Actually Wideeing, though I often run back to the Spitfires (except the 16, i hate flying overmodeled planes), I actually do, whole heartedly believe that the F4U-4 is the greates overall combat fighter of WWII.
Yet, the Corsairs aren't really supposed to turn that tight. Their power loadings and wing loadings just don't support it. Those flaps and possibly the gull wings shove some extra cornering power, but by the time the fight slows down to medium speeds (250 IAS, so forth) the F4U's flaps should not enable it to turn any tighter than the Spitfires 9,8,16,14 (all of which turn tighter than the Hogs - they are listed from tightest turning to widest turning). A Hog will, very likely be able to almost turn with the Spit 16/14 - so much so that it really comes down to pilot experience rather than the plane, but a Hog turning tighter than the Spit9? Unlikely. Maybe the F4U had some crazy turning b/c of it's wing aspect ratio or something. If so, I'd like to learn why... but the Spitfire 14 seems to have the same aspect ratio, and taper ratio (well slightly smaller but still lol) and so the only thing that give the Hog such nice turning must be those gull wings - that is if they REALLY did help it turn that tight.
Remember, it's not just wing loading that determines turning. There's power loading and a bunch of other factors. I'm not trying to sound smart, b/c I'm not, but this is what I know.
I always get confused over matters like this. I once started in the Spit5, but that was outclasses by the A6M5. Then I tried the Later spits which were outturned by the Hogs. So i tried the Hog, which got mauled by the La-7 (except the F4U-4, but that got killed by the older F4U's), so now I'm back to my Spitty, hoping DESPERATELY like the whiner I am, to fix that crazy Hog turning. Yes, I know, pretty much every plane has at least one enemy that can seriuosly destroy it, but the Spit14 is just a little less susceptible to that. Thanks, though, Widewing for all the advice you've ever given me.. I feel 10 times smarter thanks to you.