[forcerecon85]

any news on what variant of Crusader we're getting? If there's a chance at an F-8C, I'd like to see a VF-84 Vagabonds/Jolly Rogers and add one more aircraft to fulfill my hope of a complete diecast history of the Jolly Rogers squadron it can park with the CW Tomcats!

Any Media Player 3.0.9

Click here to download it.

[David Hingtgen]

No F-8C's, sorry. It will be the E family: E, E(FN), J, and P.

[Shawn 507]

So the Jolly Rogers never got the E, J or P model?

[forcerecon85]

Originally Posted by Shawn 507

So the Jolly Rogers never got the E, J or P model?

As far as I know VF-84 Vagabonds (which took on the tradition and history of the Jolly Rogers) got the F-8C in 1960. They were with CVG-7 on the USS Independence and were part of the Cuban Missile Crisis. They got F4B Phantom II's in 1964 and since then the skull and cross bones returned. More info here Almansur: Hijacking the Vagabonds

[David Hingtgen]

VF-84 was the first squadron in the *Navy* to get the F-8C, but it was the only F-8 they ever had. A few "firsts":

First F-8A squadron: VF-32 Swordsmen
First F-8C squadron: VMF-333 Shamrocks
First F-8D squadron: VF-111 Sundowners

[Shawn 507]

OK got it. The JR thing is getting played out by CW anyways. I'm all for some new colors.

[muesingman]

Errr...

... I have done some research on this bird (since I´ll surely get one, too) and I have found out that the armament variety was quite... overviewable... this seems quite logical since there was just one pylon under each wing.

So I wonder wich armament CW will add to this model. Two MER´s x 6 Mk.82? or a Mk. 84 for each pylon? or Bullpup missiles?

By the way, Bullpup missiles: on Wikipedia they did not say which Bullpup version was intended to be used from the F-8. Once again, maybe David H. can help here: AGM-12B or AGM-12C? Reviewing Hasegawa Weapons Set IV there was quite a difference between these versions; the "C" was much larger and it was said to have a nuclear warhead...

And next question: did the Marines also use the Bullpup? I am asking since I would like a Marines F-8 most.

[David Hingtgen]

No F-8 ever actually used the Bullpup. There is that one photo---and that's the one and only time, for a test.

As for bombs---I'd want Mk81's. Pretty much a signature bomb for the F-8, and what else would we use Mk81's on? Plus you can load a LOT of them on... (F-8's can hold 12 Mk81's, but only 8 Mk82's)

Single larger bombs are less common, but if anything I'd want to see Mk83's. Mk84's were rare, M117 was a bit more common.

[rdenham]

Originally Posted by David Hingtgen

No F-8 ever actually used the Bullpup. There is that one photo---and that's the one and only time, for a test.

As for bombs---I'd want Mk81's. Pretty much a signature bomb for the F-8, and what else would we use Mk81's on? Plus you can load a LOT of them on... (F-8's can hold 12 Mk81's, but only 8 Mk82's)

Single larger bombs are less common, but if anything I'd want to see Mk83's. Mk84's were rare, M117 was a bit more common.

This info came from another forum so take it with a gain of salt, a quick google search and a few picture seem to back up the info.


“ASM-N-7a Bullpup was rarely used operationally, although its guidance system was one of the reasons for the hump on the F-8E.”

“The Crusader was the only fast jet aboard 27C carriers to be able to haul the 2 Mk84’s, so the Bullpup-firing was left to Skyhawks with Crusaders using their heavy-bomb capability. Also, it appears the Skyhawks were 'easier' aircraft to fly while guiding your Bullpup on target. Not that the missile was either reliable or had a reasonable punch even though Mk81 were regularly carried by both Skyhawks and Crusaders.”


“It's interesting that the French F-8E(FN) also had the Bullpup-hump, but never actually operated the Bullpup.”

[David Hingtgen]

I have never seen an OPERATIONAL F-8 with a bullpup, and ARC's F-8 pilot says he never saw it used. If you've found a pic of a fleet squadron with one, I'd love to see it. I mean, I can show you an F-15 firing an AIM-4, and an F-14 with a Walleye on the wing, but it doesn't mean they actually "used" them.

If it was used in actual combat, it was a rare thing indeed.

Also, the Bullpup hump didn't even have Bullpup parts inside it in most variants (as it wasn't needed for an un-used weapon)---it was a nice space for other electronics though. The F-8H even got the Bullpup hump added (they weren't built with it as D's) but the H never had the slightest bit of capability for the Bullpup---but again, it used it for electronics----it basically copied the J's ECM system, which itself used the E's Bullpup space. (The J also used the nose IRST housing for more ECM, presumably the H did as well)

::edit:: I believe I found the thread you're quoting. Frankly, if it's from THAT forum, I pretty much automatically discount anything said there.