Biggest differences is weight and engines I'd say. Ammo will probarly chime in here and give you a long lesson in P47's
P47 differences, D11, D25 and D30 are quite big in loadout options aswell.
While I think the D30 was never flown with the kind of load available in AH (500lbs center rack, 1000 lbs under each wing and 10 rockets) it could carry much more then its predecessors.
The D11 is the best turner, turns great specially with a notch of flaps.
The D30 has got dive flaps to increase maneuverabilty in high speed dives. The Jug was known to accelerate exteremly fast and reach high speeds in dives, many pilots lost their lives due to this acceleration as the controlls locked up and they couldn't pull up, thus was the dive flaps added.
D11 is the fastest (with WEP) at the deck but it's also the worst climber. D25 and D30 have about the same deck speed but the D30 climbs a bit better. Don't have a P47 book infront of me right now so can't check exact differences with engines etc.
The D11 also had a "low visability" cockpit, lots of bars etc in the way, the later D versions recieved the bubble canopy, decreased speed a little bit but the better visability more then made up for it.
There are more differences, I'm sure ammo will fill ya in.
As for the F4u's, basic difference between an F4u-1D and F4u-1C is the armament. While the 1D carries 6x50 caliber machine guns, the 1C carries 4x20mm cannons.
The 1C carries the same load except that it has got 4 of its rocket rail removed. 1C has the same performance as the 1D.
The F4u-1 is the fastest of the three non perked F4u's in AH. At the deck it's got the highest max speed, although not very much faster it can mean life and death. At higher alt it's got the highest speed aswell.
It climbs worse then the other two F4u's though. It also carries about 120 more gallons of internal fuel which gives it a better range.
Last, the F4u-4 is the perk plane, high deck speed, high max speed at altitude, good climb makes it a terrific planes, amongst the best in AH. However, down low, it's a target, as (despite what some people say) the perk planes are #1 targets for most people. The LA7 is faster with both planes using WEP at the deck, it climbs better, turns better, zooms better and accelerates far better. As the arena is full of LA7's, it's a dangerous world for all perk planes without a good speed advantage to go low (tempest and 262 can be fairly safe).
I have quite much and good info of the F4u if you want more, this was just some quick explaining as what the differences are in AH.
I can add, both the F4u and P47's are GREAT attack planes if not the two best in the game.
