The Vought F-8 Crusader was built in direct response to the US Navy's requirement for a modern, supersonic, carrier-based fighter aircraft and was the first carrier-based aircraft in the world to break the speed of sound. The single-seat Crusader was primarily equipped with four 20mm cannons and the short-range AIM-9 Sidewinder missile. However, due to the growing American involvement in Southeast Asia, the Crusader was soon deployed over the skies of Vietnam, where it served with distinction with the US Navy and the US Marine Corps. As a predominantly cannon-armed fighter aircraft, the F-8 was seen by many as the end of the line for cannon-only fighter jets - making the F-8 the "last of the gunslingers". The Crusader ultimately proved its worth through service and resilience and saw four decades of frontline service, including with the French Navy (Aeronavale). French Crusaders were a variant specially produced for export, designated F-8E(FN), and these aircraft were fitted with blown flaps to assist the aircraft in taking off and landing from the shorter and smaller French-made carriers. The Philippine Air Force was the third and last operator of the F-8, and these aircraft were retired in 1991. This book is aimed at modellers and enthusiasts alike with historical details, tours, colour profiles and modelling of the Crusader in popular scales.
