Description
The Vought F-8 Crusader was an American post war carrier borne aircraft. The powerplant for the F-8E version, was provided by a single engine Pratt and Whitney J57-P-20A with 47.6 kN thrust without afterburner. The first flight of this machine took place in 1955. Its serial production started shortly after. In total, over 1,200 versions of the J version were built. The length of the aircraft was 16.53 meters with a wingspan of 10.87 meters. In the F-8E version, the on-board armament consisted of four 20mm Colt Mk.12 cannons. The machine could also carry bombs, unguided and guided missiles.
The Vought F-8 Crusader was developed for the US Navy as a successor to the completely unsuccessful Vought F-7U-1 Cutlass. It was characterized by a much more conservative design, but it was also much easier to fly, and operate. Equally important, it also turned out to be significantly less failure-prone than its predecessor. It also had a much better maximum speed (the first serial supersonic deck fighter), possessing good manoeuvrability and good take-off and landing characteristics from the deck of an aircraft carrier. In general, a very successful aircraft, which remained in service with the US Navy as a fighter until 1976, and in the French naval aviation – until 1999. In the course of serial production, many versions of this aircraft were created, including: F-8U-1 (first production version), F-8U-2N (night fighter) and F-8E (FN) . Vought F-8 Crusader aircraft took an active part in several armed conflicts, but were used particularly intensively during the Vietnam War of 1964 / 1965-1975.
