"The Last Gunfighter"

— BuNo. 146939 —

Distinctive in appearance, the F-8 Crusaderwas one of the US Navy's first supersoniccarrier-based fighters. During testing (1956),the Crusader set a national speed record of1000mph (1609 km/m). Entering service in1957, the Crusader was the last US fighterdesigned with guns as a primary weapon.This earned the Crusader the nickname"The Last Gunfighter." Later equipped withSidewinder air-to-air missiles, the Crusaderhad the best kill ratio of any US Navyaircraft during the Vietnam War, earninganother nickname , "The Mig Master." Thelast US Navy version retired in 1976, andthe photo-reconnaissance version (RF-8)retired in 1987.

Manufacturer : Vought (later LTV)
Type: carrier-based fighter
Crew : pilot
Powerplant: one 18,016 lb (8,172 kg) static thrustPratt & Whitney J57-P-20 afterburning turbojet
Wingspan: 35 ft 8 in (10.87 m)
Length: 54 ft 3 in (16.5 m)
Height: 15 ft 9 in (4.8 m)
Weight: 17,836 lbs (8,090.3 kg) empty; 34,100 lbs(15,468 kg) maximum
Armament: four 20mm cannons; up to four Sidewinder (short range) air-to-air missiles; or 5,000 lbs ( 2,268 kg) of external ) ordnance
Maximum speed: 1,133 mph (1,823 km/h)
Combat radius: 500+ miles (805+ kilometers)
Service ceiling: 52,350 ft (15,956 m)

This aircraft on loan from the National Museumof Naval Aviation at Pensacola, Florida

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