Vought O4U Corsair

The Vought O4U Corsair was a prototype carrier‑based fighter developed in the early 1930s for the United States Navy. Conceived as a successor to the older V-173 design, the O4U combined a low‑wing monoplane layout with a powerful Pratt & Whitney R‑1690 radial engine delivering 700 horsepower. Its all‑metal construction, retractable landing gear, and enclosed cockpit represented a significant advance over earlier biplanes. Although only a single example was built, the aircraft demonstrated excellent high‑altitude performance, reaching a top speed of 285 mph and a service ceiling of 28,000 feet, while maintaining a compact 27‑foot wingspan suited for carrier decks. The O4U’s armament consisted of two .30‑caliber machine guns mounted in the forward fuselage, with provisions for later upgrades to 20 mm cannons. Although the Navy ultimately selected the Grumman F3F for production, the O4U’s innovative features influenced Vought’s subsequent designs, most notably the legendary F4U “Wildcat” and later the F4U “Corsair”. The O4U thus occupies a pivotal place in aviation history as a bridge between biplane tradition and the era of high‑performance monoplane fighters. Its experimental data also helped refine carrier landing techniques that proved essential in World War II.