F4U Corsair

Starring:F4u Corsair
Studio: Aircraft Films
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Description
Few aircraft can claim the popularity of the F4U Corsair. Originally intended as a shipboard fighter, the Corsair was pressed into service as a land-based fighter for the United States Marine Corps and immediately demonstrated it's superiority over the Japanese Zero. As the opportunity for aerial clashes dwindled, Corsairs were used as attack aircraft carrying bombs and rockets. By the time the United States Navy carriers reached the Japanese Islands, the Corsair had become the the most versatile aircraft in the Pacific theater. The Corsair's combat history didn't end with the fall of Japan. Later breeds of Corsairs flew alongside jet aircraft in the Korean War, proving the amazing versatility of Vought's most widely known fighter.

Through new digital transfers of archival material from the National Archives, the National Air and Space Museum, and Vought Industries, Aircraft Films allows you to witness the F4U Corsair as never before. Follow the development of the Corsair from "birdcage" F4U-1s in the Solomons, to fighter-bomber F4U-1As and 1Ds island hopping their way across the Pacific. See US Navy pilots wrestle with the problems of using Corsairs from carriers, and how the British Fleet Air Arm was able to do it first. Also follow fighter-bomber and night-fighter Corsairs to Korea on board carriers and at forward bases.

This 3-DVD collection starts with an original documentary detailing the proud history of the Corsair, from beginnings through Korea and beyond. By applying the Aircraft Films dedication to accuracy, you'll see the proper footage in the proper place, and so much more.

Customer Reviews:

Just fair--and disappointing.......2006-11-21

The whole Roaring Glory series is only fair. While the modern-day, restored aircraft footage is pretty good, the audio quality is awful. At times the ambient engine noise is so loud that you have difficulty understanding the pilot's words as he's describing a sequence. That's just plain poor audio engineering.

The series can be rented from Netflix. I was truly disappointed in all of these titles.

A Pleasant Surprise!.......2004-03-24

I'm not sure what I expected when I bought this... probably something along the lines of what you see on the `Wings' network - lots of scratchy footage of old planes with monotonous narration of specifications. But that's not at all the approach that this video takes. This is my first `Roaring Glory Warbirds' disc, but I ordered two more immediately after seeing it.

The roughly hour-long main program begins with our pilot-narrator standing before the Corsair. He takes us on a brief tour of the outside plane as he performs a pre-flight check of all of the important `parts,' and this alone was great! You get a close-up view of all of these details while a skilled pilot explains what he's looking for and why. Then he jumps in, gives us a tour of all of the controls, and takes the plane up!

It's wonderful seeing this classic machine actually in the air, not in a Hollywood film or old newsreel footage. The picture is quite sharp; the Dolby sound is wonderfully vibrant and great for that prop-engine sound. As the pilot does maneuvers with the F4U, he explains everything he's doing, eventually landing it.

The program then switches to a dramatization of a young pilot training for and then flying an F4U in battle. This was modestly but nicely done, too, and informative. It was interesting, for instance, to hear how flight manuals for these planes were so scarce that if a pilot could get his hands on one he would hoard it!

Extras on the disc include an actual F4U training film, which ran about half an hour. This was really interesting, too, on many levels: it explained aspects of the plane and how it should be flown in detail, and is also a time capsule of what kinds of training pilots received.

Other extras include a still photo gallery and pages from a Corsair flight manual reproduced on-screen, but this is the weaker part of the disc. This could have been much better if the disc's logo wasn't plastered across the top third of the screen, obscuring the images - I'm not sure what they were thinking here. Even better, I would love to have seen some of these diagrams reproduced in print form and included as an insert with the disc, though I realize that this would have added to the cost of the disc.

More information about the F4U's place in WWII warfare would have been appreciated, too. I would have given an extra star for this. As it is, this disc is more of a `here is the plane' presentation, with the added dramatization about the pilots.

I really wish they could add some British, German, and perhaps even Russian planes to this series, though I realize that the lack of availability of these planes may make this nearly impossible.

Vought F4U Corsair DVD.......2003-06-18

This is not a bad DVD, but it hardly earns 5 stars. The narration by Steve Hinton is good; but you can tell his forte is flying not narrating. He does explain the preflight and technical aspect of the Corsair adequately. The tale of the adventures of USMC pilot Verne Salisbury looks like it was filmed by amateurs. The tan tinting attempts to make the film look old, but it fails miserably. There are some excellent flying sequences of a museum piece Corsair in a modern setting. However if you are seeking a movie to explain the mission of the F4U Vaught Corsair during WWII you will find this DVD inconclusive. There are a few quick shots of historic footage; but the story is somewhat sketchy. While this film has some endearing points, it does lack much in storyline.

Roaring Glory Warbirds, Vol. 7; Vought F4U Corsair.......2003-06-13

This DVD is okay. There are a lot better. There is excellent footage of one museum piece Corsair flying. The narrator is also very good at explaining the preflight and technology behind this aircraft. The attempt to make new footage look old appears cheap and phoney. It is very clear that the actors are not professional; obvious that they are reading a script. This DVD also lacks in providing much historical footage or detail. The little provided is very sketchy and not conclusive. If you are looking for a great DVD on the F4U Corsair you will probably be disappointed in this one.

Incredible!.......2003-05-14

This DVD is one of the best values a World War II enthusiast can find! Included is not only a full color flight session in your favorite WWII warbird, but the original training film and a full, printable manual. This DVD not only tells you what the plane can do, but this DVD teaches you how to fly it! If you have any interest in WWII aviation, buy this DVD!

Average customer rating:

RARE FOOTAGE
Superb history of the Corsair...

F4U Corsair
Starring: F4u Corsair
Manufacturer: Aircraft Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002RAP4W
Release Date: 2004-06-15

Description

Few aircraft can claim the popularity of the F4U Corsair. Originally intended as a shipboard fighter, the Corsair was pressed into service as a land-based fighter for the United States Marine Corps and immediately demonstrated it's superiority over the Japanese Zero. As the opportunity for aerial clashes dwindled, Corsairs were used as attack aircraft carrying bombs and rockets. By the time the United States Navy carriers reached the Japanese Islands, the Corsair had become the the most versatile aircraft in the Pacific theater. The Corsair's combat history didn't end with the fall of Japan. Later breeds of Corsairs flew alongside jet aircraft in the Korean War, proving the amazing versatility of Vought's most widely known fighter.

Customer Reviews:

RARE FOOTAGE.......2005-01-13

Just when Ive thought Ive seen and read everyhing about this incredible gorgous Warbird... I buy and watch this amazingly rare and never before seen collection of F4U footage and am floored.
If you like the F4U Corsair and you want to see what youve been missing.. BUY THIS DVD SET...
FACTORY FILMS.. TRAINING FILMS....and much much more.

Superb history of the Corsair..........2004-12-02

This set is the first I tried from the Aircraft Films series of discs, and I am very happy with the set.

There's a lot here, much of which I had never seen before. The quality of the images varies somewhat, but most of it is well above average, and many parts are outstanding. With an informative documentary and a good deal of extra footage, this set kept me busy for hours. The only complaint I would have is that some of the footage is silent, but the nature of the footage overcomes that limitation.

The "Napalm" footage is interesting. I'll bet if they did that today (testing it on goats) PETA would go nuts! (You don't actually see the goats getting it... just being led into trenches before hand)... and the rocket footage of the Tiny Tim was interesting as well.

The footage was comprehensive, including the "Black Sheep," and there is footage and photos from Korea, as well as the first tests on Enterprise, Wasp, Essex... just lots of cool stuff.

Well worth the price for good looking, rare material I haven't seen anywhere else.

American War Eagles: F4U Corsair - Thunder From the Skies

Average customer rating:

American War Eagles: F4U Corsair - Thunder From the Skies
Starring: American War Eagles
Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005LMBE
Release Date: 2001-07-10

Description

The F4U Corsair is regarded by many as one of the greatest combat aircraft in history and was in production for longer than any U.S. fighter other than the F4 Phantom. Learn more about this fascinating aircraft in this informative program.

American War Eagles: Box Set (includes F4U Corsair, B-29 Superfortress and P-47 Thunderbolt)

Average customer rating:

American War Eagles: Box Set (includes F4U Corsair, B-29 Superfortress and P-47 Thunderbolt)
Starring: American War Eagles
Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

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DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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