Sep 10, 2022
Vought XF8U-3 Crusader III (BuNo 146340) at the Wallops Island Flight Test Range, after being transferred to NASA.
Date: September 10 1959
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Vought XF8U-3 Crusader III (BuNo 146340) at the Wallops Island Flight Test Range, after being transferred to NASA.
Date: September 10 1959
source, source
Vought XF8U-3 Crusader III (BuNo 146340) in flight, circa late 1950s. The first of the three XF8U-3s to reach flight status completed about 150 hrs of testing up to the time the Navy cancelled further development.
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The third U.S. Navy Vought F8U-3 Crusader III (BuNo 147085) taxiing. This aircraft was transferred to NASA as "225" in June 1959.
Date: 1958
U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation photo: No. 1996.253.7361.034
Vought XF8U-3 Crusader III in flight.
Date: 1958
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U.S. Navy Vought XF8U-3 Crusader III (BuNo 146341) at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
Date: 1958
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After the Vought XF8U-3 Crusader III was cancelled, the three flight worthy aircraft were transferred to NASA for atmospheric testing, as they was capable of flying above 95% of the Earth's atmosphere. NASA pilots flying at NAS Patuxent River routinely intercepted and defeated U.S. Navy McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIs in mock dogfights, until complaints from the Navy put an end to the harassment.
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Vought XF8U-3 Crusader III (BuNo 146340).
Painting by Mike Machat: link
Concept art of of dual sear version of the Vought F8U-3 Crusader III.
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