F-8 Crusader

[Stackup]

6 hours ago, Bremspropeller said:

Both are VFP-63 jets, though. VFP-63 was a photo recce unit, flying recce-birds into the early 80s.

The fighter-models were used for training, as VF-124 (the west coast Gator RAG) transitioned to Tomcats in 1972 and VFP-63 took over the RAG role.

So the first is a fighter version an as such still has the IRST while the second has been converted to the camera system?  Interesting.

[Bremspropeller]

53 minutes ago, Stackup said:

So the first is a fighter version an as such still has the IRST while the second has been converted to the camera system?  Interesting.

No. Both are fighters. The photo version looked different.

VFP-63 was the RAG for all the Crusaders when VF-124 transitioned to Tomcats. They flew both, their operational photo ships, as well as some fighters.

The east coast RAG (VF-174) had become the A-7 RAG in the late 60s.

BTW: This photo-bird is a "late" RF-8G

It not only has the vental fins for improved high speed stability, but also the two afterburner cooling scoops that became neccessary, when they were upgraded with the -420 motor (same as in the later Juliets and some Hotels). Must have een a hell of a fun ride!

Edited July 29, 2023 by Bremspropeller

[Stackup]

26 minutes ago, Bremspropeller said:

No. Both are fighters. The photo version looked different.

VFP-63 was the RAG for all the Crusaders when VF-124 transitioned to Tomcats. They flew both, their operational photo ships, as well as some fighters.

The east coast RAG (VF-174) had become the A-7 RAG in the late 60s.

BTW: This photo-bird is a "late" RF-8G

It not only has the vental fins for improved high speed stability, but also the two afterburner cooling scoops that became neccessary, when they were upgraded with the -420 motor (same as in the later Juliets and some Hotels). Must have een a hell of a fun ride!

All cool stuff and I can't wait to fly it in DCS! 

Back to the IRST though, if they are both F-8J's and therefore, both fighters, what does being attached to VFP-63 have to do with the IRST and do you know if the J will be equipped with the same one the E got?  Or is it a case of not all E models recieved the IRST and therefore only those airframes that did would still have it when they were upgraded to J's?

[Bremspropeller]

I'm not sure the IRST was used for a long time or used consistently. You don't read that mch about it and it was most probably a spares issue on the boat.

RedFlash 211 (a Juliet) at the ramp without an IRST

Red Flash 205 with the IRST clearly uninstalled. Check out the RHAW antenna on the intake. Just like the jet above.

Red Flash 211 and 206 with IRST (housings at least). Both are Juliets. Note the different radome colours. Possibly pre-modification, as neither have RHAW antennae on the intake.

Again Red Flash 211 - seems like the jet at the boat has a different BuNo.

 

Superheat 213 (should be a Project Shoehorn "Echo") with IRST

Superheat 201 - no IRST

The F-8D was the earliest version with the IRST. Not 100% sure if that was a retrofit during production when preparing for the Echo or if the Deltas came with IRST right from the start. The Phillippines Air Force Deltas certainly had them retained, while many Hotels (upgraded Deltas) had them taken off:

Superheat 202 without an IRST after being converted into a Hotel.

Same jet:

205

207

Old Nick 460 (a Delta) with the IRST:

Old Nick 105 (a Hotel) with the IRST taken off:

Old Nick 101  with...

...and without the IRST (same jet).

Batter Up 116 (Hotel) without the IRST (MIG-KILLER)

Two Dallas Hunters Hotels with the IRST:

A Superheats jet without the IRST, but with a wing-pylon, which became a thing with the Hotel.

...and with IRST...

https://www.airliners.net/photo/USA-Navy/Vought-F-8H-Crusader/2476840/L

 

I think one can conclude, that the IRSTs may or may not be installed in the fighters that had the capability (Delta/ Hotel and Echo/ Juliet). It's also clear, that if they didn't have the IRST, it was taken off the jet, instead of the jet never having it.

 

Edited July 29, 2023 by Bremspropeller

[streakeagle]

In the case of the F-4B, the IRST proved to be of limited use compared to the radar that just took up weight, space, and maintenance hours. No other F-4 variants ever carried the IRST. USAF F-4Cs retained the pod to simplify production, as it was a "minimum change" variant of the F-4B. The IRST on F-4Bs was rapidly replaced by RWR antennas due to Vietnam experience with SA-2 SAMs. It is easy to see the difference in photos as flat black pod is either empty or has an antenna, whereas true IRST pods have the mirrored glass dome on nose.

It doesn't surprise me that F-8s would have phased them out depending on parts availability and the decision of maintenance officers to reduce workload and increase uptime. I wonder why the F-8's IRST pod wasn't hijacked for RWR and/or ECM antenna use like the F-4?

[Oesau]

This discussion got me looking into more info on the earlier IRST and as noted above it's difficult however I did find this (how it was presented to the pilot) as which according to the post in another forum "This picture shows the IRST of the F-8D and early F-8E"

Edited August 1, 2023 by Oesau

[upyr1]

Any chance we can get a Vietnam era Essex-class carrier? 

[Ravenus]

please tell me this ain´t dead

 

[Bremspropeller]

On 3/14/2019 at 10:52 AM, MiG21bisFishbedL said:

Lack of IRST bulb indicates this is a mark prior to E, any ideas?

WU tailcode = VMF-334 "Falcons"

The beta-vane on top of the radome indicates an A thru C variant. All-black radome indicates a B or C. Keel fins indicade a C.

The A would have the smaller ranging radome:

 

Edited March 24, 2024 by Bremspropeller

[Cab]

On 12/7/2023 at 3:18 PM, Ravenus said:

please tell me this ain´t dead

 

Maybe more of an induced coma.

But I’m concerned the patient could still die.

[Spino]

Highly concerning, I was looking forward to this jet.

[Cab]

57 minutes ago, Spino said:

Highly concerning, I was looking forward to this jet.

Yeah, it's number one on my wish list.

They said some time ago they were placing it on the backburner for other priorities.

[Gunfreak]

1 hour ago, Spino said:

Highly concerning, I was looking forward to this jet.

Unless they are drastically changing how they do development. I wouldn't expect the F8 in this decade.

[carss]

I think priority right now is Corsair, after that we'll hear more about the Crusader

[Harlikwin]

1 hour ago, carss said:

I think priority right now is Corsair, after that we'll hear more about the Crusader

Corsair has been in every coming soon vid for like 3-4 years now... Its not comin...

 

[_Hoss]

I can remember laying in my rack under the Port Bow Cat and the F-8 going into afterburner for its cat shot... there was a very big and loud boom..... We had VFP-63 on board the Connie, back in the late 70's early 80's.

[Cab]

1 hour ago, Harlikwin said:

Corsair has been in every coming soon vid for like 3-4 years now... Its not comin...

 

I know...

[Cab]

It's nice to finally have the Phantom II to fly...

 

But it's not the Crusader.

Miss you, F-8. 

 

[bies]

Cold War IRST like the ones installed in F-101B, F-4B, MiG-25, F-8, Su-27, F-14A, MiG-29, J-35 Draken etc. were of very limited use. Able to detect a target only in very vavourable conditions like high altitude/good weather/flying below the target/rear aspect.

That's why the ones used often as interceptors like F-101, Su-27, MiG-29, MiG-31 often kept them when other lost them in the middle of the service life. I.e. MiG-29 OLS-29 IRST has been rated as practically useless against tactical fighters by USAF testing it during 1990s. In USSR IRST were additionally desirable as Soviets assumed they had older slower microprocessors and their radars will be jammed more easily.

IRL IRST were had many more limitations than we have modeled in DCS right now. Hopefully full fidely MiG-29 9.12 will model it in a more realistic way and create some new IRST API.

Edited July 14, 2024 by bies

[Silver_Dragon]

No updates about F-8J, on the 2024 Summer update:

https://magnitude-3.com/2024/07/13/2024-summer-update/

[Cab]

2 minutes ago, Silver_Dragon said:

No updates about F-8J, on the 2024 Summer update:

https://magnitude-3.com/2024/07/13/2024-summer-update/

Yeah, last thing remember seeing was it was being but on the back burner for other priorities. So nothing to update, I guess

[Cab]

I fly on the Enigma Heatblur Cold War server ALOT, and my favorite jet is the F-4. 

But every time I fly, literally every single time, I think how much better it would be in an F-8 Crusader. 

Then I remember how long we'll have to wait for it. 

I'm not complaining, because I know M3 has a lot on their plate. It just makes me sad. 

[PLAAF]

Silver Dragon's roadmap says it is going to be a G-8 variant. Does anyone know What's a G-8 variant? It's not in Wikipedia.

[PiratexCore]

1 hour ago, PLAAF said:

Silver Dragon's roadmap says it is going to be a G-8 variant. Does anyone know What's a G-8 variant? It's not in Wikipedia.

I was under the impression they were doing an F-8J. Silver Dragon's listing of G-8 might be a typo? Dunno.

[dcn]

5小时前，PLAAF说：

Silver Dragon's roadmap says it is going to be a G-8 variant. Does anyone know What's a G-8 variant? It's not in Wikipedia.

That's Fw 190 G-8...You confused Fw 190 F-8 with F-8.