Scale aviation modeller international

(Martin Jones) #1

T


he Vought F-8 Crusader
was a direct response
to a United States Navy requirement
for a modern supersonic, carrier-based ighter. Utilising nearly
the identical powerplant of the North American F-100 Super
Sabre and looking like the big brother of the A-7 Corsair, the
F-8 Crusader became the world’s irst carrier-based aircraft to
break the speed of sound. The Crusader was quickly pressed into
service over the skies of Vietnam with the growing American
commitment in Southeast Asia, where it served with distinction
with US Navy and US Marine Corps. As a predominantly cannon-
armed ighter, the F-8 has been seen by many as the end of the
line for all-cannon-armed ighter jets - making the F-8 the ‘last
of the gunighters’. The Navy went on to utilise the Crusader in
the more of a traditional dogighting interceptor role, whilst
the US Marines operated it as a limited strike/attack aircraft.
The Crusader was also ielded as a dedicated reconnaissance
version the RF-8, along with a two-set trainer, as well as a Drone
Controller aircraft and also served with NASA as a lying test bed.

The Crusader eventually proved its worth through action and resiliency
and found frontline service across four decades including service with
the French Navy. The Philippines Air Force was the third and inal
operator of the F-8 and these were retired in 1991. The XF8U-3 was
a highly-modiied ofshoot of the F-8 Crusader line, and this version
became known as ‘Crusader III’, however, the prototypes competed
unsuccessfully against the McDonnell Douglas ofering that would
eventually become the F-4 Phantom. The F-8 Crusader remains one of
the icons of 20th Century aviation, and the ‘last of the gunighters’ is
showcased and celebrated here in this new Dataile from
SAM Publications.

CRUSADER

THE VOUGHT F-8


A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE


By Andy Evans


OUT NOW!


32


M D F


F-8 CRUSADER


ORDER HOTLINE: 44 (0)1234 211245


ORDER ONLINE: http://www.sampublications.com


F-8 CRUSADERM D F^32

CRUSADER


THE VOUGHT F-8

A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE
by Andy Evans

Modellers Dataile • 32

Cover: Illustration Purposes Only

MDF 32

CRUSADER

£24.99
+ P&P
Free download pdf