F-8E Crusader (oz1276)

About this Plan

F-8E Crusader. Scale radio control model. For .59 to .61 engine.

Quote: "A mind-bending scale project that cries for flight. Add this jet-age classic day fighter to your building schedule. Micro Avionics and a wild roaring .60 give it life. 64 in overall, 58 in span.

The sight of the Crusader, with its long cigar-shaped fuselage and swept wing, is familiar to those who followed aviation after World War II. Winner of the US Navy design competition for a new supersonic day fighter over seven other aircraft manufacturers, it had a maximum speed of over Mach 1 and a landing speed of under 100 knots.

In February 1955 the first prototype flew at Edwards Air Force Base and during the initial 52 minute flight, proved to be capable of supersonic speed in level flight. This same aircraft, after 67 months, was presented to the Smithsonian Air Museum where it is now on display. Among the records held were the National Speed Record of over 1,000 miles per hour flown by Commander RW Windsor, and it was the first aircraft to span the United States at speeds faster than the speed of sound. During this speed run it was flown by Colonel John H Glenn, USMC, who later became the first American to orbit the earth. For this flight he received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

With such a colorful history, we are pleased to present this scale model of such a famous aircraft. Color schemes and additional history are given in Profile Publication Number 90.

The model Crusader takes off in 300 feet with the flaps at 15°, The flying characteristics are very good and it is possible to do the modified AMA stunt pattern required for scale competition with a good .60 engine.

Because the fuel is burnt during flight and the model gets tail heavy at the end of the flight, it becomes more sensitive to aileron commands, due to the swept wing, and it is easily controlled during the landing. During descent, set the flaps for 45° allow the model to seek its own descending air speed without forcing it up or down with the elevator command, and watch it settle gracefully on the runway.

This aircraft can be built by a modeler with normal modeling skills as the construction is simple. No doubt there will be some enterprising individuals who will question whether this Crusader will fly with a pulse jet engine. This model has not been flown in that configuration, however, the pulse jet engine has an enormous capacity for fuel, gets extremely hot in the tail pipe area, and provides a noise akin to a mountain lion roar. Nor can it be said that it can be adapted to a ducted fan for power. The original prototype weighed just six pounds with engine (dry) minus the radio system.

Construction of the Fuselage. Begin by cutting the two fuselage sides from hard 1/8 sheet balsa. The shape is shown by dotted lines on the side view. Next cut the plywood doublers and cement to the fuselage sides. We recommend contact cement or white glue for this task. Mark the positions of all formers when dry. Next cut Formers 2, 3B, 4B, 6B and 7B from plywood. Now cut the rest of the formers for the fuselage from hard 1/8 balsa. Note that "T" is for the Top, "S" is for the side and "B" is for the bottom of each former..."

Update 29/10/2013: Replaced this plan with a clearer version, thanks to JJ.

Update 20/12/2017: Added article, thanks to RFJ.

Update 16/11/2022: Added article (in German) from Modell, Dec 19971, thanks to Bernd.

Supplementary file notes

Alternate plan version, 2 sheets.
Article.
Article (Modell 1971).

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