[SIZE=3]
History[/SIZE]
The Chileans first saw the F4U at Talons 1939, and the aircraft's performance impressed all of the pilots present, who then took back favorable reports for both the Chilean Navy Air Arm and the Chilean Air Force. The Navy showed more interest in the type, as they sought a replacement for FMA I-01Ns and Spartan Corsair-IIs then in service. The Naval Air Arm was in the final stages of completing and adopting the new Alicanto naval bomber, and had arranged for the acquisition of Spartan I-02N fighters; however, the AdCAA exhibited a strong preference for radial-engine aircraft, which the I-02N was not.
In 1940, the AdCAA requested ENAER's opinion on the Vought F4U design, and ENAER's general manager opened discussions with Chance-Vought to investigate purchasing a production license. The Navy concurred, and agreed to place a minimum order for license-built F4Us, making the specification that the license-built aircraft must mount the Austral Incitatus radial. As this engine was roughly similar in power, weight, and size to the American Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp already on the Corsair, this change was believed to be fairly easy; however, it still caused nearly four months of delay as engineers from ENAER and Vought attempted to work things out.
The initial Chilean experience with the Corsair did not prove positive. The Chileans, like the USN, saw problems with low-speed stall performance, visibility while landing on carrier decks, and over-sprung landing gear which caused the aircraft to bounce in heavy deck landings. A major crash on the carrier
Libertad resulting in the aircraft being temporarily grounded. However, the Armada persisted and ENAER made a number of changes to rectify the situation, placing stall strips, modifying the landing gear, and installing bubble hoods. Production shifted to the new model, called the F4E-2, by April 1941, and all F4E-1 Corsairs were rebuilt to the F4E-2 standard by July. Basic specifications of the F4E-1 and F4E-2 remained the same in most respects.
[SIZE=4]Vought F4U-1A Corsair / ENAER F4E-1 Corsair naval fighter[/SIZE]
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General characteristics:[/SIZE]
Wingspan: 41 ft 0 in (12.5 m)
Length: 33 ft 4 in (10.16m)
Height: 16 ft 1 in (4.90 m)
Wing Area: 314 ft2 (29.17 m2)
Empty weight: 8,982 lb (4,073 kg)
Gross weight: 12,039 lbs (5,460 kg)
Max Takeoff Weight: 14,000 lb (6,349 kg)
Engine: 1 × Austral Incitatus 2W-17 (2,000hp takeoff; 1,950hp at 16,900ft / 5,150m; 2,230hp with water injection at sea level)
Crew: 1 (pilot)
Armour:
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Performance[/SIZE]
Max speed: 417 mph (671kph) @ 20,000 ft
Cruising speed: 182 mph (293 kph)
Range: 1,015 miles (1,633 km); 500 miles (800 km) with 2,000 lb bomb load
Fuel:
- Internal fuel: 237 gal (US) / 897 liter tank
- Auxiliary fuel: two 100 gal (US) / 379 liter belly tanks or one 237 gal (US) / 897 liter belly tank
Service ceiling: 36,900 ft (11,247 m)
Rate of climb: 2,890 fpm (14.67 mps). 8.4 minutes to 20,000 feet.
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Armament[/SIZE]
- 6 × 13 mm MGs in wings with 1,975 rounds
- 2 × 1,000lb (454 kg) bombs
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Production History[/SIZE]
- Six planes (F4U-1) ordered June 1940 from Vought for trials
- 156x F4E-2 ordered November 1940