Vought XF4U-5 Corsair

The Vought XF4U-5 Corsair was an experimental fighter-bomber developed by the Vought Aircraft Division in the early 1940s as a follow-on to the legendary F4U-1 series. First flown on 30 September 1942, the XF4U-5 incorporated a larger Pratt and Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engine delivering 2,200 horsepower, a redesigned fuselage with a bubble canopy, and a revised wing structure that retained the iconic inverted gull shape but improved lift-to-drag characteristics. Armament provisions included six .50-caliber machine guns and provisions for a centerline bomb rack, reflecting the dual-role doctrine of the U.S. Navy. Although the prototype demonstrated excellent climb rate and a top speed exceeding 425 mph, Navy officials favored the more conventional F4U-4, and the XF4U-5 never entered production. Nevertheless, the aircraft served as a valuable test bed for aerodynamic refinements and systems that later appeared on the F4U-7 and the famous F4U-1D. Its brief existence highlighted the transition from piston-engine dogfighting to the jet age, and the XF4U-5 remains a symbol of Vought’s relentless pursuit of performance enhancements during World War II. Today aviation historians regard the XF4U-5 as a pivotal stepping stone that influenced post‑war carrier aircraft design and demonstrated the limits of propeller‑driven speed.