Rafe35
F4U-1 - No Cowl inlets (not sure)
F4U-4 - The air intake was under the belly.

No, the F4U-3 had the inlet even with the cowl flaps, but was never in service. The -4 had a chin inlet.

F4U-5 - The air intake was doubled and was positioned on either side of the front lower cowling ring.
F4U-6/AU-1 - Two stage compressor had disappered, the entires were filled but the bumbs remained.
F4U-7 - A two stage compressor was added, hence the apperarance of a ventral air intake like on the F4U-4s.

Same engine as the -4 so it had the same chin inlet. Basically a -6/AU-1 with the -18W engine from the -4.

Greg Shaw

[Rafe35]

Originally posted by gwshaw
No, the F4U-3 had the inlet even with the cowl flaps, but was never in service. The -4 had a chin inlet.

Same engine as the -4 so it had the same chin inlet. Basically a -6/AU-1 with the -18W engine from the -4.

Greg Shaw

Gwshaw,

Yes, That is true what you said about XF4U-3 Corsair and only 3 of them were made for testing, but the project was abandoned while very modern F4U-4 show that US Navy had been right in its choice.  XF4U-3 engine was Pratt & Whitney R-2800-14C and I probably think that XF4U-3B has make it over 40,000 ALT Feet high.  After XF4U-3 project abandoned, Goodyear Aircraft Company used 13 FG-1As into FG-3s which were used as test beds.

Engine of F4U Corsair:

F4U-4 - R-2800-18W and 2800-42W
F4U-5 - R-2800-32W
AU-1 - R-2800-83W
F4U-7 - R-2800-18W and 42W (Possible?)



Rafe

[MiloMorai]

Did not the F4U-4, -5 have the antenna mast moved to behind the conopy, while the F4U-1 had it front of the canopy? Not sure if all -4s antennas were moved.

Also did not the F4U-5 not have a segment of the cowl flap removed, about mid fuselage?

There was a switch from 3 blade props to 4 blade props with the -4?


Rafe did you mean under the nose cowl for the intake?

[Rafe35]

Did not the F4U-4, -5 have the antenna mast moved to behind the conopy, while the F4U-1 had it front of the canopy? Not sure if all -4s antennas were moved.

F4U-4 Corsair do have two antennas in back of the canopy and the front of the canopy, but that was in World War II and after World War II, things have been changes or "Upgrade" for F4U-4.  There is no front antennas anymore and so it is behind canopy.  F4U-5N/5NL have exta antenna mast fitted on the rear point of the fuselage and also have VHF and IFF Radio equipment and radio altimeter.    

Also did not the F4U-5 not have a segment of the cowl flap removed, about mid fuselage?

I'm not sure, but something that there is Front lower cowling ring and I will look it up sometime.

There was a switch from 3 blade props to 4 blade props with the -4?

F4U-1D was last Three blade props fighter and F4U-4 supposed to have Six Blade props like Spitfire XIV, but was reject and had to go Four blade props.

Rafe did you mean under the nose cowl for the intake?

You mean the F4U-4 Air intake? It's under under belly.



Rafe

[MiloMorai]

Sorry Rafe went and look it up. The -4 had a lower nose(chin) inlet.

You can see it very clearly in this photo.

[Rafe35]

From a friend of mine who know about Cowl stuff:

Because the cheek air intakes are a very noticeable difference between the -1s/-2, -4, and -5. Off the top of my head (I read it not too long ago) -1s/-2s had the intakes in the wing roots, -4s had one of the two intakes in the wing and had a cheek intake, while the ones remaining in the wing were enlarged, -5s had cheek intakes instead of the chin intake, I'm not certain about the AU-1 (XF4U-6) but I am pretty sure the intakes in the wing roots were recessed into the fuselage (air goes in the wing roots still, but the actually colling takes place in the fuselage), and I'm not sure about the -7s intakes.[/i]



Rafe

[MiloMorai]

The opening under the nose in the photo of the -4 is not a cheek.


F4U-4



F4U-5


One can see the cheek inlet just below the prop shaft.

from http://users.skynet.be/CORSAIR-F4U-CFS2/Part_Corsair_Plane/htm/Drawings/htm/Corsair_Drawings_Menu.htm

ps. On the -1 there was 3 holes just behind the cowl flaps between the exhaust pipes on the belly. On the -4 these carb inlet holes were replaced by the opening on the chin of the nose.

The wing root inlets had the air going to the intercooler(outer portion, 3 fins). Some of this air passed beneath the intercooler was directed to the carbs via the Y duct. The inner two fins of the wing root inlet had the air directed to the auxillary stage gate valve.

[Red Tail 444]

Yes, and also the tail wheel assembly on the 1, -1a, and -d is much shorter than on the -4 and -5 models, which made roll out, and taxi much easier.

In the game, you can notice the difference in ground stability.

One can easily look at the corsair variants (in RL) and see the subtle differences. In combat, not so easy.

[Rafe35]

MiloMorai,

Yup, I have check Vought F4U-4 Assembly Breakdown parts and you was right about Chin instead cheek.  I got this from Vought Website and if you want to go there to learn more Assembly Breakdown parts, I'll give you this link.

F4U-4 Assembly Breakdown Parts - - Vought Website

Also Vought F4U-5  air scoop under the engine cowling was removed, and replaced by two small scoops incorporated in the lower side of the cowling.  I'm sure that is right.

Rafe

[gwshaw]

Originally posted by Rafe35
Also Vought F4U-5  air scoop under the engine cowling was removed, and replaced by two small scoops incorporated in the lower side of the cowling.  I'm sure that is right.

Rafe

The F4U-5 added the cheek intakes, but retained the chin intake.

The new engine in the -5 had a dual supercharger setup mounted side by side behind the engine. The whole assembly was nearly as large as the engine.

IIRC each cheek intake went to a separate aux supercharger, and I believe the chin intake went to the neutral stage blower but I'm not sure. It may have been a simpler single stage variable speed setup like the F8F-2 was using at the same time. Just using dual superchargers instead of the single supercharger in the F8F-2.

Greg Shaw

[MiloMorai]

Originally posted by gwshaw
The F4U-5 added the cheek intakes, but retained the chin intake.

gwshaw., only the cheek inlets on the -5.

here is a front view of a -5N




Rafe, nice site, thanks.