The extremely rare F4U-1 Corsair under restoration with the Classic Jets Fighter Museum at Parafield Airport near Adelaide, Australia is making great progress. F4U-1 Bu.02270 is one of only two early model “birdcage canopy” Corsairs known to survive in preservation, and the oldest Corsair known to exist. The project recently received its Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp. The engine is still in need of a Scintilla type DF18RN magneto, otherwise it is complete. The museum will inhibit the engine with preservative before fitting it to the Corsair’s engine mount sometime soon.
The Classic Jets volunteer restoration team is currently fitting the starboard wing with its aileron and three landing flaps. They had to replicate many of the attachment hinges by hand. The final fitting for the horizontal stabilizers and conformal fillets is also taking place. The team have painted the parts with primer, along with the main fuselage. In addition, the undercarriage and air intake modules on the wing leading edges are also being trial fitted for adjustment prior to installation. The museum has made a mockup of the Corsair cockpit for displaying the restored interior components until the cockpit on the aircraft itself is ready to accept them. One frustrating thing to report though was that the team had to do some substantial dent repairs on the fuselage after some unsupervised children decided to practice their drumming skills on its side with a wooden plank.
Bob Jarrett, the museum’s director, has not set a completion date for the Corsair, but estimates that another two years or so will see the Corsair close to completion. Classic Jets Fighter Museum has a terrific Facebook page HERE for those interested in seeing what the museum is up to. Please see our previous restoration update, and for more information on Bu.02270’s history.
WarbirdsNews wishes to thank Bob Jarrett for submitting these details, as well as Ron Johnson for his marvelous photographs.
