F4U-7 Corsair "BLUE MAX"

[Bill Greenwood]

I think I am correct that there was a low overcast at the show, I may have read about 1500 feet. Marshall was a qualified pilot, had been Bob's partner in the Corsair for years, and by the way a nice guy. But we should Never do any acro with a passenger that low, especially if the horizon is indefinte or obscured. I do mine dual at 5000 AGL and even in a show solo at at least 210k pitching up and climbing so I'm coming out at 800 or so inverted on the way around. I beleive the lady had won or been promised a ride. A tragedy, and one that is the main cause of warbird accidents in my experience and probably acro plane(Pitts etc) accidents also.

[Gman]

Update; Blue Max;
We purchased the remains from Nelson last year.
Many parts of Blue Max shall fly again as the original airframe of Bu 122179 was resurrected and is now being restored to flying condition.

[Elroy13]

Thanks for the update Gman!!

[6trn4brn]

Great news GMAN...welcome to WIX

[Haaksmacked]

I attended the Brown Field Airshow the day the Blue Max crashed. I was seven years old and will never forget that day. For some reason, I was fascinated by that particular aircraft and my Dad managed to talk someone into letting me sit in the cockpit.

I went to the crash site the following day (I live in the area), and (now thinking about it) am astonished that people were able to walk around the site after such a short investigation. There were still large pieces of wreckage and some human remains. I had no idea that I was walking on such hallowed ground.

Every time I pass the location, I give my respects. Does anyone have information on the owner of the aircraft?

[Jesse C.]

I was at that show that day and remember when the plane was getting ready to take off for a demo and it was stopped on the ramp and signaled to shutdown. Once the prop stopped turning, someone ran up to the nose and pulled out the scoop cover! He was signaled the all clear and fired up again.

When I got home from the show I turned on the t.v. and the news came on with a breaking bulletin of a show plane going down near otay lakes. I hopped in the car and headed out there. When I got there you could still see a bit of smoldering from where the engine came to rest and the coroners walking down the hill with small cases in their hands. It was really sad to think I had seen that bird fly around earlier and now I was looking at the loss of two people and the wreckage of that beautiful bird.

Yeah, I still get a bit sad when I drive by there.

[skymstr02]

To answer your question, that airplane belongs to a friend of mine in Greenwood, MS.

[zorro7]

Gman:

Good day!!

Do you by any chance have pics of the current restoration of Buno 122179?? If our numbers match that was F4U-5N x FAH 604.

Tks in advance!!

[skymstr02]

[Lynn Allen]

Thanks for the photo's. Who is making the pass in the 2nd one?

Lynn

[ALU]

Here is some pics of 133693 during its military carrer with French Navy:

Brand New on the Vought factory ramp, nov 1952.




On duty with Training Squadron 10S as a target tower




On duty with Flottille 15F during Operation Musketeer Nov 1956 (Suez crisis), stripes are yellow and black.


Aboard Carrier La Fayette (1963)


In the Groove (1963)

[skymstr02]

Thanks for the photo's. Who is making the pass in the 2nd one?

Lynn

Thats a fiberglass Spitfire Mk V wind vane with a 4 ft wingspan.

[mike furline]

Yes, the -7 had a cockpit floor, as did every corsair from the -4 onwards. I can't give you an accurate idea of which model the -7 was based upon. It was most likely the AU-1, as it shared many similarities, including wing hard points, and very similar nose cowling. I think the larger debate is which aircraft the AU-1 was modeled on.

The AU-1 nose cowling resembles the F4U-5 nose cowling, except the cheek scoops were faired over.
The F4U-7 nose cowling (with chin scoop) resembles the F4U-4.

[RMAllnutt]

The AU-1 nose cowling resembled the F4U-5 nose cowling, except the cheek scoops were faired over.
The F4U-7 nose cowling with chin scoop resembles the F4U-4.

Sort of... actually, the true F4U-7 cowling (and you can see it in the photos of Blue Max) has the faired over cheek scoops like the AU-1 but also has a F4U-4-like scoop at the bottom. A couple of the surviving F4U-7's, at least the one at Tillamook, have an original F4U-4 cowling in place of the F4U-7 one, which I think has lead to some of the confusion.

Cheers,
Richard

[Chappie]

The F4U-7 is a F4U-5/AU-1 hull with old F4U-4 engines. When French Navy ordered his new fighter, they want an fighter able not only to bomb like the AU-1 and his engine made for low level but also able to defend the carrier. It is the reason why they got F4U-4 Engines with two levels compressors.

And, of course, they where only use as fighter-bombers from Indochina to Algeria. but In Indochina, the first french Corsair where AU-1 Leased from USMC. More AU-1 where also leased for Algeria's war.

There is now any book about the Corsair with French Navy. The Bruno's book is a good one but about the whole story of F4U.

Several years ago, I wrote a short article about it, you can find it here :

http://aerostories.free.fr/appareils/corsair_royale/

but, sorry, only in french...

Fred,

Great photos...I'm sure the article is great too! I was interested to see the color profile of 133693. I have not seen ALU on the boards lately, do you know where I can get copies of the photos he posted on page 2?


Chappie