F4U-7 Corsair

The Vought F4U‑7 Corsair was the final production variant of the legendary World War II fighter‑bomber, entering service in the early 1950s as the Navy’s answer to post‑war jet competition. Built at Vought’s Dallas plant, the F4U‑7 incorporated a more powerful Pratt & Whitney R-2800‑18W “Super Wasp” engine delivering 2,400 hp, a reinforced airframe, and a larger 14‑inch propeller. Structural upgrades included a strengthened wing spar and improved landing gear to handle carrier operations with heavier loads. Avionics were modernized with radar‑altitude equipment, a new gun‑sight, and provisions for air‑to‑air rockets, extending its role from pure fighter to close‑air‑support platform. Although only 774 units were produced before the program ended in 1956, the F4U‑7 saw extensive action in the Korean War, where its ability to carry rockets and napalm proved decisive in ground‑attack missions. Its robust design, distinctive inverted gull wing, and powerful engine cemented the Corsair’s reputation as one of the most versatile piston‑engine fighters ever built, bridging the gap between propeller aircraft and the jet age and influencing later carrier‑based designs. Its legacy endures in modern naval aviation culture, where the Corsair remains a celebrated symbol of American air power.