The F/A-38 Crusader 4 is a larger
and more advanced variant of the F8U2 Crusader 2 . An early version was marketed
by Vought as Super Crusader in the 1980s. The concept was an advanced version of
the F8U2.
Click on
images below to see larger images
US Naval Aviation faced a
number of problems in the early 1990s. The A-12 Avenger II program,
intended to replace the obsolete A-6 Intruders and A-7 Corsair IIs, had
run into serious problems and was canceled. During this time the end of
the Cold War resulted in military restructuring and budget cuts. With no
clean-sheet program in the works, the Navy considered updating an existing
design a more attractive approach. As an alternative to the A-12, Vought
proposed the "Crusader 4" (initially "Super Crusader"
in the 1980s) to improve F8U-2 and A-7 models, and serve as an alternate
replacement for the A-6 Intruder. At the same time, the Navy needed a
fleet defense fighter to replace the canceled NATF, which was a proposed
navalized variant of the F-22 Raptor.
The model is still unfinished it is
the Italeri F-8E with a Scratch built Cockpit new Glass and will have new gear. The one shown here is the first of the several Crusaders delivered to Luftwaffe as the Eurofighter project was scraped and they needed a fast replacement.
For more information and progress pictures please visit ARC forum and the A-7/F-8 Group Build.
PS. The plane should be in US Navy markings when it is finished
Petko
Mironov
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