A Unique Aircraft The Corsair was originally developed by the American company Vought in response to a February 1938 request for proposal for a carrier fighter aircraft by the U.S. Navy. Designed to surpass even land-based fighters, it featured a 2,000hp engine and massive 4-meter propeller and - most memorably - a unique inverted gull wing. This first version of the Corsair (which means """"pirate"""") was given the nickname """"birdcage"""" due to the large frame sections used in the canopy structure. Thrown into front line action from February 1943 onwards, the aircraft took part in the U.S. military's counter-offensive which was based in the Solomon Islands; it was mainly used by the U.S. Marine Corps and used an advantage in speed and armor over the Japanese Zero fighter to prove a valuable weapon in the arsenal of the U.S. military.