Post by Keith Heitmann on Apr 13, 2004 19:53:17 GMT -5
F-8E CRUSADER
- Fully engraved panel lines & rivet details
- Highly detailed cockpit interior & landing gear compartment
- Open or closed airbrake
-Various weapons included
The F-8 Crusader was the US Navy's first supersonic, carrier-based jet fighter. In September 1951, the US Navy announced a call for competitive bids from eight aircraft manufacturing companies for a new carrier-based fighter. Chance Vought won the bid with its F-8 Crusader that incorporated a 42-degree swept-wing design to achieve the high speed reqirement. The wing was also unique in providing a two-position, variable incidence wing which allowed the pilot to hydraulically raise it 7 degrees to enable the aircraft to land and takeoff at slow speeds while maintaining the fuselage parallel to a carrier deck or runway for excellent visibility by the pilot. Armed with four 20mm cannons, the Crusader was a gunfighter and considered a pure air-superiority aircraft by its pilots. It was also capable of carrying an ordnance load of 4,000 lbs including AIM-9 "sidewinder" air-to-air?missiles, and "Zuni" air-to-ground rockets. The Crusader had a very impressive combat record with the Navy and Marine Corps in Vietnam, and was nicknamed "the MiG killer" because of its numerous victories?over these jets.