The Vought F-8 Crusader is a supersonic carrier-based fighter aircraft that was used by the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps from the late 1950s through the 1970s. It was designed as a single-seat, all-weather aircraft that could operate from aircraft carriers and perform a variety of missions, including air superiority, ground attack, and reconnaissance.

The F-8 Crusader was developed by Vought Aircraft Industries in the late 1950s to replace the F-7 Cutlass. It featured a distinctive variable-incidence wing that could be adjusted in flight to provide increased lift and reduced drag. The aircraft was powered by a single Pratt & Whitney J57 turbojet engine, which gave it a top speed of Mach 1.8 and a range of over 1,000 miles.

The F-8 Crusader was armed with four 20mm Colt Mk 12 cannons and could carry a variety of missiles and bombs, including the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile and the Zuni air-to-ground rocket. It was also equipped with a reconnaissance camera, which allowed it to perform photo-reconnaissance missions.

The F-8 Crusader saw extensive service during the Vietnam War, where it was used for air superiority missions and ground attack missions. It was known for its speed, maneuverability, and reliability, and it was credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft. The aircraft was eventually replaced by the F-14 Tomcat in the late 1970s, but it remains a popular aircraft among aviation enthusiasts and is remembered as an important part of the history of military aviation.