Vought F4U Corsair

The Vought F4U Corsair, which entered service in 1942, served the United States Navy during World War II. It was designed to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter.

The Corsair was powered by the massive Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp, a 2,000+ horsepower engine driving a large 13-foot diameter propeller. To avoid the need for excessively long landing gear (which would be weak, heavy, and prone to collapse), the wing dips downward from the fuselage, then angles up, increasing ground clearance for the propeller without long gear struts.

The downward angle of the plane's wings allowed for shorter, sturdier landing gear, which was especially important for resisting damage from carrier landing impacts.   

The inverted gull wing reduces drag where it meets the fuselage (called the wing root), which helps streamline airflow and improve overall efficiency. It also enhanced lift characteristics during takeoff and landing, which is critical for short carrier decks.

The Corsair could exceed 400 mph in level flight and was armed with an impressive array of rockets, bombs, and heavy machine guns.