Built for two

Air Classics, Jan 2003

INTERESTING EXPERIMENT REMAINED A PROTOTYPE

Two of America's most effective combat aircraft - the Mustang and the Corsair - certainly could have used a dual-control variant to help student pilots make the big step from trainers to aerial hot-rods. However, during WWII such modifications were not undertaken until, perhaps oddly, after the war when dual-control variants were built of each fighter. The TP-5 ID was created by cramming a second instrument panel and set of controls under a standard canopy. To say that such an arrangement was uncomfortable would be an understatement. This was rectified by the more modified TF-51D which saw the cockpit section being enlarged by cutting into the rear fuselage while a greatly enlarged canopy was also installed. The TF was an effective aircraft but only a limited number of Mustangs were modified as trainers.

In 1946, Vought built up a dual-control Corsair from a standard F4U- 1 aircraft with the designation V-354. The company wanted to sell the trainer to the Navy and to foreign governments interested in buying the Corsair. Even at this early date, the Navy knew they would become a jet force and did not want another piston-engined aircraft (even though the Corsair was still in production and the idea of a Korean War seemed impossible!). The canopy of the aircraft was greatly enlarged with both seats being mounted higher than normal for greater visibility. It appears that some flight testing was conducted but since there were no takers, the unique V-354 was scrapped.