What's the best way to tackle Corsair? They seem to be super maneuverable. Take them to the vertical? Force them into high yo yo using the K4's climbs and then go into low yo yo again to convert the E?
Yes, take the fight vertical. Climbing turns, steep and shallow spirals, anything to bleed down their E state. I've dueled with many of the better F4U sticks with 109s, and they know that if they see me take the fight vertical, it's time to get some separation and attempt to reset the fight. Of course, I don't let them do that..
Usually when faced with a 109 pinning it down, the F4U driver will be hoping to force an overshoot. To avoid this, simply go vertical every time the F4U maneuvers to force you past. If uninterrupted, you will bleed the F4U down to just above stall speed.
I don't mind getting into a turning contest with F4Us either, assuming I'm flying a G-2 or even a G-6. The Corsair turns very small circles with flaps out, but the 109 has a much faster turn rate (flaps out). Turn rate will beat turn radius most of the time as higher turn rate means faster and faster means you can drag the turn fight up hill. A flaps out F4U-1, -1A, -1C or -1D cannot match this. The F4U-4 presents a different problem as it CAN maneuver in the vertical reasonably well, even with flaps out.
The greatest strength of the F4U is the ability to transition from high speed E fighting to stall fighting in an almost seamless manner. They are very dangerous with any reasonable amount of E. Few fighters have instantaneous turning ability like the Corsair. Your goal must be to bleed their E, break them down and get the kill shot. Just remember that F4Us have a substantial bag of tricks available. Their landing gear doubled as dive brakes, so they can dump them at high speed. They can get flaps out at much higher speeds than the 109s. They handle better at high speeds and are superior in the roll axis. Nonetheless, their weaknesses can be exploited.
My regards,
Widewing