One of the famous aircraft stored and maintained at the MeierMotors shop is the Chance Vought Corsair F4U-5NL. The plane is registered as F-AZYS
some history 😉
The Corsair #124541 was buildt as a F4U-5NL, will say nightfighter / allweatherfighter. History began 31st December 1950 and in may 1951 the plane was assigned to VC3 (Navy Composite Squadron 3), tailcode NP.
22nd January 1952, was ferried with FASRON 11 (Fleet Air Service Squadron 11) to Japan and on 8th February 1952 assigned to MWSS1 (Air Marine Corps Aviation). On 20th February 1952 the plane was assigned to VMF-513(N) “Flying Nightmares” , 5th Airforce. The VMF-513(N) flew Tigercats and Corsairs for night attacks under flares over Korea. The flares were fired for ex. from C-47. Later in 1952 the Corsair were replaced by F4D Skyknight.
VMF-513 had about 15 Corsair F4U-5NL in service and #124541 was one of them and saw combat action over Korea.
#124541 went back to the States (FASRON8 Alameda/Ca) at 10th December 1952. At this time the Corsair flew about 122hours over Korea. 2nd November with MWSS1 back to Japan and was stored at FASRON11. 21st March 1953 back to FASRON8 in the US. 5th November 1953 the nightfighter was assigned to VC-3 based at Moffett again. She flew over there about 86 hours. After that, several depots and at 16th May 1956 the fighter was assigned to NAS (Naval Air Station) NART Birmingham. After 64 hours in the air, the plane was stored on 4th August 1956 at Litchfield Park and stricken from the list.
At this moment the plan wa 86 month old and about 1039 flight-hours. The plane was listed as a socalled “surplus” and later sold to Argentinia.
heres a copy of the History Card
here a historical photo of such a “Flying Nightmare”. The “red 15” was piloted bay Capt.Eugene Derrickson, Pusan Airfield 1951
The “Red 15” was the so called callsign. It says that this particular fighter was fighter number 15 in the squadron. The “15” has nothing to do with the serialnumber with the plane. When the plane was replaced, another serial got the “15”.
Assigned to the Argentina Armada the plane was listed as No0433 and got the tactical number 2-A-202. The fighter was assigned to 2 Esquadrilla de Ataque since beginning of 1959. Later the tactical number was changed to 3-A-204. The plane was also based on the aircraft-carrier “Indepencia”.
On 6th November 1964 the plane had a landing accident and was later stricken from the list (April 1966) and stored in the Marine Museum of El Tigre.
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The museum-piece was sold 1991 to a French collector and ferried 1994 to Le Castellet South France. The plane was restored over there for several years as a F4U-7 of the Aeronavale. The fighter was registered as F-AZYS and got the serial 133704.
MeierMotors / Max Alpha Aviation bought that plane in the year 2009 and on the 2nd December 2009 the plane was ferried to Bremgarten by Ramon Josa, one of the most experienced Corsair-pilots.
on the picture you can see me in front of that proud bird in December 2009
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lets take a seat 😀 …. oh man that ship is really big !
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… end part 1
By: harvardfreund - 27th January 2017 at 05:26
Still for sale I suppose: http://meiermotors-aircraftsales.com/index.php/sample-sites/chance-vought-f4u-5nl-corsair
By: j_jza80 - 26th January 2017 at 22:37
Where has this Corsair ended up? I assume Meier sold it on.
By: Gryper - 22nd January 2013 at 19:13
Hallo Matthias
These are really great photos you have put up here. I am busy building a radio controlled model of the Corsair and I decided to base it on this aircraft. I love the black scheme.
I would like to know if you perhaps have the length of the aircraft for me or maybe the length difference between the earlier models and the 5NL.
The kit I am building is of one of the earlier models so I would like to modify the kit to represent the 5NL.
I have been trying to research it but have found different answers, from 5inches up to 1foot and 4inches.
I would really appreciate it if you would be able to help.
Thank you in advance and regards
Lourens
By: Matthias Dorst - 5th October 2011 at 20:46
Flying Nightmare
Achim Meier did some checkflights. Everytime its a special moment when I can see, hear and smell this unique plane
really a beauty !
close up
Btw. the “Flying Nightmare” is for sale ….. just follow that link http://www.max-alpha-aviation.de/eng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=56 …… hope that she will not leave the country. I think I need some money…
By: RogerN - 24th April 2011 at 19:58
Hi
Great pics, thanks for sharing. Will it be at Flying Legends in July?
Roger
By: me109g4 - 24th April 2011 at 14:52
Thanks Matthias for the cockpit tour, very informative for those of us not used to seeing a corsair. a real treat! JT
By: alanl - 23rd April 2011 at 20:06
Thank you for those interior pictures Matthias,I have seen plenty of Spitfire and Mustang cockpit pictures but never any Corsair ones and in such detail too!
By: Al Elliott - 23rd April 2011 at 17:52
Great pictures! Very impressive airplane.
Your pictures will greatly help me with my next modeling project…
At the next opportunity you should try to turn the battery switch on.
Maybe the fuel indicator comes to life then…:diablo:
Al
By: Matthias Dorst - 23rd April 2011 at 17:25
and here a video file of that day
By: Matthias Dorst - 23rd April 2011 at 17:13
cockpit views
wheels down (good idea) and in the upper left the magnetos-swith
the right panel with the radio
right panel, in the middle of that picture the “start button” …… as I said not enough fuel ….. there is a little witch in my brain, but the angel on my shoulder says “dont even think about” …. one time I will kill that angel :dev2:
bomb release … ok we have no bombs
tank switch
the electrical trim-joy-stick … I think, the -5 was the first Corsair with electrical trim-mechanism
no use of that, I fly only low level 😆 low and fast an angry bird has to fly low
canopy control
again radio and wingfolding-control
again a look straight forward left side
the huge flaps
full right aileron (look at that trimtab)
full left aileron
last glimpse, the heating at the bottom of the cockpit. You can open and close it with your feet.
That was the cockpit “walkaround” , hope you enjoyed ist
By: Matthias Dorst - 23rd April 2011 at 17:13
engine and system checks 8th April 2011
some interior shots
YEEEEEESSS ! I love it really , out of the office and sit down in a warbird, dream a bit ….. that my “escape” and my work-life-balance
big ship and big grin
when you stand on the pilots seat, you can see that
when u sit down, you can see this …. not very much…. paying attention while taxiing that beast is a good idea
lets look to the left
and of course to the right
in front the main panel
😡 not enogh fuel ….. no escape chance 😀
By: Matthias Dorst - 23rd April 2011 at 17:11
engine and system checks 8th April 2011
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again Achim
some work :dev2:
By: Matthias Dorst - 23rd April 2011 at 17:08
engine and system checks 8th April 2011
Photosession 8th April , some engine and system-checks
Achim Meier at the controls ….. seems that he has fun 😀
what a beauty !!!!!
those runups are really physical stress for the pilot 😀 pull the stick to the chest (lot of pressure on the elevators), brake hard (lot of power to the pedals) and “play” with the throttle. Nothing for a banker like me :(:diablo:
By: Bager1968 - 23rd January 2011 at 18:51
Wonderful photos and wonderful work!
By: Wyvernfan - 23rd January 2011 at 13:56
Nice update Matthias. Those letters on the fin look familiar;).
By: Matthias Dorst - 23rd January 2011 at 13:45
One of the major tasks at this project is the new assembly of the -5-series cowling and coolingflaps. Lot of new bodywork for the team
January 2011
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here you can see the higher position of the exhaustsystem
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artwork
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Achim Meier is checking the work
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what a mighty plane
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….. thats it for today
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…. of course to be conitnued 😀
By: Matthias Dorst - 23rd January 2011 at 13:38
rudderdetails
the rudder is attached and adjusted
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small detail. You will find it only on -5 series …. counterweight on the ruddertrimtab (right word ?)
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big ship
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By: Matthias Dorst - 23rd January 2011 at 13:16
update Corsair F4U-5NL
some small updates on that Corsair project
Lot of work for the team, especially for the “bodywork”. To rebuild the plane to series -5 standard is really a hard job for the team ….
system checks in December 2010
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Erik Meier, son of Elmar Meier, is working on the rudder adjustment
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YEAAHHH brandnew parts from the United States. Nelson Ezell supports the project with those flame-dumpeners, a special feature of the -5NL
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…. and new exhaust-pipes
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The whole exhaust-system must be build up new, cause the -5-series has the exhausts in a higher fuselage position than the -7-series
new fittings for the oilcooling-system
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By: Bager1968 - 14th December 2010 at 00:47
No problem… the service of the F4U-7 and AU-1 with the French was an important part of the Corsair history, and needs to be preserved and displayed.
By: Ramon Josa - 13th December 2010 at 17:43
Not a fake but a dream
Hello Jon,
You are glad that “our” Corsair find again his historic paintings, I can understand that very well and I think that you can understand also that I can be a little sad when you call it “a fake F-4U7” and when I see our french colors removed of this bird which whom I fly near of 200 ours from 2000 to 2007 showing it during 62 airshows.
When I say to Matthias ” …if I don’t like what Meiers and Maxi do with…” I speak with friends, great friends.
Thank you for your post Jon, I have always very much pleasure to talk about Corsair F-4U7 or other. Corsair was my first fighter plane in french Navy, F-4U7 and AU1 year 1959.
Amicalement
Ramon JOSA 🙂
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November 3, 2010 at 9:06 pm