4 replies to this topic

[Commandant17]

The Vought F-8 Crusader (originally F8U) was a single-engine, supersonic, carrier-based air superiority jet aircraft built by Vought for the United States Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps, replacing the Vought F7U Cutlass. After the Navy's disappointing experience with the F7U, the F8U was referred to by some as "Vought's Last Chance." The first F-8 prototype was ready for flight in February 1955, and was the last American fighter with guns as the primary weapon, principally serving in the Vietnam War. The RF-8 Crusader was a photo-reconnaissance development and operated longer in U.S. service than any of the fighter versions. RF-8s played a crucial role in the Cuban Missile Crisis, providing essential low-level photographs impossible to acquire by other means. U.S. Naval Reserve units continued to operate the RF-8 until 1987. THe F-8s main armament are the ff.

Guns: 4× 20 mm (0.79 in) Colt Mk 12 cannons in lower fuselage, 125 rpg
Hardpoints: 2× side fuselage mounted Y-pylons (for mounting AIM-9 Sidewinders and Zuni rockets) and 2× underwing pylon stations holding up to 4,000 lb (2,000 kg) of payload:
Rockets:
2× LAU-10 rocket pods (each with 4× 5 inch (127mm) Zuni rockets)
Missiles:
Air-to-air missiles:
4× AIM-9 Sidewinder or Matra Magic (mounted only on F-8E(FN) of French Navy)
Air-to-surface missiles:
2× AGM-12 Bullpup
Bombs:
12× 250 lb (113 kg) Mark 81 bombs or
8× 500 lb (227 kg) Mark 82 bombs or
4× 1,000 lb (454 kg) Mark 83 bombs or
2× 2,000 lb (907 kg) Mark 84 bombs

This aircraft has been in service in only three countries' airforces on its service, the USAF, the French Aeronavale (Naval Aviation) and in my country's airforce, the Philippine Air Force (PAF). It was only retired in my country is because of the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, covering Clark Airbase, the home of the Philippine F-8s, and suffered irreversible service. If they were not there, they would maybe still in service in the PAF. The RF-8, Reconnaissance version of the F-8, was the first recon aircraft over cuba to confirm the presence of Soviet Missiles and launchers, here by alerting the US of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The F-8s service in the French Aeronavale have been widely used, from Djibouti, to Libya to Yugoslavia, to Kosovo, before getting retired. THey are also been used by NASA to prove that supercritical wings and digital fly-by-wire are viable. They have seen limited service in the Philippine Airforce, as an interceptor of Soviet Tu-95s over within close proximity over the Philippines, and they were withdrawn in 1988, and Mt. Pinatubo essentially meant sure that they were going to be in the scrapyards.

That my friends is the Vought F-8 Crusader

The F-8 in US Navy Service

The F-8 In NASA Service

The F-8 in French Naval Aviation Service

The F-8 in Philippine Air Force Service

[Heh]

Technically, it's a Vietnam War plane, so it should probably be moved to the 1960s-present section.

[Commandant17]

But it was designed and built in 1955, so more or less, and thank you for clarifying

[FreeFOXMIKE]

The first F-8 prototype was ready for flight in February 1955, and was the last American fighter with guns as the primary weapon,

it falls in line with other AC ,and tank in the building time frame


KEY words READY for FLIGHT Feb 55

[bobjoeharris]

If only...