Was the F-8 a good fighter?
Was the F-8 a good fighter?
But the top result in a Google search for that phrase is the Wikipedia page for a six-decade-old jet fighter, the Vought F-8 Crusader. Adopted by the U.S. Navy in 1957, this single-engine, 1,000-mph dogfighter downed 19 MiGs during the Vietnam War and was an accurate, deadly strafer.
Who built the F-8 Crusader?
Vought
Vought F-8 Crusader/Manufacturers
Why is the P-51 called the Mustang?
P-51 “Mustang” name The name “Mustang” was given to this aircraft by its first pilot, Lieutenant Colonel John W. Mitchell of the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1935. He named it after his favorite horse and because he thought that the plane’s performance would be similar to that of an unbroken thoroughbred racehorse.
Who owns a p51 Mustang?
North American P-51 Mustang
| P-51 Mustang | |
|---|---|
| Introduction | January 1942 (RAF) |
| Status | Retired from military service 1984 (Dominican Air Force) |
| Primary users | United States Army Air Forces Royal Air Force Royal New Zealand Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Number built | More than 15,000 |
When was the first F-8 Crusader made?
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.
What made the F-8 Crusader so successful over North Vietnam?
The proper experience, one that could translate easily into a wartime situation, was instrumental in the success of the F-8 over North Vietnam. The Vought F-8 Crusader entered service in the United States Navy in 1957. 2 It was a single seat and single engine air superiority fighter.
How fast does a F8U Crusader fly?
The Vought F8U Crusader, enjoyed a very long career. Its 10,000 pounds static thrust (16,200 pounds static thrust with afterburner) Pratt & Whitney J57 turbojet gave it a top speed of Mach 1.53 at 35,000 feet and a range of 1,474 miles. It was armed with four 20mm cannon and two Sidewinders.
How good was the F-8 bomber in the Vietnam War?
A comparison between the F-8 and its two adversaries of the Vietnam War, the MiG-17 and MiG-21 shows that the F-8 was fairly evenly matched against the two MiGs. The F-8 was a proven aircraft by 1965 with fair maneuverability along with a respectable weapons suite and mature training program.