USAF F-8P and EA-5D

[tigercat2]

In this alternate world, the USAF adopted the F-8 for day fighter to escort heavily loaded F-107Ds over NVN, and the A-5 for standoff jamming.  The EA-5D in this photo is the test bird flown by Systems Command at Edwards AFB.


Wes W

[Leigh]

Hello    

[elmayerle]

I assume the pods under the EA-5D fuselage are camera ones specific to Edwards only?  I would rather suspect that the EA-5D would house the jamming equipment in a pod aerodynamically identical to the recce pod under the fuselage centerline.  It drastically simplifies performance and loads analysis.

I love the idea of the F-8 as a USAF fighter.

[tigercat2]

I assume the pods under the EA-5D fuselage are camera ones specific to Edwards only?  I would rather suspect that the EA-5D would house the jamming equipment in a pod aerodynamically identical to the recce pod under the fuselage centerline.  It drastically simplifies performance and loads analysis.

I love the idea of the F-8 as a USAF fighter.

The pods that are visible are temporary camera pods for testing at Edwards, very similar to what the first YF-12s had in the mid-60s.


I put various bits and pieces from an F-105G on the Viggie; you can't see them in this photo.

Agree with the USAF use of the F-8; I have built four of them (grey-blue, cammo, ADC grey and NMF).  From what I have read the F-8 was a contemporary of the F-100, used the same engine, but could out-perform the F-100 in almost every aspect.  Great aircraft.  

Also, I just finished the F8U-3 Crusader III (1/72 Anigrand kit).  What an airplane, just think how different things would have been in the 60s and 70s if that aircraft had been selected over the F4H-1 Phantom II.


Wes W.

[elmayerle]

Actually, I can see an armed EA-5D developing for the USAF alongside/in place of the F-105G.   I know if/when I do an EA-5D, it'll likely be using the existing "canoe" aero shape, but with the jamming eqipment inside it, much as the EF-111 had.  Perhaps it'll be a NAA/Grumman joint effort.

The F-105 and A-5 airframes where the only two US airframes capable of supersonic speed at sea level (there are reports from 'Nam of RA-5C backseaters having to look up to see the tops of some of the temples they passed.

[nev]

That EA-5D is just      

Great choice of scheme    

[John Howling Mouse]

Those are both sweet birds the way you've completed them.

Keep 'em coming, eh?!

     

[retro_seventies]

i'm not sure that what i am doing to myself is what the nun's would want...

mummy!    

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Wes,

I like the wing tip mounted missile rails on your Crusader, this makes a lot of sense with the F-8 and something that I had envisioned on my own what-if Crusader upgraded to meet the threat of the late 80s and early 90s.  Another option for my own version is to use the weapons pylons from the A-7 on the F-8 wing or better yet, just take the entire A-7 wing and use it on the F-8.  Since there are a lot of common components within both airframes this would lead to the use of the A-7 nose wheel with the catapult tow bar in place of the single wheel on the F-8.  

Looking forward to seeing more of your work!

[elmayerle]

Great minds think alike, Jeffry.  I'm looking at using a lot of the A-7's pylons and equipment upgrades for my F-8 upgrade that also picks up the dual-F404 installation from the Vought V529 variant of the A-7 (this is along with that variant of the A-7E and a USAF A-7F).   I don't kow as I'll completely use the A-7 wing, I still want the variable angle feature of the F-8.

[NARSES2]

They are beautiful - Super Crusader in those colours anyone ?

[Davey B]

*resists urge to go to bathroom with pot of handcream*

BEAUTIFUL!    

[tigercat2]

Wes;

I like the wing tip mounted missile rails on your Crusader, this makes a lot of sense with the F-8 and something that I had envisioned on my own what-if Crusader upgraded to meet the threat of the late 80s and early 90s.  Another option for my own version is to use the weapons pylons from the A-7 on the F-8 wing or better yet, just take the entire A-7 wing and use it on the F-8.  Since there are a lot of common components within both airframes this would lead to the use of the A-7 nose wheel with the catapult tow bar in place of the single wheel on the F-8.  

Looking forward to seeing more of your work!

Regards,

Jeffry Fontaine
Bremerton, Washington

Like you, I have always thought that the F-8 with an A-7 wing (or modified A-7 wing) would have essentially been an F/A-18 about 15 years earlier.  It would have had excellent air to ground plus air to air capabilities, and the USAF would probalby have purchased a bunch of them.

BTW, here is a photo of a USAF single seat version of the Vigilante configured as an interceptor - based on the A3J-1.




Wes W.

[Captain Canada]

Beauties...all three of them !

The 'E' type Vigilante has to my favourite, tho......and almost the right colours on 'er for JHM to toss a t-tail on !

 

[Radish]

Terrific!!
Love the F-8.
Beauty!!