How many two-seat F4U/FG-1 Corsair conversions?

[Zac Yates]

Hi all,
I've been wondering lately if anyone's complied a list of Corsairs that have been modified to take a jumpseat, or even dual controls (has that been done?). Vought flew a trainer demonstrator during the war but I'm really curious about the extent of civilian conversions, and how many still fly in that condition.

[Clifford Bossie]

F4U-4 Bu.No. 81698 (N53JB) owned by War Eagles Air Museum is a two seat conversion. I need to check the records to see if it was in that configuration when John McGuire bought it in the 80s, or prior to that. It was modified in 1984 to an all metal wing, so the conversion might have happened then.

[phil65]

Does anybody offer rides ?

Thanks,
Phil

[Clifford Bossie]

Does anybody offer rides ?

Thanks,
Phil

You would not really want to ride back there. Egress in an emergency is next to impossible.

[phil65]

I doubt they would let me pilot it, so yes...

Phil

[kalamazookid]

Cavanaugh Flight Museum's FG-1D N451FG (Bu No. 92399) has a jump seat and they were offering rides at an event I attended back in 2015. I can't remember the cost. It has a rear window, so there is at least some visibility. I don't think that one has flown for a few years now, though.

F4U-5 Corsair N179PT (BuNo. 123168) also has (or had) a jump seat as of about five years ago. I remember one of the pilots mentioning it to me in a conversation at an airshow.

[OD/NG]

Does anybody offer rides ?

Thanks,
Phil

For compensation/hire, no. Currently, there is no legal way to buy a ride in a two-seat Corsair in the United States. Formerly, there were several organizations where you could do that, but they all let their FAA authorizations expire/lapse.

If you want a ride in a Corsair, the only way to get it is free. So, in other words, you have to be friends with an owner/organization that has one and you can't pay for it. So, if interested, volunteer for an organization that has one and with a lot of hard work, you might be rewarded!

[bomberfan]

Gerry Beck's old Corsair, F4U-4 BuNo 97388 has a jump seat and I believe PoF F4U-1A BuNo 17999 has one as well.

[Hooligan2]

Watching a video about the Gamebird aerobatic aircraft yesterday - the F2G Corsair appeared in the vid and I was astonished to see a second head in behind the pilot - didn't look to be all that much room...

[JohnTerrell]

In addition to those already mentioned, other examples that have a back seat added include Gary Heck's FG-1D BuNo.67087 (N11Y) and Scott Glover's FG-1D 'Marine's Dream' BuNo.92471 (N773RD), as well as the Palm Springs Air Museum/Pond family's FG-1D BuNo.92629 (N62290), which hasn't flown in many years. Additionally, Duane Doyle's F4U-4 BuNo.97382, at Vultures Row, is being restored to fly with a back seat.

[mike furline]

Watching a video about the Gamebird aerobatic aircraft yesterday - the F2G Corsair appeared in the vid and I was astonished to see a second head in behind the pilot - didn't look to be all that much room...

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/sup ... chauf.html

[Hooligan2]

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/sup ... chauf.html

Thanks Mike! If that's an adult (and it might be a child!) are they standing on the belly skins? Don't think I'd fit in there and I'm average height and not all that overweight for someone who will shortly claim his 60+ London bus pass!

[Xrayist]

I think it was in the book September Champions that Cook Cleland talked about putting a jump seat in a Corsair so he could teach other people to fly one. I would have to look, but something about a coffee cup attached to a stick so he could reach the control stick to take over if necessary.....

[Stoney]

i remember a Corsair crashed at Brown field, CA killing 2.

Last edited by Stoney on Tue Nov 28, 2023 10:33 am, edited 1 time in total.

[MKD1966]

Back in 2002 - I got to ride in Jim Read's former F4U-5 N179PT with the late Dale Snodgrass at the controls and at 6' and 250 lbs - I had plenty of room... With no windows I didn't have much visibility - but once the tail was up I could see over his shoulders fine... When I first asked Snort about going up with him he says "there's no windows - you won't see crap" and I said "that's ok - I'll never get to ride in the seat you do" and I had a blast... He called for the aerobatic box at St. Augustine airport and we did a little acro before we landed... Man I miss him...
Mike