Difference between revisions of "F-8E"

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(→‎General info: Updated Flight performance: removing any indication on wing rip and advised newer pilots to not use landing flaps in combat.)
 
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{{About
 +
| about = US jet fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
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| usage = the other version
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| link = F-8E(FN) (France)
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}}
 
{{Specs-Card
 
{{Specs-Card
 
|code=f-8e
 
|code=f-8e
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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Direct Hit"]].
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The United States Navy showed clear interest in expanding the capabilities of the Crusader series of aircraft as quickly as possible to expand its role in maritime operations and offer primitive close-air support capabilities. This led to the development of the F8U-2NE (later renamed the F-8E), which featured a larger nose cone, new AN/APQ-94 fire control radar, detachable pylons, a more reliable J57-P-20 engine, and guidance equipment for the AGM-12 Bullpup missiles. The first prototype, a modified F8U-1 (No. 143710), was flown on June 30, 1961, and the aircraft was quickly approved for use by the Navy. During the Vietnam War, the Marine Corps made extensive use of the F-8E, with squadrons like VMFA-235 considered to be among the best at using the aircraft in combat.
  
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The F-8E is a later model of the Crusader. Compared to the preceding [[F8U-2]], it has largely the same flight performance but improved ordnance options. The infrared-guided AIM-9D Sidewinder returns as a good option for dogfights and sneak attacks, but it can now utilize the radar-guided AIM-9C, which may be useful during head-on engagements. The ground attack options are vastly superior because of the addition of wing pylons; while the F8U-2 was limited to cheek-mounted Zuni rockets and its internal FFAR rocket tray, the F-8E can carry a decent bombload and AGM-12 Bullpup air-to-ground missiles, making it more capable as a multirole fighter.
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The F-8E Crusader was introduced in [[Update "Direct Hit"]] as the second Crusader variant in the American tech tree. Compared to the preceding [[F8U-2]], it has largely the same flight performance but improved ordnance options. The infrared-guided AIM-9D Sidewinder returns as a good option for dogfights and sneak attacks, but it can now utilize the radar-guided AIM-9C, which may be useful during head-on engagements. The ground attack options are vastly superior because of the addition of wing pylons. While the F8U-2 was limited to cheek-mounted Zuni rockets and its internal FFAR rocket tray, the F-8E can carry a decent bombload and AGM-12 Bullpup air-to-ground missiles, making it more capable as a multirole fighter. The F-8E can really be considered "The Last Gunfighter" in War Thunder because the succeeding [[F-4J Phantom II|F-4J Phantom]] is a very different aircraft to cap off the US naval jet line: a heavy twin-engine fighter lacking an internal gun and relying on powerful long-range missiles.
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The F-8E can really be considered "The Last Gunfighter" in War Thunder, because the succeeding [[F-4J Phantom II|F-4J Phantom]] is a very different aircraft to cap off the US naval jet line: a heavy twin-engine fighter lacking an internal gun and relying on powerful long-range missiles.
 
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
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<!-- ''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.'' -->
  
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The F-8E, as a development of the previous [[F8U-2]], will feel very similar to the pilot in command. The Crusader is a highly agile aircraft, capable of dogfighting most enemy aircraft at its rank, blending initial pull with surprising energy retention. This allows the F-8E to pull inside enemy aircraft without bleeding massive amounts of speed like the delta wing aircraft at this rank are prone to doing. The wings have been strengthened to allow for this, so pilots should feel free to perform harsher manoeuvres than while flying the previous F8U-2, albeit the F-8E will still rip in some extreme turns. The engine has been upgraded as well, the extra 560 kgf making up for the slight additional weight of the wings and increasing the climb rate and speed of the aircraft. The F-8E is particularly strong at lower speeds, where the extra engine thrust allows it to sustain turns and accelerate quicker, and it also inherits the unique landing flaps of the Crusader: the wing detaching from the fuselage and angling upwards. This gives large amounts of extra lift, giving the F-8E a sharp advantage at very low speeds, although the plane will "wallow" in the air from the extra lift, and has a difficult time dropping the nose in this flap configuration.
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The F-8E, as a development of the previous [[F8U-2]], will feel very similar to the pilot in command. The Crusader is a highly agile aircraft, capable of dogfighting most enemy aircraft at its rank, blending initial pull with surprising energy retention. This allows the F-8E to pull inside enemy aircraft without bleeding massive amounts of speed like the delta wing aircraft at this rank are prone to doing. The engine has been upgraded, the extra 560 kgf making up for the slight additional weight of the wings and increasing the climb rate and speed of the aircraft. The F-8E is particularly strong at lower speeds, where the extra engine thrust allows it to sustain turns and accelerate quicker, and it also inherits the unique landing flaps of the Crusader: the wing detaching from the fuselage and angling upwards. This gives large amounts of extra lift, at the expense of becoming very sluggish. It is not advised to use landing flaps during combat.
  
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That manoeuvrability and energy retention comes at a cost though, and that is speed. The F-8E is slow for its rank, and struggles to break past mach 1 at sea level. With missiles loaded, it will top out at exactly mach 1, and with any other ordnance loaded it is unable at sea level. At higher altitudes the F-8E is able of exceeding the speed of sound, though not by much and once past mach 1 the acceleration drops dramatically. The plane also compresses around mach .98, so pilots should be wary when diving on targets, as the aircraft may compress and be unable to pull as hard as the pilot may be accustomed to.
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That manoeuvrability and energy retention comes at a cost though, and that is speed. The F-8E is slow for its rank, and struggles to break past mach 1 at sea level. With missiles loaded, it will top out at exactly mach 1, and with any other ordnance loaded it is unable at sea level. At higher altitudes the F-8E is able of exceeding the speed of sound, though not by much and once past mach 1 the acceleration drops dramatically. The plane also compresses around mach .98, so pilots should be wary when diving on targets, as the aircraft may compress and be unable to pull as hard as the pilot may be accustomed to. The rudder on this aircraft is also something to be aware of. The rudder on this aircraft does not work like those on other aircraft, meaning that during a roll or pulling with mouse aim can cause the nose to swing wildly. This is especially a problem at sea level at high speeds, where the rudder will shake the nose around to a great extent. Also, the rudder during rolls throws the nose around unlike other aircraft, meaning it can be hard to get close shots with the gun but can be used for high speed snapshots.
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
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The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
 
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
  
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* A choice between two presets:
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* 4 x 20 mm Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 cannons, nose-mounted (125 rpg = 500 total)
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** 4 x 20 mm Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 cannons, nose-mounted (144 rpg = 576 total)
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* 60 x countermeasures
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** 4 x 20 mm Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 cannons + 60 x countermeasures
 
  
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The offensive armament of the F-8E consists of 4 x 20 mm Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 autocannons, grouped into 2 selectable groups. The guns replaced the 20 mm M3 commonly used from the end of WW2 until the Korean war, and has a quick fire rate of 1,000 rpm, outputting 7.30 kg of shells per second towards the enemy. With 144 rounds per gun, this gives pilots of the F-8E 8.64 seconds of trigger time. If ammo capacity is a concern, pilots can select one group of 20 mm to fire at a time, doubling their trigger time. The guns do reliable damage and have a good velocity of 1,012 m/s, only slightly less than the [[M61 (20 mm)|20 mm M61]] found on later jets. This makes getting reliable gun kills easy for pilots.
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The offensive armament of the F-8E consists of 4 x 20 mm Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 autocannons, grouped into 2 selectable groups. The guns replaced the 20 mm M3 commonly used from the end of WW2 until the Korean war, and has a quick fire rate of 1,000 rpm, outputting 7.30 kg of shells per second towards the enemy. With 125 rounds per gun, this gives pilots of the F-8E 8 seconds of trigger time. If ammo capacity is a concern, pilots can select one group of 20 mm to fire at a time, doubling their trigger time. The guns do reliable damage and have a good velocity of 1,012 m/s, only slightly less than the [[M61 (20 mm)|20 mm M61]] found on later jets. This makes getting reliable gun kills easy for pilots.
  
 
=== Suspended armament ===
 
=== Suspended armament ===
 
{{Specs-Avia-Suspended}}
 
{{Specs-Avia-Suspended}}
 
<!-- ''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.'' -->
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{{main|LDGP Mk 81 (250 lb)|LDGP Mk 82 (500 lb)|LDGP Mk 83 (1,000 lb)|LDGP Mk 84 (2,000 lb)|Mk 77 mod 4 incendiary}}
 
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{{main|AGM-12B Bullpup|AIM-9B Sidewinder|AIM-9C Sidewinder|AIM-9D Sidewinder}}
 
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{{main|FFAR Mighty Mouse|Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP}}
 
  
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The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance presets:
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The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
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 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
|-
 +
! !! width="11%" | 1 !! width="11%" | 2 !! width="11%" | 3 !! width="11%" | 4
 +
| rowspan="15" width="30%" | <div class="ttx-image">[[File:Hardpoints_{{PAGENAME}}.png]]</div>
 +
|-
 +
! [[LDGP Mk 81 (250 lb)|250 lb LDGP Mk 81]] bombs
 +
| 3, 6 || || || 3, 6
 +
|-
 +
! [[Mk 81 Snakeye (250 lb)|250 lb Mk 81 Snakeye]] bombs
 +
| 3, 6 || || || 3, 6
 +
|-
 +
! [[LDGP Mk 82 (500 lb)|500 lb LDGP Mk 82]] bombs
 +
| 3, 4 || || || 3, 4
 +
|-
 +
! [[Mk 82 Snakeye (500 lb)|500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye]] bombs
 +
| 3, 4 || || || 3, 4
 +
|-
 +
! [[LDGP Mk 83 (1,000 lb)|1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83]] bombs
 +
| 1, 2 || || || 1, 2
 +
|-
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! [[LDGP Mk 84 (2,000 lb)|2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84]] bombs
 +
| 1 || || || 1
 +
|-
 +
! [[LDGP Mk 84 Air (2,000 lb)|2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 Air]] bombs
 +
| 1 || || || 1
 +
|-
 +
! [[Mk 77 mod 4 incendiary]] bombs
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| 1 || || || 1
 +
|-
 +
! [[FFAR Mighty Mouse]] rockets
 +
| 7, 19, 38 || || || 7, 19, 38
 +
|-
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! [[Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP]] rockets
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| 4, 8 || 2*, 4 || 2*, 4 || 4, 8
 +
|-
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! [[AGM-12B Bullpup]] missiles
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| 1 || || || 1
 +
|-
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! [[AIM-9B Sidewinder]] missiles
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| || 1*, 2 || 1*, 2 ||
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|-
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! [[AIM-9C Sidewinder]] missiles
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| || 1*, 2 || 1*, 2 ||
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|-
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! [[AIM-9D Sidewinder]] missiles
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| || 1*, 2 || 1*, 2 ||
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|-
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| colspan="6" | * Single missiles can be carried concurrently with dual Zuni rockets on the same hardpoint
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|}
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{{Navigation-Start|Default weapon presets}}
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{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
  
 
* Without load
 
* Without load
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* 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles
 
* 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles
 
* 12 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (3,000 lb total)
 
* 12 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (3,000 lb total)
 +
* 12 x 250 lb Mk 81 Snakeye bombs (3,000 lb total)
 
* 8 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (4,000 lb total)
 
* 8 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (4,000 lb total)
 +
* 8 x 500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye bombs (4,000 lb total)
 
* 4 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (4,000 lb total)
 
* 4 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (4,000 lb total)
 
* 2 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs (4,000 lb total)
 
* 2 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs (4,000 lb total)
 +
* 2 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 Air bombs (4,000 lb total)
 
* 2 x Mk 77 mod 4 incendiary bombs
 
* 2 x Mk 77 mod 4 incendiary bombs
 +
{{Navigation-End}}
  
 
The F-8E has a much more extensive selection of multirole weaponry when compared to the preceding [[F8U-2]], although it is still intended for use mainly as an air supremacy aircraft.
 
The F-8E has a much more extensive selection of multirole weaponry when compared to the preceding [[F8U-2]], although it is still intended for use mainly as an air supremacy aircraft.
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The AIM-9C is a basic {{Annotation|SARH|Semi-Active Radar-Homing}} missile, and the other stock option for the F-8E: it has very similar flight performance to the AIM-9D IR missile also found on this aircraft, with good range, 18Gs of pull, however it does have an uncaged seekerhead and since it is a radar missile, is all-aspect. This missile works well, only limited by the radar set which is rather prone to ground clutter. Pilots are recommended to only use the missile at high altitude, or while below the enemy aircraft. Also, pilots should be aware that this missile uses "pulse" guidance; this means that unlike more advanced radar missiles like the [[AIM-7 Sparrow (Family)|AIM-7 Sparrow]], any amount of chaff from the enemy will immediately decoy it. It is recommended to use this missile against planes without countermeasures or enemy pilots which choose to not equip chaff, as it is more difficult to kinematically dodge the missile without the use of chaff.
 
The AIM-9C is a basic {{Annotation|SARH|Semi-Active Radar-Homing}} missile, and the other stock option for the F-8E: it has very similar flight performance to the AIM-9D IR missile also found on this aircraft, with good range, 18Gs of pull, however it does have an uncaged seekerhead and since it is a radar missile, is all-aspect. This missile works well, only limited by the radar set which is rather prone to ground clutter. Pilots are recommended to only use the missile at high altitude, or while below the enemy aircraft. Also, pilots should be aware that this missile uses "pulse" guidance; this means that unlike more advanced radar missiles like the [[AIM-7 Sparrow (Family)|AIM-7 Sparrow]], any amount of chaff from the enemy will immediately decoy it. It is recommended to use this missile against planes without countermeasures or enemy pilots which choose to not equip chaff, as it is more difficult to kinematically dodge the missile without the use of chaff.
  
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The final missile the F-8E gains access to is the AIM-9D. A later evolution of the AIM-9B, this has much better range and pull, especially at altitude where hits from over 6 km can reasonably be expected. It still has a caged seekerhead like the AIM-9B, so pilots may find it slightly difficult to fire the missile at a manoeuvring target, but once off the rails the missile performs admirably and is one of the better IR missiles at its rank. It is recommended to run 2 of the AIM-9D along with 2 of the AIM-9C if the pilot wishes to engage both with radar and IR missiles, or just the AIM-9D if the pilot prefers no warning to enemy pilots.
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The final missile the F-8E gains access to is the AIM-9D. As an IR version of the AIM-9C, this missile features a caged seekerhead like the previously available AIM-9B, so pilots may find it slightly difficult to fire the missile at a manoeuvring target, but once off the rails the missile performs admirably and is one of the better IR missiles at its rank. It is recommended to run 2 of the AIM-9D along with 2 of the AIM-9C if the pilot wishes to engage both with radar and IR missiles, or just the AIM-9D if the pilot prefers no warning to enemy pilots.
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==== Custom loadout options ====
 
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
−
|-
 
−
! !! width="11%" | 1 !! width="11%" | 2 !! width="11%" | 3 !! width="11%" | 4
 
−
| rowspan="12" width="30%" | <div class="ttx-image">[[File:Hardpoints_{{PAGENAME}}.png]]</div>
 
−
|-
 
−
! 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs
 
−
| 3, 6 || || || 3, 6
 
−
|-
 
−
! 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs
 
−
| 3, 4 || || || 3, 4
 
−
|-
 
−
! 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs
 
−
| 1, 2 || || || 1, 2
 
−
|-
 
−
! 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs
 
−
| 1 || || || 1
 
−
|-
 
−
! Mk 77 mod 4 incendiary bombs
 
−
| 1 || || || 1
 
−
|-
 
−
! FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
 
−
| 7, 19, 38 || || || 7, 19, 38
 
−
|-
 
−
! Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
 
−
| 4, 8 || 2*, 4 || 2*, 4 || 4, 8
 
−
|-
 
−
! AGM-12B Bullpup missiles
 
−
| 1 || || || 1
 
−
|-
 
−
! AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
 
−
| || 1*, 2 || 1*, 2 ||
 
−
|-
 
−
! AIM-9C Sidewinder missiles
 
−
| || 1*, 2 || 1*, 2 ||
 
−
|-
 
−
! AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
 
−
| || 1*, 2 || 1*, 2 ||
 
−
|-
 
−
| colspan="6" | * Single missiles can be carried concurrently with dual Zuni rockets on the same hardpoint
 
−
|}
 
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
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The way you start a battle in the F-8E will depend on what you think the likely composition of the enemy team is. If the battle rating of the match and the countries you are up against lead you to believe that the enemy team will have few (if any) SARH missile-equipped jets then a good start would be to climb to high altitude (around 5,000 m). Once at altitude, you can use your AIM-9C missiles to engage any other high altitude enemies you find head-on; as the AIM-9C is a rare weapon (only used on the F-8E), most people are not aware of its capabilities and are not expecting to receive a front-aspect missile. This allows you to pick up a couple of easy kills from safely outside the range of enemy cannon fire. If there are no more enemy aircraft to engage at high altitude, you can use your speed and altitude to dive down upon lower altitude enemy aircraft for gun/missile attacks. After completing your attack you can either use your energy to go back to high altitude and prepare for another attack or use the F-8E's great manoeuvrability to stay at lower altitudes to engage in dogfights with enemy aircraft.
+
If you intend to play at a high altitude, it is advised to take mixed countermeasures prior to spawning in. This enables you to chaff any pulse-signal missile, such as the [[Matra Super 530F]] and [[R-3R]].
 +
 
 +
The way you start a battle in the F-8E will depend on what you think the likely composition of the enemy team is. A good place to start would be to climb to a high altitude (roughly 5,000 m) if you believe that the enemy team will only have jets equipped with pulse-signal missiles based on the battle rating of the match and the nations you are up against. Once at altitude, you can use your AIM-9C missiles to engage any other high altitude enemies you find head-on. As the AIM-9C is a rare weapon (only used on the F-8E), most people are not aware of its capabilities and are not expecting to receive a front-aspect missile. This allows you to pick up a couple of easy kills from safely outside the range of enemy cannon fire. If there are no more enemy aircraft to engage at high altitude, you can use your speed and altitude to dive down upon lower altitude enemy aircraft for gun/missile attacks. After completing your attack, you can either use your energy to go back to high altitude and prepare for another attack or use the F-8E's great manoeuvrability to stay at lower altitudes to engage in dogfights with enemy aircraft.
  
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If you judge the enemy team to likely have SARH-equipped jets then your lack of an RWR makes going to high altitude very risky; in this case it is better to fly at a lower altitude, probably no more than 2,000 m. This gives you a little bit of altitude to play with and puts you in a position where you can potentially use your AIM-9C missiles against targets above you, while being somewhat protected against enemy SARH missiles (aircraft with pulse-Doppler radars will still be able to hit you though, so stay vigilant and be prepared to dodge). At low altitude you can use the F-8Es great manoeuvrability and powerful armament to win out against many enemies in a dogfight, though you must always keep an eye out for enemy missiles.
+
If you judge the enemy team to likely have jets equipped with CW signal missiles, then going to high altitude is very risky; in this case it is better to fly at a lower altitude, probably no more than 2,000 m. This gives you a little bit of altitude to play with and puts you in a position where you can potentially use your AIM-9C missiles against targets above you, while being somewhat protected against enemy CW missiles (aircraft with pulse-Doppler radars will still be able to hit you though, so stay vigilant and be prepared to dive or notch). At low altitude you can use the F-8Es great manoeuvrability and powerful armament to win out against many enemies in a dogfight, though you must always keep an eye out for enemy missiles.
  
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The flight performance of the {{PAGENAME}} is similar enough to the preceding [[F8U-2]] that similar tactics should apply in a dogfight. The F-8E's instantaneous turn isn't the best, but it has great energy retention and sustained turn rate. Avoid scissors or any turn radius fight as the {{PAGENAME}}'s energy retention ability in this case will put the plane at a disadvantage because in a scissors, you will bleed less speed than the enemy and will end up in front of their guns. The plane's low-speed maneouvrability also isn't a strong point, so avoid using the air brakes to bleed speed. Rate fighting makes the most of the {{PAGENAME}}'s ability as in these extended, longer-lasting dogfights, the F-8E's superior energy retention will see that it has kept more speed than an enemy aircraft. In this case, even if the enemy has a better initial turn rate, they will lose significantly more speed until they won't be able to keep up in a sustained turn. The {{PAGENAME}} will start gaining on them, and they will either be forced to pitch down to gain speed and try to gain on you, or they will run away. In these cases, you can simply pitch down too and stay on their tail. Eventually, the dogfight will move to a very low altitude, where there is no longer anywhere for the enemy to pitch down, and you will outrate them and get guns on them. If you haven't noticed yet, a rate dogfight like this will last a while depending on your position, so it is recommended not to engage in one when there are other enemies in the area.
+
The flight performance of the {{PAGENAME}} is similar enough to the preceding [[F8U-2]] that similar tactics should apply in a dogfight. The F-8E's instantaneous turn isn't the best, but it has great energy retention and sustained turn rate. Avoid scissors or any turn radius fight as the {{PAGENAME}}'s energy retention ability in this case will put the plane at a disadvantage because in a scissors, you will bleed less speed than the enemy and will end up in front of their guns. The plane's low-speed maneuverability also isn't a strong point, so avoid using the air brakes to bleed speed. Rate fighting makes the most of the {{PAGENAME}}'s ability as in these extended, longer-lasting dogfights, the F-8E's superior energy retention will see that it has kept more speed than an enemy aircraft. In this case, even if the enemy has a better initial turn rate, they will lose significantly more speed until they won't be able to keep up in a sustained turn. The {{PAGENAME}} will start gaining on them, and they will either be forced to pitch down to gain speed and try to gain on you, or they will run away. In these cases, you can simply pitch down too and stay on their tail. Eventually, the dogfight will move to a very low altitude, where there is no longer anywhere for the enemy to pitch down, and you will outrate them and get guns on them. If you haven't noticed yet, a rate dogfight like this will last a while depending on your position, so it is recommended not to engage in one when there are other enemies in the area.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
−
* Can carry four useful air-to-air missiles
+
* Can carry four useful air-to-air missiles :
−
** AIM-9C air-to-air missiles are radar guided and can be launched in head-ons to surprise opponents
+
** Radar-guided AIM-9Cs, which can be used in surprise head-ons aswell as in BVR combat
−
** AIM-9D air-to-air missiles have above average range (around 3 km)
+
** Heat-seeking AIM-9Ds, which have above average range (around 3 km)
−
* Landing flaps activate its variable-incidence wings, which provides a lot of lift
+
* Equipped with a RWR, with E, G and I band identification
 +
* Excellent guns with easy ballistics and high damage
 
* Very good sustained turn rate
 
* Very good sustained turn rate
 
* Good acceleration and climb rate
 
* Good acceleration and climb rate
 
* Has an Infrared Search and Track (IRST) sensor which assists in locating targets by finding their heat signatures
 
* Has an Infrared Search and Track (IRST) sensor which assists in locating targets by finding their heat signatures
 
* Has a variety of suspended air-to-ground ordnance
 
* Has a variety of suspended air-to-ground ordnance
 +
* Upgraded engine over F8U-2 allows higher acceleration and top speed
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
−
* Fragile wings which can easily rip at high speeds and in high-G turns
+
* Below average low level top speed compared to other supersonic competitors; can barely break Mach 1 at low altitude
 
* Very likely to set on fire because of the fuel tank placement
 
* Very likely to set on fire because of the fuel tank placement
−
* Below average low level top speed compared to other supersonic competitors; can barely break Mach 1 at low altitude
 
 
* Lacks a ballistic computer, which greatly limits its ground attack potential
 
* Lacks a ballistic computer, which greatly limits its ground attack potential
 +
* Carries less gun ammo compared to F8U-2
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
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;Videos
 
;Videos
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{{Youtube-gallery|tQhEl042QE8|'''The Shooting Range #275''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:28 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.}}
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{{Youtube-gallery|9SmcQee4_Vw|'''F-8E: A Basic Review''' - ''Tim's Variety War Thunder''|tQhEl042QE8|'''The Shooting Range #275''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:28 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.}}
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==

Latest revision as of 18:14, 3 November 2024

Rank 7 USA
F-5C Pack
This page is about the US jet fighter F-8E. For the other version, see F-8E(FN) (France).
F-8E
f-8e.png
GarageImage F-8E.jpg
F-8E
USA flag.png USA
VII Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
10.3 10.7 10.3
Class:
Research:260 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:710 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The United States Navy showed clear interest in expanding the capabilities of the Crusader series of aircraft as quickly as possible to expand its role in maritime operations and offer primitive close-air support capabilities. This led to the development of the F8U-2NE (later renamed the F-8E), which featured a larger nose cone, new AN/APQ-94 fire control radar, detachable pylons, a more reliable J57-P-20 engine, and guidance equipment for the AGM-12 Bullpup missiles. The first prototype, a modified F8U-1 (No. 143710), was flown on June 30, 1961, and the aircraft was quickly approved for use by the Navy. During the Vietnam War, the Marine Corps made extensive use of the F-8E, with squadrons like VMFA-235 considered to be among the best at using the aircraft in combat.

The F-8E Crusader was introduced in Update "Direct Hit" as the second Crusader variant in the American tech tree. Compared to the preceding F8U-2, it has largely the same flight performance but improved ordnance options. The infrared-guided AIM-9D Sidewinder returns as a good option for dogfights and sneak attacks, but it can now utilize the radar-guided AIM-9C, which may be useful during head-on engagements. The ground attack options are vastly superior because of the addition of wing pylons. While the F8U-2 was limited to cheek-mounted Zuni rockets and its internal FFAR rocket tray, the F-8E can carry a decent bombload and AGM-12 Bullpup air-to-ground missiles, making it more capable as a multirole fighter. The F-8E can really be considered "The Last Gunfighter" in War Thunder because the succeeding F-4J Phantom is a very different aircraft to cap off the US naval jet line: a heavy twin-engine fighter lacking an internal gun and relying on powerful long-range missiles.

General info

Flight performance

Arrestor gear
Accelerates braking by grabbing the brake cable on the deck of the aircraft carrier
Air brakes
Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps
Max speed
at 10 668 m2 110 km/h
Turn time29 s
Max altitude16 310 m
EnginePratt & Whitney J57-P-20
Type
Cooling systemAir
Take-off weight15 t

The F-8E, as a development of the previous F8U-2, will feel very similar to the pilot in command. The Crusader is a highly agile aircraft, capable of dogfighting most enemy aircraft at its rank, blending initial pull with surprising energy retention. This allows the F-8E to pull inside enemy aircraft without bleeding massive amounts of speed like the delta wing aircraft at this rank are prone to doing. The engine has been upgraded, the extra 560 kgf making up for the slight additional weight of the wings and increasing the climb rate and speed of the aircraft. The F-8E is particularly strong at lower speeds, where the extra engine thrust allows it to sustain turns and accelerate quicker, and it also inherits the unique landing flaps of the Crusader: the wing detaching from the fuselage and angling upwards. This gives large amounts of extra lift, at the expense of becoming very sluggish. It is not advised to use landing flaps during combat.

That manoeuvrability and energy retention comes at a cost though, and that is speed. The F-8E is slow for its rank, and struggles to break past mach 1 at sea level. With missiles loaded, it will top out at exactly mach 1, and with any other ordnance loaded it is unable at sea level. At higher altitudes the F-8E is able of exceeding the speed of sound, though not by much and once past mach 1 the acceleration drops dramatically. The plane also compresses around mach .98, so pilots should be wary when diving on targets, as the aircraft may compress and be unable to pull as hard as the pilot may be accustomed to. The rudder on this aircraft is also something to be aware of. The rudder on this aircraft does not work like those on other aircraft, meaning that during a roll or pulling with mouse aim can cause the nose to swing wildly. This is especially a problem at sea level at high speeds, where the rudder will shake the nose around to a great extent. Also, the rudder during rolls throws the nose around unlike other aircraft, meaning it can be hard to get close shots with the gun but can be used for high speed snapshots.

Characteristics Max Speed
(km/h at 10,668 m) 		Max altitude
(metres) 		Turn time
(seconds) 		Rate of climb
(metres/second) 		Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 2,094 2,087 16310 29.4 30.6 108.5 98.1 1,828
Upgraded 2,132 2,110 28.6 29.0 158.0 131.4

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear Drogue chute
✓ X ✓ ✓ ✓ X
Limits
Wings (km/h) Gear (km/h) Flaps (km/h) Max Static G
Combat Take-off Landing + -
1,555 428 1,070 N/A 583 ~10 ~4
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 1,000 < 590 < 500 N/A

Engine performance

Engine Aircraft mass
Engine name Number Basic mass Wing loading (full fuel)
Pratt & Whitney J57-P-20 1 8,953 kg 376 kg/m2
Engine characteristics Mass with fuel (no weapons load) Max Takeoff
Weight
Weight (each) Type 15m fuel 20m fuel 30m fuel 45m fuel 52m fuel
1,592 kg Afterburning axial-flow turbojet 10,200 kg 10,550 kg 11,348 kg 12,545 kg 13,109 kg 15,468 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB) Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
Condition 100% WEP 15m fuel 20m fuel 30m fuel 45m fuel 52m fuel MTOW
Stationary 4,562 kgf 8,520 kgf 0.84 0.81 0.75 0.68 0.65 0.55
Optimal 4,804 kgf
(1,000 km/h) 		9,543 kgf
(1,200 km/h) 		0.94 0.91 0.84 0.76 0.73 0.62

Survivability and armour

Flares/Chaff
Aircraft countermeasures to distract IR and radar-guided missiles and also AA radar
Crew1 person
Speed of destruction
Structural0 km/h
Gear428 km/h

Like the earlier F8U-2 (F-8C), the only armour on the F-8E is 25 mm of bulletproof glass on the front windscreen. Most of the central fuselage and wing is filled with large fuel tanks which makes gunfire from above or behind likely to cause fuel leaks and fires. Near enough the entire rear fuselage is taken up by the engine, making engine damage likely from rear attacks. Despite these drawbacks, the F-8E is still more durable than some jets and can often make it back to base with light to moderate damage.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB2 848 → 4 286 Sl icon.png
RB9 021 → 13 576 Sl icon.png
SB9 274 → 13 957 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications228 000 Rp icon.png
355 000 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost2 800 Ge icon.png
Crew training200 000 Sl icon.png
Experts710 000 Sl icon.png
Aces2 800 Ge icon.png
Research Aces1 080 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
130 / 340 / 600 % Sl icon.png
232 / 232 / 232 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods jet compressor.png
Compressor
Research:
7 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
12 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods booster.png
New boosters
Research:
8 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Research:
9 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
15 000 Sl icon.png
430 Ge icon.png
Mods jet engine.png
Engine
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
680 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Research:
7 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
12 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Research:
8 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mods g suit.png
G-suit
Research:
9 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
15 000 Sl icon.png
430 Ge icon.png
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
680 Ge icon.png
Mods napalm fire bomb.png
MK 77
Research:
7 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
12 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon block rocket.png
FFAR Mighty Mouse
Research:
7 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
12 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods heli false thermal targets.png
Flares/Chaff
Research:
7 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
12 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
Mk81
Research:
7 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
12 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods ammo.png
mk_12_mod3_belt_pack
Research:
8 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods pilon block rocket large.png
LAU-35A
Research:
8 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods air to air missile.png
AIM-9B
Research:
8 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
Mk82
Research:
8 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods weapon.png
mk_12_mod3_new_gun
Research:
9 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
15 000 Sl icon.png
430 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon block rocket large.png
LAU-10/A
Research:
9 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
15 000 Sl icon.png
430 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods air to air missile.png
AIM-9C
Research:
9 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
15 000 Sl icon.png
430 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
Mk83
Research:
9 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
15 000 Sl icon.png
430 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods agm missile.png
AGM-12B Bullpup
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
680 Ge icon.png
Mods air to air missile.png
AIM-9D
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
680 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
Mk84
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
680 Ge icon.png

As with most high tier jets, the first modification you want to pick up will be the flares/chaff in order to let you effectively counter enemy missiles. From there you want to progress though the missile upgrades as fast as possible, taking your pick of flight performance upgrades in order to unlock each tier (you could also use the ordnance upgrades to unlock each modification tier, but as the F-8E is primarily a fighter flight performance is usually the best pick). Once you have all missiles unlocked your focus will probably be on the remaining flight performance upgrades, although the cannons upgrades are certainly useful if you enjoy gun fighting.

Armaments

Offensive armament

Main article: Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 (20 mm)

The F-8E is armed with:

  • 4 x 20 mm Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 cannons, nose-mounted (125 rpg = 500 total)
  • 60 x countermeasures

The offensive armament of the F-8E consists of 4 x 20 mm Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 autocannons, grouped into 2 selectable groups. The guns replaced the 20 mm M3 commonly used from the end of WW2 until the Korean war, and has a quick fire rate of 1,000 rpm, outputting 7.30 kg of shells per second towards the enemy. With 125 rounds per gun, this gives pilots of the F-8E 8 seconds of trigger time. If ammo capacity is a concern, pilots can select one group of 20 mm to fire at a time, doubling their trigger time. The guns do reliable damage and have a good velocity of 1,012 m/s, only slightly less than the 20 mm M61 found on later jets. This makes getting reliable gun kills easy for pilots.

Suspended armament

The F-8E can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

1 2 3 4
Hardpoints F-8E.png
250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs 3, 6 3, 6
250 lb Mk 81 Snakeye bombs 3, 6 3, 6
500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs 3, 4 3, 4
500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye bombs 3, 4 3, 4
1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs 1, 2 1, 2
2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs 1 1
2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 Air bombs 1 1
Mk 77 mod 4 incendiary bombs 1 1
FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets 7, 19, 38 7, 19, 38
Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets 4, 8 2*, 4 2*, 4 4, 8
AGM-12B Bullpup missiles 1 1
AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles 1*, 2 1*, 2
AIM-9C Sidewinder missiles 1*, 2 1*, 2
AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles 1*, 2 1*, 2
* Single missiles can be carried concurrently with dual Zuni rockets on the same hardpoint
Default weapon presets
  • Without load
  • 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
  • 2 x AIM-9C Sidewinder missiles
  • 2 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
  • 4 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
  • 4 x AIM-9C Sidewinder missiles
  • 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
  • 76 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
  • 24 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
  • 4 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
  • 4 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
  • 4 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets + 2 x AIM-9C Sidewinder missiles
  • 4 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets + 2 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
  • 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles
  • 12 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (3,000 lb total)
  • 12 x 250 lb Mk 81 Snakeye bombs (3,000 lb total)
  • 8 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (4,000 lb total)
  • 8 x 500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye bombs (4,000 lb total)
  • 4 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (4,000 lb total)
  • 2 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs (4,000 lb total)
  • 2 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 Air bombs (4,000 lb total)
  • 2 x Mk 77 mod 4 incendiary bombs

The F-8E has a much more extensive selection of multirole weaponry when compared to the preceding F8U-2, although it is still intended for use mainly as an air supremacy aircraft.

Beginning with the unguided rockets, it gets access to both FFAR Mighty Mouse and Zuni Mk32 rockets. The Mighty Mouse is a small rocket, weighing only 8 kg and with only 290 mm penetration, but it makes up for this in quantity. The F-8E can carry 4 x pods of 19 rockets each, 2 mounted under each wing pylon, for a total of 76 rockets. As for the Zuni rockets, these are much larger at 56 kg and have 457 mm penetration, much more suited for taking out heavier targets. The placement is rather unique however. 4 can be mounted stock, 2 on each side of the fuselage behind the cockpit; however this is not recommended as it takes up the missile rails and greatly limits the anti-air capability of the plane. Once the modification is researched, it gains access to 16 more, mounted in 2 pods of 4 each under the wing pylons.

The F-8E also gains access to unguided bombs: 250 lb, 500 lb, 1,000 lb, 2,000 lb and of course the Mk 77 incendiary bomb. These are all mounted on the wing pylons, and pilots are recommended to use 500 lb or greater bombs if attacking enemy armour. The incendiary bombs work well against open topped vehicles, so these should be used if attacking large groups of open topped vehicles. They can also be used to shield allies from sight or deny a crucial area from open-topped vehicles while the napalm continues to burn.

The last anti-surface weapon is the AGM-12B Bullpup. This is the only guided air-to-ground munition the F-8E can carry, albeit it is manually guided, unlike later weapons like the later Maverick missiles. These will take some practice for pilots to get accustomed to aiming, but with 8 km range these are the recommended option for use in ground battles against the long range AA common at this rank. Pilots are recommended to turn off "Relative Control' in the controls for the weapon, as with this setting on the missile will continue pulling in the same direction as the last input until another correction is given.

Now for anti-aircraft missiles, the original purpose of the F-8E. It gains access to three types: the AIM-9B, AIM-9C, and AIM-9D missiles.

The AIM-9B is the most basic missile that planes of this rank get. It is an IR missile with a caged seekerhead, limited range, and only 10Gs of pull. This is one of the two missiles pilots will get with an un-upgraded aircraft. It does not pull very well and is recommended for use against slow or unaware targets, although it can also be used to force enemy pilots to go evasive to allow the F-8E time to close to gun range.

The AIM-9C is a basic SARH missile, and the other stock option for the F-8E: it has very similar flight performance to the AIM-9D IR missile also found on this aircraft, with good range, 18Gs of pull, however it does have an uncaged seekerhead and since it is a radar missile, is all-aspect. This missile works well, only limited by the radar set which is rather prone to ground clutter. Pilots are recommended to only use the missile at high altitude, or while below the enemy aircraft. Also, pilots should be aware that this missile uses "pulse" guidance; this means that unlike more advanced radar missiles like the AIM-7 Sparrow, any amount of chaff from the enemy will immediately decoy it. It is recommended to use this missile against planes without countermeasures or enemy pilots which choose to not equip chaff, as it is more difficult to kinematically dodge the missile without the use of chaff.

The final missile the F-8E gains access to is the AIM-9D. As an IR version of the AIM-9C, this missile features a caged seekerhead like the previously available AIM-9B, so pilots may find it slightly difficult to fire the missile at a manoeuvring target, but once off the rails the missile performs admirably and is one of the better IR missiles at its rank. It is recommended to run 2 of the AIM-9D along with 2 of the AIM-9C if the pilot wishes to engage both with radar and IR missiles, or just the AIM-9D if the pilot prefers no warning to enemy pilots.

Usage in battles

If you intend to play at a high altitude, it is advised to take mixed countermeasures prior to spawning in. This enables you to chaff any pulse-signal missile, such as the Matra Super 530F and R-3R.

The way you start a battle in the F-8E will depend on what you think the likely composition of the enemy team is. A good place to start would be to climb to a high altitude (roughly 5,000 m) if you believe that the enemy team will only have jets equipped with pulse-signal missiles based on the battle rating of the match and the nations you are up against. Once at altitude, you can use your AIM-9C missiles to engage any other high altitude enemies you find head-on. As the AIM-9C is a rare weapon (only used on the F-8E), most people are not aware of its capabilities and are not expecting to receive a front-aspect missile. This allows you to pick up a couple of easy kills from safely outside the range of enemy cannon fire. If there are no more enemy aircraft to engage at high altitude, you can use your speed and altitude to dive down upon lower altitude enemy aircraft for gun/missile attacks. After completing your attack, you can either use your energy to go back to high altitude and prepare for another attack or use the F-8E's great manoeuvrability to stay at lower altitudes to engage in dogfights with enemy aircraft.

If you judge the enemy team to likely have jets equipped with CW signal missiles, then going to high altitude is very risky; in this case it is better to fly at a lower altitude, probably no more than 2,000 m. This gives you a little bit of altitude to play with and puts you in a position where you can potentially use your AIM-9C missiles against targets above you, while being somewhat protected against enemy CW missiles (aircraft with pulse-Doppler radars will still be able to hit you though, so stay vigilant and be prepared to dive or notch). At low altitude you can use the F-8Es great manoeuvrability and powerful armament to win out against many enemies in a dogfight, though you must always keep an eye out for enemy missiles.

The flight performance of the F-8E is similar enough to the preceding F8U-2 that similar tactics should apply in a dogfight. The F-8E's instantaneous turn isn't the best, but it has great energy retention and sustained turn rate. Avoid scissors or any turn radius fight as the F-8E's energy retention ability in this case will put the plane at a disadvantage because in a scissors, you will bleed less speed than the enemy and will end up in front of their guns. The plane's low-speed maneuverability also isn't a strong point, so avoid using the air brakes to bleed speed. Rate fighting makes the most of the F-8E's ability as in these extended, longer-lasting dogfights, the F-8E's superior energy retention will see that it has kept more speed than an enemy aircraft. In this case, even if the enemy has a better initial turn rate, they will lose significantly more speed until they won't be able to keep up in a sustained turn. The F-8E will start gaining on them, and they will either be forced to pitch down to gain speed and try to gain on you, or they will run away. In these cases, you can simply pitch down too and stay on their tail. Eventually, the dogfight will move to a very low altitude, where there is no longer anywhere for the enemy to pitch down, and you will outrate them and get guns on them. If you haven't noticed yet, a rate dogfight like this will last a while depending on your position, so it is recommended not to engage in one when there are other enemies in the area.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Can carry four useful air-to-air missiles :
    • Radar-guided AIM-9Cs, which can be used in surprise head-ons aswell as in BVR combat
    • Heat-seeking AIM-9Ds, which have above average range (around 3 km)
  • Equipped with a RWR, with E, G and I band identification
  • Excellent guns with easy ballistics and high damage
  • Very good sustained turn rate
  • Good acceleration and climb rate
  • Has an Infrared Search and Track (IRST) sensor which assists in locating targets by finding their heat signatures
  • Has a variety of suspended air-to-ground ordnance
  • Upgraded engine over F8U-2 allows higher acceleration and top speed

Cons:

  • Below average low level top speed compared to other supersonic competitors; can barely break Mach 1 at low altitude
  • Very likely to set on fire because of the fuel tank placement
  • Lacks a ballistic computer, which greatly limits its ground attack potential
  • Carries less gun ammo compared to F8U-2

History

Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===, also if applicable).

Media

Skins
Videos
F-8E: A Basic Review - Tim's Variety War Thunder
The Shooting Range #275 - Metal Beasts section at 00:28 discusses the F-8E.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the series of the aircraft;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links


Chance Vought Aircraft
Fighters 
Corsair  F4U-1A · F4U-1A (USMC) · F4U-1C · F4U-1D · F4U-4 · F4U-4B · F4U-4B VMF-214
Float planes  O3U-1 · OS2U-1 · OS2U-3
Attackers  AU-1
Bombers  SB2U-2 · SB2U-3
Jet aircraft 
Corsair II  A-7D · A-7E · A-7K
Crusader  F8U-2 · F-8E
Export  V-156-B1 · V-156-F · ▄Corsair F Mk II · F4U-7 · ▄F-8E(FN)
Captured  ▅F4U-1A

USA jet aircraft
  Fighters
F9F  F9F-2 · F9F-5 · F9F-8
F-80  F-80A-5 · F-80C-10
F-84  F-84B-26 · F-84F · F-84G-21-RE
F-86  F-86A-5 · F-86F-25 · F-86F-2 · F-86F-35
F-89  F-89B · F-89D
F-100  F-100D
F-104  F-104A · F-104C
F-4  F-4C Phantom II · F-4E Phantom II · F-4J Phantom II · F-4S Phantom II
F-5  F-5A · F-5C · F-5E · F-20A
F-8  F8U-2 · F-8E
F-14  F-14A Early · ▄F-14A IRIAF · F-14B
F-15  F-15A · F-15C MSIP II · F-15E
F-16  F-16A · F-16A ADF · F-16C
Other  P-59A · F2H-2 · F3D-1 · F3H-2 · F4D-1 · F11F-1
  Strike Aircraft
FJ-4  FJ-4B · FJ-4B VMF-232
A-4  A-4B · A-4E Early
A-7  A-7D · A-7E · A-7K
AV-8  AV-8A · AV-8C · AV-8B Plus · AV-8B (NA)
A-10  A-10A · A-10A Late · A-10C
F-111  F-111A · F-111F
Other  A-6E TRAM · F-105D · F-117
  Bombers
B-57  B-57A · B-57B

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