History

The Vought F-8 Crusader was a supersonic air superiority fighter developed for the US Navy in the 1950s. They began entering service with the US Navy in 1957 and proved popular and successful with 1115 being produced.

The Vought F-8 won a competition in 1953 to become the US Navy’s next air superiority fighter.

The prototype made its maiden flight on 25 March 1955 and they began entering service in 1957.

They were manufactured in five major versions but remained so popular after production ended that most airworthy F-8s were refurbished into later versions with improved capabilities and performance.

The F-8K was a remanufactured version of the F-8C with a more powerful engine, greater weapons capability and stronger undercarriage.

This model represents a F-8K flying with VMF-321 in April 1973

Heller 1/72 kit with Microscale decals completed by Leigh Edmonds in June 2007.

Data

MODEL: Vought F-8K

ROLE: fighter

TIME PERIOD: 1968- 1976

ENGINES: one Pratt & Whitney J57-P-20A turbojet engine of 8165kg thrust

WING SPAN: 10.72m

LENGTH: 16.61m

MAXIMUM TAKE OFF WEIGHT: 15,4223kg

MAXIMUM SPEED: 1,802km/h

RANGE: 1609km

CREW: 1

ARMAMENT: four 20mm Colt-Browing cannons and two Sidewinder missiles

SCALE: 1/72

KIT:

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