The Vought F4U-5N Corsair was a carrier-borne night fighter aircraft in service with the US Navy. It was a specialized variant of the F4U, which had been used in WW2. It saw combat action in the Korean War with great effectiveness. Derived from the F4U-5, it was fitted with an AN/APS-19 radar on the outer panel of the starboard wing in 1950. It also featured an extra radio antenna behind the rudder. Heavily armed with four 20-mm cannons and four .50-caliber machine guns, it was a lethal night interceptor.
The Vought F4U-5N was driven by a more powerful machine; a Pratt & Whitney R-2800-32WE radial engine, delivering 2450-HP. The fabric covering on the outer wing panel was deleted and replaced with metal. This resulted in a reduction in drag. Also, the canopy was enlarged to a blown design and it was higher than on the F4U-4 version. It also had considerable flak armor protection. Chance Vought produced 223 F4U-5 aircraft, from which 120 would be converted to F4U-5N.
Specifications
Type: night fighter
Length: 10.21 m (33 feet, 6 inches)
Wingspan: 12.50 m (41 feet)
Wing Area: 29.2 square meters (314 sq. ft.)
Empty Weight: 4,461 kg (9,835 pounds)
Powerplant: one 2,450-HP, Pratt & Whitney R-2800-32W, piston engine, with water injection.
Maximum Speed: 744 km/h (462 mph)
Range: 1,658 km (1,030 miles)
Armament: four 20-mm cannon; four 12.7-mm machine guns.
Below, the Grumman F4U-5N in flight over Dallas in 1950.
The Argentinean Navy winterized version; the F4U-5NL
Below, the same variant of the F4U, with wings folded.
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