military picture

The Crusader was one of the first true supersonic carrier-based fighter aircraft, designed in the mid 50's. It saw extensive service in the Vietnam war. Although the last US Navy Crusader was retired in 1982, the French Navy continued operating them until 2000
The f8 Crusader became the ultimate "day fighter" operating off the aircraft carriers. At the time, U.S. Navy carrier air wings had gone through a series of day and night fighter aircraft due to rapid advances in engine and avionics. Some squadrons operated aircraft for very short periods before being equipped with a newer higher performance aircraft. The f8 was the first post-Korean War aircraft to have a relatively long tenure with the fleet and like the USAF F-105, a contemporary design, might have stayed in service longer if not for the Vietnam war and resulting attrition from combat and operational losses.

When conflict erupted in the skies over North Vietnam, it was U.S. Navy Crusaders that first tangled with VPAF MiGs in April 1965. Although the MiGs claimed the downing of a Crusader, all aircraft returned safely. At the time, the Crusader was the best dogfighter the United States had against the nimble North Vietnamese MiGs. The Navy had evolved its "night fighter" role in the air wing to an all-weather interceptor, the F-4 Phantom II, equipped to engage incoming bombers at long range with missiles such as Sparrow as their sole air-to-air weapons, and maneuverability was not emphasized in their design. Some experts believed that the era of the dogfight was over as air-to-air missiles would knock down adversaries well before they could get close enough to engage in dogfighting. As aerial combat ensued over North Vietnam from 1965 to 1968, it became apparent that the dogfight was not over and the F-8 Crusader and a community trained to prevail in air-to-air combat was a key ingredient to success.

Despite the "last gunfighter" moniker, the F-8s achieved only four victories with their cannon — the remainder were accomplished with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, partly due to the propensity of the Colt Mark 12 cannons' feeding mechanism to jam under G-loading during high-speed dogfighting maneuvers. Nonetheless, the Crusader would be credited with the best kill ratio of any American type in the Vietnam War, Of the 19 aircraft shot down, 16 were MiG-17s and three were MiG-21s.

USMC Crusaders flew only in the South, and U.S. Navy Crusaders flew only from the small Essex class carriers; there weren't many F-8s. USMC Crusaders also operated in CAS missions

Crew: 1
Length: 10.20 m (33 ft 5 1/2 in)
Wingspan: 10.50 m (34 ft 5 in)
Height: 3.35 m (11 ft 0 in)
Wing area: 18.30 m² (196.99 ft²)
Empty weight: 3,490 kg (7,694 lb)
Loaded weight: 4,350 kg (9,590 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 4,840 kg (10,670 lb)
Powerplant: 1× Junkers Jumo 213 A-1 12-cylinder inverted-Vee piston engine, 1,287 kW, 1,544 kW with boost (1,750 PS / 2,100 PS)
Performance

Maximum speed: 685 km/h at 6,600 m, 710 km/h at 11,300 m (426 mph at 21,655 ft / 440 mph at 37,000 ft (11,000 m))
Range: 835 km (519 mi)
Service ceiling 12,000 m (39,370 ft)
Rate of climb: 17 m/s (3,300 feet/min)
Wing loading: 238 kg/m² (48.7 lb/ft²)
Power/mass: 0.30 - 0.35 kW/kg (0.18 - 0.21 hp/lb)

The final curtain., originally uploaded by Garysted.

Koksijde was the very last display by a French Air Force Mirage 2000 outside of France. In 2009 the FAF will display a Rafale, and will withdraw the Mirage from air show duties - the Rafale has a lot to live upto

They're still frustrated fighter pilots!, originally uploaded by Garysted.

Whenever I've seen NATO aircraft in the circuit at various airfields, they always seem to throw the aircraft around far more than any other heavy driver. Here the NATO E-3 is climbing out of Mildenhall

RAPTOR on a Tornado., originally uploaded by Garysted.

The large store under the fuselage (but always carried offcentre on one of three fuselage stations) is a RAPTOR pod, the next generation in recce pods for RAF Tornados. Although it has been in use for several years, the pod has not - as yet - proven to be very reliable and has not, I believe, been formally cleared yet for widespread service. Taken on a very cold and bitter November morning on 06 at Marham

Brimstone, ALARM and a Tornado., originally uploaded by Garysted.

The anti-armour Brimstone missile is a UK development from the Hellfire used by attack helicopters. Although late and, as usual, overbudget it is now being deployed with RAF GR4 units. 31 Sqn at Marham are the lead squadron and this sortie in April, 2006 was one of the first operational flights by a service jet. 12 Missiles are carried on four, triple point stations under the fuselage. It's also carrying 4 ALARM anti-radar missiles on the wing shoulder stations

Female four ship fini flight, originally uploaded by gatsbye53.

ELMENDORF AFB, Alaska -- Four F-15C pilots from the 3rd Wing step to their respective jets July 5 for the fini flight of Maj. Andrea “Gunna” Misener, 19th Figher Squadron, pictured far left. To her right are Capt. Jammie “Trix” Jamieson of the 12th Fighter Squadron, Maj. Carey “Mamba” Jones, 19th Fighter Squadron, and Capt. Samantha “Combo” Weeks, 12th Fighter Squadron. When Maj. Misener worked out who would be joining her in her four-ship fini flight, it became apparent there was a probable first in the Eagle community. Despite the growing number of females who have joined the ranks of fighter pilots since the career opened up to women in 1993, an all-female four-ship had not been accomplished in the F-15C before.
“It was a great flight,” said Maj. Misener after her final flight at Elmendorf. “We killed all the bandits and protected the target area. There were no Eagle losses.” The major says she will miss her flying squadron, as she moves on to new challenges at the year-long Joint Military Intelligence College in Washington D.C. (photo by Tech. Sgt. Keith Brown)

A-10 Thunderbolt II 103rd Fighter Wing The Flying Yankees, originally uploaded by F18E777.

A-10 Thunderbolt II from the 103rd Fighter Wing The Flying Yankees at Bradley International Airport BDL in CT. This was thier open house This shows one of the 103rd's A-10's with a simulated warload

Stryker infantry carrier vehicles from 3rd platoon, Company C., 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade., 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) landed at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, July 31 aboard C-17 Globemasters from McChord Air Force Base, Wash. This marks the first overseas movement of a Stryker unit and demonstrates the long-range, rapid-movement capabilities of the SBCT. A total of six Strykers from Fort Lewis, Wash., will participate in a live fire and Stryker capabilities demonstration next week at the Rodriguez Range Complex in North Kyungki Province. This training continues to demonstrate the commitment to the ROK/US alliance and the ability to rapidly reinforce the Peninsula as needed. After a week of training, the Stryker unit will return to Fort Lewis.