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So this was a purpose designed system then?In the F4U-4 pilot's manual AN 01-45HB-1, on pages 13 - 14, section 4, is titled:
(4) DIVE BRAKE CONTROL - (a) The dive brake control is located on the left hand shelf. To extend the dive brake, move the landing gear control into the "DOWN" position of the dive brake slot; this extends the main landing gear only, leaving the tail wheel retracted. To retract the dive brake, move the control to "UP".
It refers the reader to "figure 14", which is on page 17, showing the airframe flaps and landing gear hydraulic system, including the dive brake system and controls (with control panel inset).
For what it's worth - British Pilot's Notes:
Accelerating and arresting are permissible, but the angle of dive when releasing bombs must not exceed 60 degrees. Salvo release is not permitted.
DIVE BRAKE CONTROL-The dive brake con-
trol may be operated at any speed within the normal air-
plane restrictions in Model F4U-l airplanes number 82278
and subsequent and Model FG-l airplanes number 76196
and subsequent. When the dive brake control is oper-
ated at speeds greater than 260 knots, the wheels will
trail instead of extending fully and locking but are never-
theless effective as a dive brake, For all other Model
F4U-l, FG-l, and F3A-1 airplanes, the limiting speed for
operation of the dive brake control to extend or trail the
landing gear is 380 knots but is unrestricted (within the
normal airplane restrictions) with the landing gear fully
extended and locked down.
T
I suspect that the 60 deg drop limitation was due to the fact that all bombs were carried very near the centre-line and consequently they could contact the prop at very steep dive angles. However, I can't find anything about that in the above manual.
...
(and were running into comprehensibility problems)
...
Because they wouldn't hit the propeller. Both the the USAAF and the USN established this independently, the USAAF using 'vertical' dives with a P-47. I'd have to look up which aircraft the USN used, but the results were discussed at the Patuxent River fighter conference and I posted the relevant section in another thread sometime ago.
'Vertical' dives, at least in USAAF parlance, seem to refer to any dive at an angle of 70 degrees or more...not necessarily literally vertical.
Cheers
Steve
I'd be curious to see what the USN tests showed..