[FIGHTS-ON]

I thought the curved approach was used exclusively with the Corsair. The big nose was difficult to see over on a straight on approach. It had nothing to do with windspeed or direction.

Correct, but i think the curved approach then became standard practice for both the USN & FAA - for the reason given (visibility). Even with the introduction of angled decks, during a CASE 1 recovery (visual as opposed to a radar to visual approach) the final circuit is somewhat curved. Ashore military aircraft fly a curved approach from the downwind leg as opposed to the 'rectangle' shaped circuit that civvy a/c fly.

realistically you need to set your carrier speed to approx 50-60 km/h to give a 20-30 knot ship speed, and because there is nil wind, that really is the minimums to fly a realistic approach.

Back in the '80s my flying grade instructor in the RN was an ex Sea Fury/firefly pilot who subsequently went on to fly phantoms. His 'demonstration' of how to use sideslip to lose height/speed & retain visibility of the runway during approach was ..........interesting!