Walk Around F-8 Crusader

We have another welcome addition to Squadron/Signal's Walk Around series, the LTV F-8 Crusader! Following the tradition of the Walk Around series, the author has collected a great collection of photos and profiles of the US Navy's 'Last Gunfighter.'

The F-8 was the US Navy's first operational supersonic fighter, powered by the J57, same engine that propelled the Air Force's first supersonic fighter - the F-100 Super Sabre. The aircraft designers kept the aircraft low to the ground to keep the landing gear light and simple. It was the first aircraft to employ variable incidence to augment lift at low speeds. The front of the wing would be raised for take-off and landing, which in turn would keep the fuselage closer to horizontal.

The aircraft was armed with four 20mm cannons, and was fitted with a pair of launch rails on each side of the forward fuselage that would allow for four AIM-9 Sidewinders or Zuni rocket launchers to be carried.

The F-8 was on duty when the US entered the conflict in Southeast Asia. In fact, it was the only radar-equipped supersonic fighter in the theater as the Air Force's counterpart, the F-100, was not radar equipped and therefore blind to the MiGs that were being vectored against US strike aircraft. The F-8 would hold its own in the skies over Southeast Asia until finally replaced by the F-4 Phantom II.

This title has a very nice collection of color and black & white photographs to illustrate all of the nooks and crannies in and around the Crusader. The author also walks us through the differences with the Crusader variants, including some nice photography of the RF-8 Photo-Crusader. Coverage of the French and Philippine F-8s is also rendered.

This is another nice release from Squadron/Signal Publications and you'll definitely want to have this one on your shelf. You can get this title from your favorite book seller, hobby shop, or directly from Squadron Mail Order (www.squadron.com).

My sincere thanks to Squadron Mail Order for this review sample!