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Description
| Notes: SINGLE-PLACE, SWEPT/VARIABLE-INCIDENCE wing, LAND-BASED trainer with reconnaissance capability. | ||
| Manufacturer: | Vought | |
| Base model: | F-8 | |
| Designation: | RF-8 | |
| Version: | G | |
| Nickname: | Crusader | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Tri-Service | |
| Designation Period: | 1962-Present | |
| Basic role: | Fighter | |
| Modified Mission: | Reconnaissance | |
| See Also: | ||
Specifications
| Length: | 54' 3" | 16.5 m | |
| Height: | 15' 9" | 4.8 m | |
| Wingspan: | 35' 8" | 10.8 m | |
| Wingarea: | 350.0 sq ft | 32.5 sq m | |
| Empty Weight: | 17,836 lb | 8,088 kg | |
| Gross Weight: | 34,100 lb | 15,464 kg | |
Propulsion
| No. of Engines: | 1 | ||
| Powerplant: | Pratt & Whitney J57-P-4A | ||
Performance
| Range: | 1,425 miles | 2,294 km | |
| Cruise Speed: | 570 mph | 917 km/h | 495 kt |
| Max Speed: | 1,133 mph | 1,824 km/h | 985 kt |
| Climb: | 27,200 ft/min | 8,290 m/min | |
| Ceiling: | 52,350 ft | 15,956 m | |
Examples of this type may be found at
| Museum | City | State |
| MCAS El Toro Historical Foundation | Irvine | California |
| USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park | Mobile | Alabama |
RF-8G on display
MCAS El Toro Historical Foundation | USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park |
Recent comments by our visitors
| Tom Elsley Grand Rapids, MI | I was detached from NAS Miramar to the USS Coral Sea via VFP63 from 1969 to 1970 West Pack cruise. A lot of memories from that era, some good, some bad! Remember a few of the folks, Lt.Cdr Bob Goss, Goss's Gleaners was our title.
Remember a few of the folks, Crash Caldwell, Dan Meis, Spike Heath, but have not seen or heard from any of them since then. 08/28/2008 @ 07:17 [ref: 22566] |
| Tom Elsley Grand Rapids, MI | I was detached from NAS Miramar to the USS Coral Sea via VFP63 from 1969 to 1970 West Pack cruise. A lot of memories from that era, some good, some bad! Remember a few of the folks, Lt.Cdr Bob Goss, Goss's Gleaners was our title.
Remember a few of the folks, Crash Caldwell, Dan Meis, Spike Heath, but have not seen or heard from any of them since then. 08/28/2008 @ 07:17 [ref: 22565] |
| T.M. Huston , IN | Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I worked on these birds (G's and a couple of J's) at the end of my tour in the Navy with VFP-63. My pix got flood damaged,so this is great. Regards,TMH 08/12/2008 @ 12:27 [ref: 22444] |
| David Boyett Silver City,, NM | I was an AMH and worked on Crusaders from May 1964 to July 1969: VF-124, VU/VC-5 and VFP-63. While at VFP-63 I only made only one cruise and it was on the Bonhomme Richard in 1967. The USS Forrestal was our relief at the end our tour that year and we were enroute to Cubi Pt. when the Forrestal caught fire. We reversed course and returned to assist Forrestal and to assume her missions until the America came to relieve us. During that cruise our OIC was shot down and captured. When the surviving airmen were released, I was watching their return on TV and was very thankful to see LCDR Haines step off the plane. We went through 7 aircraft: 5 due to enemy action and 2 transferred to another VFP-63 Det. Although I never flew one, I have always felt the F8 Crusader was the coolest fighter the Navy bought. 08/02/2008 @ 04:18 [ref: 22331] |
| James Bremner Oak Harbor, WA | I completed two tours of duty with VFP63, both times I deployed on the USS Coral Sea CVA 43. I got very familiar with VFP63, the Coral Sea, and the RF8. The last two West Packs were made as Maintainence Chief of DET 5. As a PHC, this was not normal, but necessary. The other Chief had a heart attack as we were leaving the States in Nov'71.
I was relieved as Maintenance Chief by a ADC and returned to VFP 63 for release from active duty in June 73. I had an intresting 19 month tour as Maintenace Chief; never a dull moment. I had a great crew with three great aircraft. For as old as they were, they performed in an outstanding manner. Thanks to 12 years with VFP 63, and other Photographic Systems, I persued work in the electronic field, and have never looked back. VFP 63 was a great outfit, and will be sorely missed my this old sailor. 06/10/2008 @ 21:46 [ref: 21325] |
| Ernie Halley Palatine, IL | I was attached to VFP-62 at NAS Cecil Field, FL.
VFP-62 shot the low level pictures of the missle sites, during the Cuban Missle Crises, in 1962. The Air Force had U-2's and they took the high level pictures. VFP-62 received the first Navy Unit Commendation ever awarded in peacetime. President Kennedy even came to FL to present the NUC to our Commanding Officer. A RF-8G was just restored, and is now on display in the hangar at Battleship Park. It is a beauty. The Squadron just had our first reunion in April, at Battleship Park, near Mobile, AL. 06/06/2008 @ 13:32 [ref: 21198] |
| Curtis E. Campbell Dusseldorf, OTH | To: Dick Graham
I'm writing in response to the message you posted on behalf of your father. I served with your father (then Lt. Graham "Sugarbear") while assigned to VFP-63 Det-3 aboard USS Constellation CV-64. I was a Photographersmate 3rd Class at that time and maintained the Reconnaissance System for his planes. After a mission I would follow him to CVIC (Carrier Intelligence Center) with the film he had shot and while he debriefed I would process and print said film. I also remember him as one of the "Nicest" pilots I ever met, which I believe is how he earned the handle "Sugarbear". Would be very happy to hear from him again; my e-mail is california_curt@yahoo.com 06/04/2008 @ 09:54 [ref: 21111] |
| Phil Riddle New Windsor, MD | To: Dick Graham, I saw your message, I served with your father "Sugarbear" on the USS Constellation. I work on his aircraft many times. I worked on the elctrical systems as an AE2 form 76 to 80. The RF-8G that your father flew was used in the Iran Hostage incident for photo recon. It was great serving with him. I have a picutre of aircraft 612 with his sugnature. my email is phil.riddle@getmona.com 06/03/2008 @ 12:03 [ref: 21103] |
| john e braun sr california, MD | Was ststioned at Miramar jul 1969 - Jul 1971. My 1st 7 months was with VFP-63 Fighter, then transferred to VF-111. Was there when the jet flew through the hanger roof. Would be great to hear from someone. I am here at Paxriv in Md, and still see one of my original shipmates from my 1st command ( USS Kearsarge CVS-33, 65-69). 03/18/2008 @ 02:49 [ref: 20084] |
| Norman Palosky Lorton, VA | I served with detachments of Photographic Squadron VFP-63 on two Vietnam cruises between 1965 and 1967; one on the U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard and one on the U.S.S. Coral Sea.
As a Photographer's Mate I only worked on the photo systems of the RF8 but still thought she was a beautiful bird, especially almost hovering in the wing-tilt position. The most harrowing job on the cruises was installing night-recon flares. You did it in near-darkness and you were never sure that the radar was turned off for you during the install! 02/13/2008 @ 08:58 [ref: 19662] |
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