United States Navy

Vought F-8u Crusader Pilot's Flight Operating Instructions United States Navy

When U. S. Navy pilots entered the Vietnam conflict in 1966, the F-8 Crusader saw action against North Vietnamese MiGs. By war's end in 1972, Crusader pilots had accounted for 19 downed enemy aircraft. While missiles accounted for most of the victories, four enemy planes were downed in dogfights by the Crusader's formidable Colt Mark 12 cannons. It was an achievement that earned the pilots a place in history and the moniker "last of the gunfighters". Originally printed by Chance Vought Aircraft and the U. S. Navy in the 1960s, this F-8 Flight Operating Handbook taught pilots everything they needed to know before entering the cockpit. Classified "Restricted", the manual was recently declassified and is here reprinted in book form. This affordable facsimile has been reformatted and color images appear in black and white. Care has been taken however to preserve the integrity of the text.