Warbird Information Exchange

Why is it that only one F4U-5N(L) has a radar dome on the wing? There are several flying and I know of possible 2 other that have it in place.

Is it that fact that it creates a lot of drag and “dirties” up the aircraft?

I just love the look of the Colling's Corsair. It is truly a beautiful machine.

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www.tailhookstudio.com

That's basically what I've heard from everyone who's ever tried it out. Takes a lot of the fun out of flying the plane, and kills the MPG. The Collings Foundation flies there's with a drop tank on the opposite side in an attempt to equal out the drag. You can't beat the originality though! That's what warbirding is all about IMO.

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Rob Mears
'Surviving Corsairs' Historian
robcmears@yahoo.com
http://www.robmears.com

Hey guys, I got a chance to talk with Mike Burke last year at Ypsi at the TBM gathering..... Mike really liked flying the airplane, but its performance was really pulled down after the pod and drop tank were added........ It slowed the airplane down about 20 knots at the same power setting.... IIRC, before pod/tanks 2000 rpm and 30" would net about 180 knots groundspeed.... after... down to 160. Plus a bit more sluggish in handling..... Perhaps John Lane would be so kind to elaborate a bit more, since he has quite a bit of time in the various FG-1D/F4U-5 models.....
Alan Brooks

Mike Burke is right, it's a lot of parasitic drag, having the left hand drop tank installed helps balance it out, but not perfect. Also, the one on Collings' -5 is a reproduction. The original was destroyed in the water landing, plus, to my knowledge their are no Radomes left, just the internal parts and scopes. I think it's sad more don't want what was originally installed. Their Corsair is worth more money as it was produced, in my eyes!

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John Lane, Jr.

While I agree that the aircraft look a lot more authentic with all of the appropriate period features, and I love to see them that way, I can also understand why some owners prefer to leave off those items which negatively affect the aircraft's performance.

There are certainly instances where the extra drag from rockets, and drop tanks have perhaps contributed to the deaths of some warbird pilots, who might otherwise have been able to make a safer forced landing had they not lost airspeed so rapily after engine failure.

Richard

PS. I too had also heard that spare, original radomes for night fighter corsairs were no longer available.

A few thoughts;
three reasons for the pod
1) It's authentic to the way the aircraft was built
2) Honors the Korean War vets and is a welcome relief from the over used VF-17 Jolly rogers scheme,
3) In the Korean theme, might get invited to more paid airshows.

Four against;

1) It's F'UGLY !! (but really neat)
2) it is positioned on the right wing to counteract torque. In low power settings the pilot must dial in more left rudder trim, and in engine out he would have to dial in even more left trim to "center the ball." It the "ball isn't centered and he accidentally stalls the aircraft there is a much greater chance of a stall spin accident. So the pod is working against you in a time of emergency.
3) Increased drag, like the drop tank. Who cares about cruising speed as if you are flying an F4U, you're having a pretty good day! Increased drag means less time to set up for an emergency landing, and a higher sink rate which increases degree of difficulty and odds of getting the bird down in one piece and walking away.
4) Noted aviation author, and FAA CFI of the year, Bill Kershner tells a story about the F4U-5NL. As a Navy pilot he was assigned a dash 5 and they were instructed to never, never, ever spin the dash 5NL's. It was even placarded on the instrument panel. He loved spins and had previously spinned the dash fours and took a dash 5NL out for a spin. He tried everything in his repertoire of flight training and it was unrecoverable with the pod on! So he bailed out and thus began his career as an author! He also does spin training at the Sewanee, Tennessee airport where he can be reached if anyone wants more specifics. Phone (931) 598-0706.

There is a saying in the Navy, "Everything is written in Blood".

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www.tailhookstudio.com

Lots of B-25's flying sans turret for the same reason.

I never flew the Corsair with the 5" rockets for very obvious reasons, we hung them while on the ground. They weighted 232 lbs. each =1856 lbs. then add the Demilled .50 Cals at 70 lbs. each = 420 lbs. plus 1150 rounds of linked ammo @ 1/4 lb. each = 287.5 lbs and a pair of 150 gallon drop tanks, empty 168 lbs., plus fuel another 1800 lbs. The FG with full drops, guns and ammo, origional radios, 20 degrees of flaps was a real slug on takeoff. It seemed like it took for ever climbing to cruise altitude 16,500 or 17,500 ft., using high blower while sucking on O2 . I'm not sure after 6 hours in the seat you can call it fun!! Just real good experience and knowing what it felt like during those hard times and then having to land on that moving carrier deck. The Corsair with all that stuff sure look's bitchin, just not that fun to fly in that configuration!!

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John Lane, Jr.