The Vought F8 Crusader, initially known as F8U was designed and produced by Vought as a supersonic carrier-based air superiority fighter aircraft powered by a single engine. It was intended for the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps which replaced the F7U Cutlass, and as well as for the French Navy. In March 1955, the prototype first flew, and in March 1957, the aircraft entered into service.
Table of Contents
- Specifications
- Photo Gallery
- Description
- Manufacturer:
- Vought
- Country:
- United States
- Manufactured:
- 1957 to: 1964
- ICAO:
- F8
- Price:
- Performance
- Weights
- Dimensions
- Avionics:
- Magnavox AN/APQ-84 or AN/APQ-94 Fire-control radar
- Engine:
- 1x Pratt & Whitney J57-P-20A
Jet - Power:
- 18,000 pound-force
- Max Cruise Speed:
- 1005 knots
1,861 Km/h - Approach Speed (Vref):
- Travel range:
- 1,220 Nautical Miles
2,259 Kilometers - Fuel Economy:
- Service Ceiling:
- 59,000 feet
- Rate of Climb:
- 19000 feet / minute
96.52metre / second - Take Off Distance:
- Landing Distance:
- Max Take Off Weight:
- 15,422 Kg
33,999 lbs - Max Landing Weight:
- 13,154 Kg
28,999 lbs - Max Payload:
- 2,450 Kg
5,401 lbs - Fuel Tank Capacity:
- 1,325 gallon
5,016 litre - Baggage Volume:
- Seats - Economy / General:
- 1 seats
- Seats - Business Class:
- Seats - First Class:
- Cabin Height:
- Cabin Width:
- Cabin Length:
- Exterior Length:
- 16.6 metre - 54.46 feet
- Tail height:
- 4.8 metre - 15.75 feet
- Fuselage Diameter:
- 1.1 metre - 3.61 feet
- Wing Span / Rotor Diameter:
- 10.87 metre - 35.66 feet
- Wing Tips:
- No Winglets
click / tap to open full screen gallery
A Vought F-8H Crusader of the Philippine Air Force in flight.
credit: U.S. Navy
A Vought F-8H Crusader of the Philippine Air Force in flight.
credit: U.S. Navy
Vought F8U-1P Crusader
credit: Robert Sullivan
Vought F8U-1P Crusader
credit: Robert Sullivan
Two U.S. Naval Reserve Vought RF-8G Crusader aircraft from Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron 206.
credit: TSgt. Michael Haggerty, USAF
Two U.S. Naval Reserve Vought RF-8G Crusader aircraft from Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron 206.
credit: TSgt. Michael Haggerty, USAF
U.S. Navy Vought RF-8A Crusader of Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron 63.
credit: U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy Vought RF-8A Crusader of Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron 63.
credit: U.S. Navy
Two U.S. Navy Vought F-8E 'Crusader' fighters from fighter squadron VF-33 'Tarsiers' preparing for launch.
credit: Casey17
Two U.S. Navy Vought F-8E 'Crusader' fighters from fighter squadron VF-33 'Tarsiers' preparing for launch.
credit: Casey17
F8U-1 Crusader of VF-154 after barrier landing on USS Hancock. 1958
credit: Don Overlin, U.S.
F8U-1 Crusader of VF-154 after barrier landing on USS Hancock. 1958
credit: Don Overlin, U.S.
The first of two U.S. Navy Vought F8U-3 Crusader III
credit: U.S. Navy
The first of two U.S. Navy Vought F8U-3 Crusader III
credit: U.S. Navy
A U.S. Navy Vought F-8E 'Crusader' of Fighter Squadron VF-194 at NAS.
credit: U.S. Navy
A U.S. Navy Vought F-8E 'Crusader' of Fighter Squadron VF-194 at NAS.
credit: U.S. Navy
A U.S. Marine Corps Vought F-8C Crusader from Marine Fighter Squadron 334.
credit: U.S. Navy
A U.S. Marine Corps Vought F-8C Crusader from Marine Fighter Squadron 334.
credit: U.S. Navy
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Blog Mentions
Blog posts that mention the Vought F8U Crusader:
- 10 Best Fighter Jets of the Vietnam War
The F-8 is a single-seat air superiority fighter with an external length of 16.54 meters, an external height of 2.5 meters, and a fuselage diameter of 1.1 meters. It has a tail height of 4.8 meters and a wheelbase of 5.3 meters. The wingspan is 10.87 meters and the wing area is 34.8 square meters. It has an empty weight of 7,956 kg, a gross weight of 13,154 kg, and a maximum takeoff weight of 15,422 kg. The maximum payload is 2,450 kg and the fuel tank capacity is 1,325 US gal.
The aircraft is powered by a single Pratt and Whitney J57-P-20A engine. It is an afterburning turbojet engine with an all-axial nine-stage LP seven-stage HP compressor, eight flame tubes cannular combustors, and an all-axial single-stage HP two-stage LP turbine. It produces a maximum dry thrust of 10,700 lbf and an afterburning thrust of 18,000 lbf.
The F8 Crusader has a maximum speed of 1,066 knots at 36,000 feet and a cruise speed of 495 knots. The combat range is 394 nautical miles and the ferry range is 1,507 nautical miles with external fuel. It can fly up to 58,000 feet and can climb at a rate of 19,000 feet per minute. The aircraft could be loaded with four 20 mm Colt Mk 12 cannons located in the lower fuselage with 125 rounds per gun, two hardpoints on the side fuselage-mounted Y-pylons for mounting AIM-9 Sidewinders and Zuni rockets, and two in the underwing pylons with a capacity of 2,000 kg with provisions to carry combinations of two LAU-10 rocket pods, four AIM-9 Sidewinder or Matra Magic air-to-air missiles for the French Navy, and two AGM-12 Bullpup air-to-surface missiles. It could also carry either twelve 113 kg of Mark 81 bombs, eight 227 kg Mark 82 bombs, four 454 kg Mark 83 bombs, or two 907 kg Mark 84 bombs.
All Vought Aircraft
- LTV A-7 Corsair II |
- LTV XC-142 |
- Vought F4U Corsair |
- Vought F6U Pirate |
- Vought F7U Cutlass |
- Vought F8U Crusader |
- Vought O2U Corsair |
- Vought OS2U Kingfisher |
- Vought SB2U Vindicator |
- Vought SBU Corsair |
