1st aircraft model I ever built as a kid was an F8U. I seem to remember the box notes saying something about Ling-Temco-Vought. I remember Vought, but the other two names are foreign to me.
I was on the bon homme richard and the oriskany during nam, the f-8 pilots knew that had a better plane than the f-4 phantom, and they shot down more migs than the f-4. the north veitnam pilots where scared to death of the f-8, it could out manuver them...and it had 4 cannons in the nose. I once heard that someone had called the crusader...leathal elegance...nuf said!
@MrPoppa2 Yes. The F4s didn't even have guns when they were first deployed. The Crusaders were a true figher and not a missile platform. I was on the Bonnie Dick for 3 Westpacs. I only watched the F4 operate off the "Big" carriers like the Firestal .. err .. Forrestal. Our F8s killed the Migs so the F4 folks could fly safely. No disrespect intended Forrestal sailors.
this was one of the jets that had numerous encounters, (intercepts and escorts) with Russian Bear Bombers/Recon "straying" off-course on U.S. allies airspace..
@afy777 I remember 2 Bear flyovers. There were 3 F8s "Escorting" them. One on each wing and one directally under the bomb holes (or possibly the camera ports). Either way the Bear was in deep shit if it didn't go away. I do remember seeing one of the F8s drop back to a trailing position briefly. Some Russian must have pissed him off.
With big enough of a motor, anything could fly. As far as flying with wings folded, remember the XB-70 was designed to fold the wing tips down in flight.
I miss the F-8 and F-14.I thought the F-14 would be around a long time(I know,it was from the 70s ) and was saddened to see it and the F-8 retired.What really makes me sick is to see the B-52s getting chopped up for scrap while still operational.I think I was born 30 years to late.Long live the fighters of old and thanks to the people that can afford to bring them back to life so new generations can see and hear them in all of their glory.Static displays are like a caged animal.Set them free!!
It was owned and operated by thunderbird aviation at Deer Valley airport Phoenix Az DVT. They are aout if buisness now I do not know what happened to the f8s
The Phantom was chosen because it seated 2...Pilot and RIO....The Super Crusader could outrun a Phantom easily...NASA used a Super Crusader as a test bed for future astronauts...They thumped Phantom pilots at Pax River on a daily basis...For training purposes of course!
Aside from congress making it against the law a number of years ago for Americans, not a problem. All these supersonic airplanes you see privately held are foreign sourced or bought before the ban.
jets are way costly to maintain in flyable condition, especially those bigger jets. anyone who decides to restore one would need a sizable and dedicated crew to maintain it. it would be nice to see an f-14 in the skies again tho.
We will never see an F-14 flyable again. The U.S. government is so concerned IRAN could get parts to repair theirs that we chopped them up.... might be able to view a you tube of some of the chopping.
@jetaddicted They should have sent a shell at least. I'm not sure but the Navy might still have a few flying as adversary aircraft for ACM training. Maybe someone visting this video could let me know for sure.
Rumor has it, this plane was bad about leaking hydraulic fluid. They never could seem to be able to figure out where the leaks were coming from. So after awhile, they decided that as long as it was leaking, it was OK. If it wasn't leaking, then they would ground it. Rumor has it.
The long fuselage and the huge engine made the F-8 so cool flying in the air. I worked in a F-8 squadron based at Miramar NAS in the late 60's. What a beautiful plane in flight.
I remeber when this plane was based at t bird aviation on deer valley airport north Phoenix before they went out of buisness.
Use to watch them fly it out of there sure woke up the airport. I also heard they could not get/or use the original powerplant so they had to use a lower thrust engine reducing performace.
Indeed she's beautiful...I had the chance to sit on it's cockpit while after my uncle (Fighter Pilot - Phil. Air Force) flew his plane back on an airshow in 1990
to the OP--this wasnt the last flying Sader....the French navy flew them almost up to the end of 2000. This plane belongs to the owner of the Flying Heritage Museum, Paul Allen. At least thats who I think owns it--a few years back I remember driving on the interstate in Wichita, KS, and seeing a flatbed truck hauling one of the Crusader fuselages. It went to a small airfield north of Wichita, to a closed hangar with parts of an F-18,F-16, A-4's and a Crusader wing sitting outside.
Thank's for the correction. But when i asked the question to the guy working on the plane he told me it was the last one flying. I guess he meant in the U.S. I'M surprised it even flew that day, it was leaking fluid from the landing gear bad.
T-bird Aviation operated two of them in addition to an F-104. They are both now owned by Paul Allen. The rumor is, they are being restored to fly. Who knows, tho.
WOW an old Gun fighter video. I used to work on this airplane when it we owned by Thunderbird Aviation in Phoenix. I doesn't look like they have changed the paint or tail logo. When the comapany went our of business it was lost in a court battle, that and another whole one. Thunderbird had five or six if I remember.
F-8 crusaders are the latest jets of Philippine Airforce but our government decommissioned them way back 1988 due to the price of maintenance and wreckage.
1998? Wow! man I wish I was there to see that! The Gunfighter was one of my Favorite fighters. Must have been owned by NASA at Edwards. The US Navy retired it's last photo crusader in 87 I think.
why f-8 was retired??can somebody tell me?
petpetfernandez 2 months ago
why they retired f-8 crusader??its the most advanced jet fighter in philippines.....i wish it was not retired
petpetfernandez 2 months ago
only 3 countries used the F-8.. US Navy, French Navy and the Philippine Air Force...
psychedelic14 3 months ago
Back in the era of the Crusader it was the 1 fighter I would have hated to see if I was in a Mig.
hammerogod 1 year ago
1st aircraft model I ever built as a kid was an F8U. I seem to remember the box notes saying something about Ling-Temco-Vought. I remember Vought, but the other two names are foreign to me.
AintLifeGarand 1 year ago
I was on the bon homme richard and the oriskany during nam, the f-8 pilots knew that had a better plane than the f-4 phantom, and they shot down more migs than the f-4. the north veitnam pilots where scared to death of the f-8, it could out manuver them...and it had 4 cannons in the nose. I once heard that someone had called the crusader...leathal elegance...nuf said!
MrPoppa2 1 year ago
@MrPoppa2 Yes. The F4s didn't even have guns when they were first deployed. The Crusaders were a true figher and not a missile platform. I was on the Bonnie Dick for 3 Westpacs. I only watched the F4 operate off the "Big" carriers like the Firestal .. err .. Forrestal. Our F8s killed the Migs so the F4 folks could fly safely. No disrespect intended Forrestal sailors.
hammerogod 1 year ago
this was one of the jets that had numerous encounters, (intercepts and escorts) with Russian Bear Bombers/Recon "straying" off-course on U.S. allies airspace..
afy777 1 year ago
@afy777 I remember 2 Bear flyovers. There were 3 F8s "Escorting" them. One on each wing and one directally under the bomb holes (or possibly the camera ports). Either way the Bear was in deep shit if it didn't go away. I do remember seeing one of the F8s drop back to a trailing position briefly. Some Russian must have pissed him off.
hammerogod 1 year ago
We got those in a museum near our place.
markvinas31 2 years ago
Nice.
But French Navy F-8s were still in service in '98. So it wasnt the only flying F-8 at the time.
lonewolf0281 2 years ago
Comment removed
lonewolf0281 2 years ago
With big enough of a motor, anything could fly. As far as flying with wings folded, remember the XB-70 was designed to fold the wing tips down in flight.
oldschool62nation 2 years ago
Now could you really fly with the wings folded,cuz someone told me that it was possible
1bearcatf8f 2 years ago
The Air Force was never interested in it ..
wilburhog 2 years ago
An F-8 is not an easy plane to fly. It did, however, possess some amazing abilities. Pilots said they could fly the plane with the wings folded.
vorahk1994 2 years ago
I miss the F-8 and F-14.I thought the F-14 would be around a long time(I know,it was from the 70s ) and was saddened to see it and the F-8 retired.What really makes me sick is to see the B-52s getting chopped up for scrap while still operational.I think I was born 30 years to late.Long live the fighters of old and thanks to the people that can afford to bring them back to life so new generations can see and hear them in all of their glory.Static displays are like a caged animal.Set them free!!
groovy67 2 years ago 2
@groovy67 Best words ever typed on youtube!
mytmousemalibu 1 year ago
It was owned and operated by thunderbird aviation at Deer Valley airport Phoenix Az DVT. They are aout if buisness now I do not know what happened to the f8s
jdhiner1 2 years ago
The F8 was basically a rocket with wings.
Combine that with a Navy-trained pilot and you have a system of enormous capability.
Probably the only combination that caused the Russians to actually think.
oriskany 2 years ago
Bye old girl! It was nice knowing you!
VF-24
MiGKillerInACrusader 2 years ago
How strange to see it taxiing with the canopy open. We never did that. Also very strange to see it on a regular runway.
CVA-31
exenrontexas 2 years ago
the super crusader that competed with the F-4 was a far superior fighter pity the navy didn't take it.
pramboy74 2 years ago
The Phantom was chosen because it seated 2...Pilot and RIO....The Super Crusader could outrun a Phantom easily...NASA used a Super Crusader as a test bed for future astronauts...They thumped Phantom pilots at Pax River on a daily basis...For training purposes of course!
irondragsportster 2 years ago
a second seat could have been added if needed, but i don't think it was
pramboy74 2 years ago
plenty of saders parked at davis monathan, no reason that someone couldn't get a few & restore them. just need someone with the money & the passion.
kdraper2007 2 years ago
Aside from congress making it against the law a number of years ago for Americans, not a problem. All these supersonic airplanes you see privately held are foreign sourced or bought before the ban.
kblackav8or 2 years ago
jets are way costly to maintain in flyable condition, especially those bigger jets. anyone who decides to restore one would need a sizable and dedicated crew to maintain it. it would be nice to see an f-14 in the skies again tho.
erad5 2 years ago
We will never see an F-14 flyable again. The U.S. government is so concerned IRAN could get parts to repair theirs that we chopped them up.... might be able to view a you tube of some of the chopping.
LANewell2 2 years ago
@LANewell2 right about that,the US gov wouldn't even let an f14 leave the territory for a british museum...
too bad,but understandable
jetaddicted 1 year ago
@jetaddicted They should have sent a shell at least. I'm not sure but the Navy might still have a few flying as adversary aircraft for ACM training. Maybe someone visting this video could let me know for sure.
LANewell2 1 year ago
Rumor has it, this plane was bad about leaking hydraulic fluid. They never could seem to be able to figure out where the leaks were coming from. So after awhile, they decided that as long as it was leaking, it was OK. If it wasn't leaking, then they would ground it. Rumor has it.
StephenB58 2 years ago
Awesome, Its a major regret that I was born too late to see one in person flying. The F-8 is my all time favorite aircraft
t5killer95 3 years ago
I want to see a naval heiritage flight with the F-8 the F-14D the F-18C and the EA-6B in formation
CaptN0ob 3 years ago
Oh an A-1 too
CaptN0ob 3 years ago
The long fuselage and the huge engine made the F-8 so cool flying in the air. I worked in a F-8 squadron based at Miramar NAS in the late 60's. What a beautiful plane in flight.
spitoncat 3 years ago
I remeber when this plane was based at t bird aviation on deer valley airport north Phoenix before they went out of buisness.
Use to watch them fly it out of there sure woke up the airport. I also heard they could not get/or use the original powerplant so they had to use a lower thrust engine reducing performace.
kingair81r 3 years ago
Indeed she's beautiful...I had the chance to sit on it's cockpit while after my uncle (Fighter Pilot - Phil. Air Force) flew his plane back on an airshow in 1990
haulasuras 3 years ago
She's beautiful... I wish I was born when our nation had those in flyable conditions,. (Philippines)
markvinas31 3 years ago
to the OP--this wasnt the last flying Sader....the French navy flew them almost up to the end of 2000. This plane belongs to the owner of the Flying Heritage Museum, Paul Allen. At least thats who I think owns it--a few years back I remember driving on the interstate in Wichita, KS, and seeing a flatbed truck hauling one of the Crusader fuselages. It went to a small airfield north of Wichita, to a closed hangar with parts of an F-18,F-16, A-4's and a Crusader wing sitting outside.
skydivr7673 3 years ago 2
Thank's for the correction. But when i asked the question to the guy working on the plane he told me it was the last one flying. I guess he meant in the U.S. I'M surprised it even flew that day, it was leaking fluid from the landing gear bad.
megashegem 3 years ago
@megashegem The greek airforce also flys this aircraft
I believe they are not just being replaced
mirlin235 1 year ago
@mirlin235 The greek airforce dont fly the F8 but the A7 Corsair. The A7s design was taken from the F8 which is why they look alike ;)
AdrianNtart 1 year ago
T-bird Aviation operated two of them in addition to an F-104. They are both now owned by Paul Allen. The rumor is, they are being restored to fly. Who knows, tho.
freightdog208 3 years ago
WOW an old Gun fighter video. I used to work on this airplane when it we owned by Thunderbird Aviation in Phoenix. I doesn't look like they have changed the paint or tail logo. When the comapany went our of business it was lost in a court battle, that and another whole one. Thunderbird had five or six if I remember.
104Stfghtr 3 years ago
F-8 Crusader...A.K.A. The Tits machine!
magicmike9000 3 years ago
so many scrap and stored f8H's in the philippines i wish i could get one of those
montoya6k 3 years ago
This F-8 is now one of two in a private collection owned by a gentleman in Seattle
cpasley21 3 years ago
Nah, I heard he lived in Spokane as part of a USAF Vet thing down near Fairchild.
T160VE 3 years ago
The F-8 is my favorite jet fighter. Thank you for posting this. I wish I could have seen one in person.
rpmartin01 4 years ago
that jet was a beast
GDI4evr 4 years ago
F-8 crusaders are the latest jets of Philippine Airforce but our government decommissioned them way back 1988 due to the price of maintenance and wreckage.
markvinas31 4 years ago
1998? Wow! man I wish I was there to see that! The Gunfighter was one of my Favorite fighters. Must have been owned by NASA at Edwards. The US Navy retired it's last photo crusader in 87 I think.
Flackvest 4 years ago
Saw one of these perform at the MCAS El Toro airshow in the early '90s. Freakin impressive & the afterburner has a mean roar too.
avwiz 4 years ago