This Day in Aviation History
March 25th, 1955
First flight of the Vought F-8 Crusader.
 
The Vought F-8 Crusader (originally F8U) was a single-engine, supersonic, carrier-based air superiority jet aircraft built by Vought for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, replacing the Vought F7U Cutlass, and for the French Navy. The first F-8 prototype was ready for flight in February 1955. The F-8 served principally in the Vietnam War. The Crusader was the last American fighter with guns as the primary weapon, earning it the title “The Last of the Gunfighters”.
 
The RF-8 Crusader was a photo-reconnaissance development and operated longer in U.S. service than any of the fighter versions. RF-8s played a crucial role in the Cuban Missile Crisis, providing essential low-level photographs impossible to acquire by other means. U.S. Naval Reserve units continued to operate the RF-8 until 1987…..
 
Source:
Wikipedia, Vought F-8 Crusader: http://gstv.us/1ZykjSN
 
YouTube, SeaWings: The Last of the Gunfighters (F-8 Crusader):
http://gstv.us/1ZyknSm
 
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Photo from: http://gstv.us/2mKle5b
 
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