Did the RNZAF operate the early (birdcage) F 4 Corsair.

[kiwiruna]

Hi Guys,

 I was wondering if the RNZAF operated the early variant of the Corsair with the Birdcage canopy and the cutouts behind the cockpit. I'm considering purchasing the Tamiya one to build but don't want to go with an American marked aircraft.

Cheers

[Dave Homewood]

No, the RNZAF never operated birdcage Corsairs.

The only New Zealanders that would have probably flown that model would have been in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm, while training with the US Navy in the USA, I think.

[Dave Homewood]

[kiwiruna]

Hi Dave,
Thanks for that, I had a sneaking suspicion that was the case. As an aside in the Documentary series 'Battle Stations Corsair Pacific Warrior'-on Youtube the tail of what I believe is an RNZAF Kittyhawk is briefly shown at 15 minutes 47 secounds.

[Dave Homewood]

Yes definitely an RNZAF P-40 I'd say.

[ZacYates]

If you want to build an RNZAF-marked Birdcage Corsair then do what I did and replicate the Alpine Fighter Collection's ZK-FUI, marked as NZ5201 (links here and here), which flew here as a warbird during the 1990s. Historically accurate but bound to turn a few heads! The Tamiya kit was a real joy to build and I'd love to get another from the series to build an FG-1D.
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr