Magnificent Corsairs Worldwide
FLIGHTPATH | 73Texas Flying Legends FG-1D Bu.92489 served the US before the
Fuerza Aérea Salvadoreña as FAS 208. It returned to the US in
1974, and after being restored by Airpower Unlimited Jerome, ID,
it debuted at Oshkosh in 2010. [John Freedman]Vintage Wings of Canada FG-1D Bu.92106,
C-GVWC represents the aircraft of Canadian Lt.
Robert Hampton Gray, who was awarded the
Victoria Cross for his action in the Pacific.
Previously, this Corsair was one that starred in
the ‘Baa Baa Black Sheep’ TV show. [John Freedman]The Corsair is of great significance in New Zealand, as the most-advanced fighter the
RNZAF used in W.W.II. The FG-1D Bu.88391 is a genuine ex-RNZAF survivor (NZ5648) and
after being rescued from scrapping postwar, and restored to taxiing condition at the
Waikato Aero Club, it was exported to the USA, where it flew again in 1982. Operated for
some years in the UK, including by New Zealander Ray Hanna’s Old Flying Machine Co., it
returned to New Zealand in 2003 where it has operated there since as ZK-COR – owned by
The Old Stick and Rudder Company. [ Rob Fox]Military Aviation Museum Virginia FG-1D Bu.92508 (N46RL) is
painted to represent that of Norfolk born Ray Beacham, who
flew with the VF-17 in the Pacific during W.W.II. [John Freedman]ABOVE: The American National Air and Space Museum’s F4U-1 Bu.50375 has
never been in private hands. The Navy stored it from 1946 to 1960 by before
turning it over to the NASM. It was restored in 1980 and is now on display at
the Udvar-Hazy Center Dulles Airport Virginia. [John Freedman]