| SBU | |
|---|---|
| Vought SBU-1 Corsairs in colorful prewar US Navy markings during the mid-thirties | |
| Role | Dive Bomber |
| National origin | United States of America |
| Manufacturer | Vought |
| Primary user | United States Navy |
| Number built | 125 |
| Developed from | Vought XF3U |
| Developed into | Vought XSB3U |
The Vought SBU-1 Corsair was a two seat, all metal biplane dive bomber built by Vought Aircraft Company of Dallas, Texas for the US Navy. Its design was based upon the F3U-1 two seat fighter that was abandoned when the Navy decided not to build any more two seat fighters. The aircraft was equipped with a closed cockpit, had fixed landing gear, and was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1535 radial air-cooled engine as had the F3U-1, but also included a controllable pitch propeller and a new NACA cowl with adjustable cowling gills on the trailing edge of the cowl. The adjustable cowling gills permitted better control of cooling airflow over the engine.
The SBU-1 completed flight tests in 1934 and went into production under a contract awarded in January 1935. The Corsair was the first aircraft of its type, a scout bomber, to fly faster than 200 mph.
The name "Corsair" was used a total of three times by Vought's planes; the SBU-1 and the F4U (both Corsairs), and the A7 Corsair II.
Data from United States Navy Aircraft since 1911 [1]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
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