Vought F-8 Crusader
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Vought F-8 Crusader
Role:
Supersonic single-seat carrier fighter.
DESIGN FEATURES:
Cantilever high-wing monoplane. Wings have thin
laminar-flow section. Anhedral 5o. Sweepback 35o. Wing
is adjustable to two incidence positions by a hydraulic
self-locking actuator. Outer wing sections fold upward
for carrier stowage. The tail unit consists of a large,
swept vertical fin and rudder and one-piece horizontal
'slab' tail.
STRUCTURE:
The wing is an all-metal multi-spar structure with
integrally stiffened aluminium alloy upper and lower
skins. The fuselage is an all-metal structure in three
main assemblies. Both magnesium alloy and titanium are
used in the structure, the aft section and portion of
the mid-section are titanium.
LANDING GEAR:
Hydraulically retractable tricycle type.
Mainwheels retract forward into fuselage, nosewheel
aft. Sting-type arrester hook under rear fuselage.
POWER PLANT:
One Pratt & Whitney J57 turbojet engine with
afterburner. Integral fuel tanks in wings inboard of
wing fold. Other tankage in fuselage. Total internal
fuel capacity approximately 5300 litres (1398 US
gallons; 1165 Imp gallons). Provision for in-flight
refuelling, with retractable probe housed in removable
pack on port side of fuselage of F-8A and inside flush
panel on RF-8A.
ACCOMMODATION:
Pilot on Martin-Baker Mk F7 lightweight ejection seat
in pressurised cockpit. Liquid oxygen equipment.
ARMAMENT:
Four 20 mm Colt cannon in fuselage nose, with 84 rounds
per gun (average) for F-8C/K, F-8H and F-8E/J, and 144
rounds per gun for NTF-8A and F-8F/L. Two Sidewinder
missiles (four in F-8C/K, F-8D/H amd F-8E/J) mounted
externally on sides of fuselage.
Aircraft Measures:
Wing span: 10.87 m (35 ft 8 in)
Length overall: except F-8E/J: 16.54 m (54 ft 3 in)
F-8E/J: 16.61 m (54 ft 6 in)
Height overall: 4.80 m (15 ft 9 in)
Width folded: 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in)
Aircraft Performance:
Max level speed:
F-8A, F-8C: over 868 knots (1600 km/h; 1000 mph)
F-8D, F-8E: nearly Mach 2
Combat radius: F-8A: 521 nm (965 km; 600 miles)
LENGTH (m): 16.54
HEIGHT (m): 4.80
WING SPAN (m): 10.87
MAX T-O WEIGHT (kg): 15420
MAX LEVEL SPEED (knots): 1332