First flown in May 1940, this gull winged wonder was deemed a winner from the outset. The Navy was so confident in the Corsair that rival companies Brewster and Goodyear were made alternate contractors for the initial order of 584 aircraft. With a top speed of 415mph and a rate of climb of 3,120 feet per minute, the Corsair was the fastest plane in the world at the time. Unacceptable aircraft carrier landing performance however, caused the F4U-1 to become a land-based fighter with the U.S. Marine Corps at the beginning of its career.