Chance Vought C2U Corsair

[TomZ]

Chance Vought C2U Corsair



In 1944 the US Navy got information on the Japanese I-400 class of submarines, which were equipped with a hangar and could launch the Aichi M6A seaplane. The US Navy decided to copy the concept and ordered 2 special Gato class submarines which were 10 meters longer at 105m and featured a water tight hangar in front of the conning tower.
These boats were called the Beluga class



To equip the Beluga subs, the Navy needed a high performance seaplane. The Curtiss SC-1 Seahawk was just entering service but was considered to light and low powered to service as an attack aircraft. The Navy turned to Vought to create a seaplane version of the F4U Corsair. Vought proposed two designs. One was a straight seaplane version of the Corsair with one central float and the undercarriage removed. The second design featured a new straight wing as the gull wing design of the F4U was not needed when using floats.



For the trials, the first variant was selected and five production Corsairs were converted by Vought to S2U Corsairs. Trials were held woth the aircraft and they performed adequately although the central float caused a significant drop in top speed and range. It was planned to produce the straight wing variant as the S3U as the operational variant.
However in 1945 the Beluga project was cancelled and the half completed submarines scrapped. As the Navy had enough F4U Corsairs available the five S2Us were also scrapped.

Model: Revell 1/72 F4U Corsair

[Wardukw]

Like it Tom     like it alot ..very cool mate 

[Captain Canada]

Beauty. Just seems so right.

[NARSES2]

On a roll Tom   

[zenrat]

Good job Tom, although FWIW I think the float could be mounted further back.
ISTR reading somewhere that as a general rule of thumb position the step under the centre of lift.

[comrade harps]

That's nice 

[Old Wombat]

  

[Dizzyfugu]

Uh, nice! 

[su27rules]

  

[mexchiwa]

Beautiful model - but I have just one problem with it-

A straight winged Corsair?  Heresy!

It'd also have to have huge wing fillets or be raised to go through the center fuselage.

Would a float Corsair need a larger/ventral fin?

[Martin H]

Beautiful model - but I have just one problem with it-

A straight winged Corsair?  Heresy!

It'd also have to have huge wing fillets or be raised to go through the center fuselage.

Would a float Corsair need a larger/ventral fin?

Heresy you say?

You will find we specialise in that around these parts 

[TomZ]

A straight winged Corsair?  Heresy!

Hmmmm, must get me another Corsair kit

TomZ

[DogfighterZen]

 

[VickersVandal]

I absolutely love this! So plausible and flawlessly executed.

[Tophe]

Wonderful F4U on float. That would make a perfect square with F4U/Zero/Rufe