Description

This richly illustrated volume explores the F8U Crusader’s storied role in Cold War and Vietnam-era naval aviation, from setting speed records to earning its reputation as the “Last of the Gunfighters.” With unmatched dogfighting performance and a legacy spanning over four decades, the Crusader remains a standout in the history of carrier-based aircraft.

Building upon the expertise of the authors and historians of the Naval Institute Press, the Naval History Special Editions are designed to offer studies of the key vessels, battles, and events of armed conflict. Using an image-heavy format, these Special Editions should appeal to scholars, enthusiasts, and general readers alike.

From its first flight in 1955, the F8U Crusader proved to be an extraordinary aircraft, establishing a renowned fighter legacy for naval aviation. Building on its success with the F4U Corsair, aviator pioneer Chance Vought brought the Navy into the supersonic age with the Crusader, the first carrier-based fighter to exceed 1,000 mph in level flight. The Crusader earned the Navy its first Thompson Trophy for military aircraft speed and won the Collier Trophy for its innovative carrier suitability features. In 1957 future astronaut John Glenn set a new intercontinental speed record in an F8U-1P, flying from California to New York in just 3 hours and 23 minutes. At a time when guns were being replaced by missiles, Vought designers retained an integrated aircraft cannon, solidifying the Crusader’s reputation as the “Last of the Gunfighters” and earning the loyalty of its pilots.

The contribution of the Crusader to U.S. Cold War operations was substantial. The F8U-1P photoreconnaissance variant, the longest-serving Crusader model, debuted operationally during the Cuban Missile Crisis, providing irrefutable low-level imagery of Soviet activity. During the Vietnam War, Crusader pilots achieved an enviable 6-to-1 kill ratio, outperforming both Air Force and Navy F-4 Phantom pilots—a testament to the aircraft’s maneuverability and the dogfighting ethos of the Crusader’s pilot community.

The Crusader retired from U.S. Navy service in 1987, but its legacy endured as it continued to serve with the Philippine Air Force and the French Navy until 1999, forty-four years after its first flight. Author Ernest Snowden, a former naval aviator, provides an in-depth look at the design and operational history of this iconic aircraft, making this book a must-read for air combat history enthusiasts.

Langue

en

Version

Broché

Date de sortie initiale

19 février 2026

Nombre de pages

114

Illustrations

Non

Personnes impliquées

Auteur principal

Ernest M Snowden

Editeur principal

Naval Institute Press

Informations sur le fabricant

Nom du fabricant

Christina Gladhill

Adresse électronique du fabricant

[email protected]

Informations sur le fabricant

Les autres informations du fabricant ne sont actuellement pas disponibles

Autres spécifications

Hauteur de l’emballage

29 mm

Hauteur du produit

7 cm

Largeur d’emballage

159 mm

Largeur du produit

206 mm

Livre d‘étude

Non

Longueur d’emballage

221 mm

Longueur du produit

273 mm

Poids de l’emballage

362 g

EAN

EAN

9781682479902

Sécurité des produits

Opérateur économique responsable dans l’UE

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Catégories

Hommes et société

Histoire

Défense et guerre

Guerres

Armée de l’air

Armes et Équipement

Véhicules militaires

Histoire militaire

Livres

Livre, ebook ou livre audio ?

Livre

Disponibilité

Disponible à l’adresse suivante

Langue

Anglais

Type de livre

Paperback