F4U-1A
 

Hi there!

Is this designation official?
I have never been able to read anything else than "F4U-1" on Corsairs equiped with the new all-round vision canopy.
Thanks.

Chris

Re: F4U-1A
 

Yes, it's official. Not at home at the moment, but can probably provide BuNo's if needed.

F4U-1 - "birdcage canopy", http://www.largescaleplanes.com/arti...s/canopy04.jpg
F4U-1A - canopy with two braces over head, http://hsfeatures.com/features04/ima...U-1A_tb_49.jpg
F4U-1C - Four 20mm cannons
F4U-1D - canopy without braces, http://www.mobisux.com/album/data/50...air-canopy.jpg

FG-1
FG-1A
FG-1D

Mike

Re: F4U-1A
 

Hi Mike!

I'm not quite sure.
If you look carefully on some photographs (especially the well-known "29" of Kepford) you can read "F4U-1", while these aircraft have the new canopy.

Re: F4U-1A
 

Maybe some production blocks miss letter after? There is variations in stencils

Suffix letter
 

Hi,

As far as it is known, the suffix letter 'A' up to 1962 was is refering to:

Armament for unarmed aircraft
Arrester gear
Amphibian
LAnd-based
USAAF contract.

F4U-1A is not official, but F4U-1C is official as suffix 'C' refers to a cannon-version of a type.

All USN suffixes letters are available on many sites.

Phil

Re: F4U-1A
 

Hi Phil!

There was no reason to have a new designation just because the canopy was different (see the P-47D and the P-51D).
A new suffix, indicating a different variant/version, led to the printing of a new instruction book for mechanics. That was the case when changes concerned the engine, the armament or other essential parts of the aircraft.
"F4U-1A" is what I'd call a "comfort designation" for air historians.
This is part of the legend of the so-called "whispering death"!

Chris

Re: F4U-1A
 

Some additional info here, "F4U Corsair, Combat, Developement, and Racing History of the Corsair", Nicholas A. Veronico with John M. and Donna Campbell.

Re: F4U-1A
 

I owned the original data plate (until I was offered a obsene amount of $$ for it!) of F4U-1A #29 of VF-17 flown by Ike Kepford. It indeed does say F4U-1 not -1A.
The Brewster Corsair plate I has said F3A-1 and the Goodyear said FG-1 even though it was a -1D.

Re: F4U-1A
 

Considering the different manuals and handbooks available on the F4U-1, none of them specify the variant "A", while the variants "C" and "D" are duly recorded:

Flight Operating Handbook - F4U-1, 1C, 1D; FG-1, 1D; AN # 01-45HA-1 3/15/45 revised 12/1/52;

Maintenance Manual - F4U-1/-1C/-1D/F3A-1/FG-1/FG-1D (AN 01-45HA-2);

Even this:
Illustrated Parts Catalog - F4U-1/-1C/-1D/F3A-1/FG-1/FG-1D (AN 01-45HA-4).

To name but a few.

Re: F4U-1A
 

Maybe the letter a is given by the industry or designers? I will take a look today on some selected images and to see register letters on this early machines.