F8U (F-8) Wing
9 August 2022: Added information about the color of the underside of the wing that was above the fuselage The F8U had two different wings: Original and BLC (Boundary Layer Control). The BLC wing was developed for the French Navy Crusader E(FN) to provide a lower landing speed. It was incorporated in the remanufacture of U.S. Navy F-8Es that were designated F-8J for the same reason but not retrofitted to any earlier F-8s, including rebuilds. When the original wing was raised (to 7° incidence), the leading and trailing edge flaps and ailerons automatically drooped from the cruise neutral position, i.e. leading-edge flaps up. Most of the trailing edge control surfaces were ailerons. A small inboard section next to the fuselage was an actual flap, in that it was either up or down. The trailing edge surfaces drooped 20°. The outboard leading edge flaps drooped 27°; the inboard (center section), 25°. The Unit Horizontal Tail (aka stabilator) moved 5° leading edge up for nose-down pitch...
Had the privilege of flight training with one of the “Blues” who was later killed preparing for an air show. We were in T-28’s, and our instructor, who had flown F-8’s, was determined we should shoot down the same pipeline. I was having difficulty clearing my ears after flights ending with “jet penetration” maneuver. The T-28 was unpressurized, while the F-8 was pressurized. Hadn’t done my homework, as that might have made a difference in my decision to go “low and slow.” Hence, a career in rotary wing I thoroughly enjoyed, but admittedly, often wonder where the venerable F-8 would have taken me.
ReplyDeleteHi Taildspin. I'm paper scale modeler. Just found your blog and all infos about F-8. I'm fascinated with this aircraft and I'm going to draw my own paper project of F-8. Could you give me a hint where to search for a detailed drawings/plans?
ReplyDeleteemail me: tommythomason sbcglobal net (put @ and . in place of spaces)
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