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Vought's F-8 Crusader was the last of a line of fighters
that company had built for the US Navy. Entering service in
1957 the Crusader was the Navy's first supersonic fighter
aircraft and featured an unusual variable incidence wing to
allow it to achieve the required low landing speed for carrier
operations. Initial F-8A (F8U-1) aircraft were armed only
with internal cannon with side mounted missile rails introduced
on the F-8C (F8U-2). The F-8B (F8U-1E) and F-8D (F8U-2N) were
limited all weather variants of the F-8A and F-8C models respectively
while the RF-8A (F8U-1P) was a reconnaissance variant . The
final production variant was the mutlirole F-8E (F8U-2NE).
This version featured the APQ-94 fire control radar, and an
increased weapons load including the Bullpup ASM. Crusaders
saw extensive Vietnam War service and replacement of the type
began in 1972 but was not completed until 1982. Numerous upgrades
were performed on the type with F-8Bs becoming F-8Ls, F-8Cs
becoming F-8Ks, F-8Ds becoming F-8Hs and F-8Es becoming F-8Js.
The only customer apart from the US Navy and Marine Corps
was the French Aeronavale who operated 42 F-8E(FN)s until
1999. These featured blown flaps and extra high lift devices
to allow the aircraft to operate from the smaller French carriers.
The Philippines operated 25 ex USN F-8Hs from 1978 to 1988.
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