F-8K Crusader
F-8k Crusader “:ast of the Gunfighers”
SN – 146985
The Vought F-8 Crusader (originally F8U) is a single-engine, supersonic, carrier-based air superiority jet aircraft built by Vought for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps (replacing the Vought F7U Cutlass), and for the French Navy. The first F-8 prototype was ready for flight in February 1955. The F-8 served principally in the Vietnam War. The Crusader was the last American fighter with guns as the primary weapon, earning it the title “The Last of the Gunfighters”.
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. United States Navy Reserve units continued to operate the RF-8 until 1987.
Specifications
Dimensions & Capacity
Crew: 1
Length: 54 ft 3 in (16.54 m)
Wingspan: 35 ft 8 in (10.87 m)
Height: 16 ft (4.80 m)
Empty Weight: 17,541 lb (7,956 kg)
Max Take Off Weight: 34,000 lb (15,422 kg)
Performance
Speed: Maximum MACH 1.86, CRUISE 570 mph (495 kn)
Service Ceiling: 58, 000 ft (18,000 m)
Range: 1,507 nautical miles (2,791 km)
Armament
Guns: 4× 20 mm (0.79 in) Colt Mk 12 cannons in the lower fuselage, 125 rounds per gun (rpg)
Hardpoints: 2× side fuselage-mounted Y-pylons (for mounting AIM-9 Sidewinders and Zuni rockets) and 2× underwing pylon stations with a capacity of 4,000 lb (2,000 kg), with provisions to carry combinations of:
- Rockets: 2× LAU-10 rocket pods (each with 4× 5 inch (127mm) Zuni rockets)
- Missiles:
- 4× AIM-9 Sidewinder or Matra Magic (French Navy only) air-to-air missiles
- 2× AGM-12 Bullpup air-to-surface missiles
- 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