The storied Vought F-8 Crusader carrier-based fighter served in an operational role for over 40 years with the United States, the Philippines, and France.
The Vought F-8 "Crusader" was a direct response to a United States Navy requirement for a modern supersonic, carrier-based fighter. Utilizing nearly the identical powerplant of the North American F-100 "Super Sabre", the F-8 Crusader became the world's first carrier-based aircraft to break the speed of sound. The single-seat Crusader featured a long fuselage with a swept-back high-wing assembly and single-engine installation. A single vertical tail fin was fitted over the rear of the fuselage. The engine, exhausting through a large jet pipe at rear, generated upwards of 18,000lb thrust with an afterburn capability. As a naval carrier-based fighter, the aircraft was fitted primarily with 4 x 20mm internal cannons for close-in work and supported early forms of American air-to-surface missiles (no ground attack capability was added) including the AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range missile. Crusaders were eventually pressed into service over the skies of Vietnam with the growing American commitment in Southeast Asia. There it served with both the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and the United States Navy (USN).
As a predominantly cannon-armed fighter, the F-8 has been seen by many as the end of the line for all-cannon-armed fighter jets - making the F-8 the last of the classic "gunfighters".
Of eight initial submissions viewed by USN authorities, the Vought F-8 design was selected for prototyping (as the XF8U - two examples completed). Carrier operations required special qualities in an aircraft, none more so important than the ability to take-off from a short runway, have an integrated tailhook for landing and feature a reinforced undercarriage capable of withstanding the violent force of carrier deck landings. The Vought submission fit the bill with the initial production version designated as F8U-1. The F-8 was also engineered with a special "tilting" wing assembly that could move up 7-degrees from its rest position. This minor movement allowed the aircraft the ability to achieve the short take-off and landings consistent with carrier operations.
The F-8 stocked the USN and USMC inventories during the Vietnam War (1955-1975. Its first operational combat sorties took place on August 2nd, 1964. After an attack by four North Vietnamese patrol boats on the USS Maddox destroyer, four Crusaders were dispatched from USS Ticonderoga and were able to sink one of the escaping vessels. The U.S. Navy would go on to utilize the Crusader in more of a traditional dogfighting interceptor role whilst the US Marines operated it as a limited strike/attack aircraft.
The Crusader eventually proved its worth through action and resiliency. It found frontline service across four decades including service with the French Navy (Aeronavale). French Crusaders were a specially-produced export breed designated as F-8E(FN) and these aircraft were given blown flaps to assist the aircraft in landing and taking off from the shorter and smaller French-made carriers. The French acquired some 42 Crusaders in this form and these served until replaced by the modern Dassault "Rafale" 4th Generation fighter beginning in 2000. This retirement marked the last official operational F-8 in service anywhere.
The Philippines Air Force was the third and final operator of the F-8 and these were retired in 1991. These were second-hand USN aircraft purchased when more modern products proved fiscally elusive to the Philippines government. 35 aircraft were delivered and were F-8H models. All were scrapped.
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AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.
MARITIME / NAVY
Land-based or shipborne capability for operating over-water in various maritime-related roles while supported by allied naval surface elements.
INTELLIGENCE-SURVEILLANCE-RECONNAISSANCE
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
54.5 ft (16.61 meters) Length
35.2 ft (10.72 meters) Width/Span
15.7 ft (4.80 meters) Height
19,925 lb (9,038 kilograms) Empty Weight
34,000 lb (15,422 kilograms) Maximum Take-Off Weight
+14,074 lb (+6,384 kg) Weight Difference
1 x Pratt & Whitney J57-P-20A turbojet engine with afterburning developing 18,000 lb of thrust. Propulsion
OPTIONAL:
Mission-specific armament included:
2 OR 4 x AIM-9 "Sidewinder" short-ranged, Air-to-Air Missiles (AAMs).
2 x AGM-12 "Bullpup" air-to-surface missiles.
French Naval Variant:
4 x 20mm Internal automatic cannons.
2 x Matra R.530 Air-to-Air Missiles (AAMs).
4 x Matra "Magic" R.550 Air-to-Air Missiles (AAMs).
4 Hardpoints
F8U-1 - Initial Production Model
F8U-1P - Reconnaissance Variant
F8U-1E - Limited All-Weather Model with improved radar system.
F8U-2 - Improved radar system; Improved fire control system; Uprated J57-P-16 powerplant generating 16,900lbs of thrust with afterburn.
F8U-2N - Updated avionics systems; Uprated J57-P-20 powerplant increasing thrust to 18,000lbs.
F8U-2NE - Improved all-weather model with updated radar and fire control systems.
F-8A - F8U-1 Model Redesignated
F-8B - F8U-1E Model Redesignated
F-8C - F8U-2 Model Redesignated
F-8D - F8U-2N Model Redesignated
F-8E - F8U-2NE Model Redesignated
RF-8A - F8U-1P Model Redesignated
F-8E(FN) - French Naval Export Version; blown flaps for reduced landing speeds and provision for French-based Matra air-to-air missile systems to replace AIM-9 Sidewinders.
F-8P - Refurbished F-8H models exported to the Philippine Air Force.
General Assessment
Firepower
Performance
Survivability
Versatility
Impact
Values are derrived from a variety of categories related to the design, overall function, and historical influence of this aircraft in aviation history.
Overall Rating
The overall rating takes into account over 60 individual factors related to this aircraft entry.
82
Rating is out of a possible 100 points.
Relative Maximum Speed
Hi: 1200mph
Lo: 600mph
This entry's maximum listed speed (1,118mph).
Graph average of 900 miles-per-hour.
City-to-City Ranges
NYC
LON
LON
PAR
PAR
BER
BER
MOS
MOS
TOK
TOK
SYD
SYD
LAX
LAX
NYC
Operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).
Max Altitude Visualization
Design Balance
The three qualities reflected above are altitude, speed, and range.
Aviation Era Span
Showcasing era cross-over of this aircraft design.
Unit Production (1,219)
1219
36183
44000
Compared against Ilyushin IL-2 (military) and Cessna 172 (civilian).
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