Little more specific breakdown by type:
The F4U-1 is a few mph slower than the F4U-1A, and not quite as good of a turner. As patches has said, the 1 has significantly poorer acceleration and sustained rate of climb than the rest of the lineup, however it is NOT a factor of raw engine power. The -1 we have is a later block that has the same R-2800-8 (W) as the 1A/D/C. The difference is that the other three 1-series hogs have a broad-chord paddle prop. Her turn radius is marginally wider than the 1A, to the point where the difference isn't significant, however the -1 actually reaches her best cornering ability with full flaps.
The F4U-1A is the fastest of the 1-series Hogs (a few MPH over the -1, and ~25+ over the 1D/C depending on altitude. The version we have is a later block that added a paddle prop, so has much improved acceleration and climb over the -1. She also has the tightest turn radius of all the Hogs (including the -4) however her ideal cornering is at two notches of flaps. As has been said, the 1A is probably the best pure dogfighter of the 1-series. Although her acceleration and climb aren't spectacular, you're not in quite as bad shape if you blow your energy as if you were in the -1. The 1A tends to feel more stable than the other Hogs.
SPECIAL NOTE - The 1 and 1A have two additional fuel tanks, one in each wing. This means they're going to be a little heavier at a given fuel percentage than the 1D/C and 4. However the fuel tanks offer their own advantages:
- You have much greater range on internal fuel, so don't need to carry drop tanks. Therefore there's no worrying about deciding if you should cut your tank or keep it while you engage.
- Fuel levels in the tanks can be manipulated to balance against engine torque (usually leaving 25% left and 50% right is sufficient).
- It provides a nice reserve to get home after your main tank takes a hit. Which is almost always the second thing to go after your engine oil....
The F4U-1D isn't quite as maneuverable as the -1, but it's not too significant a difference. She also climbs and accelerates much better, so I would argue this makes her the superior dogfighter over the birdcage. She's also about 20mph slower, just clearing 400mph at her best altitude. The 1D's greatest value is as ground-attack, though, so I primarily use her as a bomb truck. She can roughly match the range of the 1 and 1A's internal range by carrying a pair of drop tanks. I find her a bit less stable than the 1A, largely because I use the wing tanks on the 1A to balance against torque.
The 1C is the least agile of the F4Us. The difference is subtle, but can be noteworthy in Hog-on-Hog matchups. I've gone up against several very good Hog sticks my 1A vs. their Charlie, and were closely matched enough as far as piloting ability that it came down to the 1A's slight advantage in maneuverability. Speed, climb and acceleration are on-par with the 1D. Obviously, the big draw of the 1C is the firepower of the cannon, however while some people will disagree I don't think this is enough to quite make up for her loss of maneuverability. I mostly use her as a secondary bomb truck (keep in mind she carries less ordinance than the 1D, as well) although her firepower makes her a good BUFF hunter.
The F4U-4 is a whole different beast. She's one of the fastest props at altitude, and she completely addresses the climb and acceleration issues of the earlier marks. Acceleration especially is within less than a second of many of the common MA dragsters. She can shed speed and altitude, and regain it again almost at will. I usually use her as a slump breaker, or if I'm expecting to go into situations where I'm really going to need the speed.
All of the F4Us excel in knife-edge flaps-out stallfighting and high-speed slashing/BnZ-style fights, and even energy fighting. A lot depends on which model you're flying and your situation. I do tend to find that the 1C is better for open fighting due to her somewhat poorer maneuverability, while the -1 you really have to be careful in large fights not to blow your speed. In general, though, I feel the Corsair is better kept fast in large, multi-contact engagements, with never more than 1 or 2 notches of flaps.
