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PAF F-8H; Crusaders
Topic Started: Apr 22 2005, 01:07 PM (7,190 Views)
datu
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Great history these planes. Still the most advanced fighters PAF ever had. They had radar, and they gave something the PAF hasnt been able to get ever since, air-to-surface guided munitions.

What id like to know is what happened to the weapons these had. There were 35 airframes, 25, flying, 10 spares, F-8s had 4 Colt Mk.12 20mm guns, if the the 25 flying examples had 4 guns, then the PAF has some 100 20mm guns. Take these guns and put them on single, twin, or quad mounts and use them as AA-guns. Or mount them on the undercarriage/fuselage of helicopters like the Bo-105, and use them for fire support or K-Car proposal from Manokski. But last i heard, the parked examples of the F-8s still had their guns in them. Dont let them go to waste.

Also the PAF received AGM-12 Bullpups with these F-8s. I wonder where these went as well.


"F*ck it, Dude. Let's go bowling."
---The Big Lebowski
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Bat21
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Thanks Flipzi for the help. Good comments. I did not know we have Bullpup missiles. Makes me wonder too where they are now. These jets have also in-flight refuelling capability and probably arrester gear hooks. Who knows the US Navy may even have our pilots do touch and go's in their carriers like they do the Argentine pilots with their Super Etendard jets. Is it really true also that these jets were the ones scrambled to intercept Russian bombers during the cold war? These jets have really a great history. I wished we can get them operational by buying spares from the retired French Navy F-8 's. Was it the lack of spares or the price of gas that force their retirement?
Thanks again and God bless . . .
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saver111
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Bat21
Jun 22 2005, 12:00 PM
Thanks Flipzi for the help. Good comments. I did not know we have Bullpup missiles. Makes me wonder too where they are now. These jets have also in-flight refuelling capability and probably arrester gear hooks. Who knows the US Navy may even have our pilots do touch and go's in their carriers like they do the Argentine pilots with their Super Etendard jets. Is it really true also that these jets were the ones scrambled to intercept Russian bombers during the cold war? These jets have really a great history. I wished we can get them operational by buying spares from the retired French Navy F-8 's. Was it the lack of spares or the price of gas that force their retirement?
Thanks again and God bless . . .

I think the French did tried acquiring some parts from us before they retired their F8s. As captioned in the above photo I posted, the airframes has shown their age. And I believe these were left at the tarmac during the Pinatubo eruption.

As to parts maybe at AMARC.

But these birds are now just good for warbirds collectors. I think Voight? the manufacturer is extending consultancy services for restorations. The PAF should sell these to enthusiasts at the U.S. and buy more choppers in return from funds generated.
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datu
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A mix of old age, offer of Kfirs, and need for spares and overhaul? There was even talk that these F-8s were still in a better flyable condition than the F-5s when they were retired.

Truly a great age in the PAF gone by, the deathnail came when the 5th Fighter Wing was stood down. The PAF will not get fighters in 5? 10? 15? more years to come. When the 5th FW is indeed resurrected, i hope they have new fighters -or new, older fighters-.


"F*ck it, Dude. Let's go bowling."
---The Big Lebowski
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cyklonmetal
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Quote:
 
A mix of old age, offer of Kfirs, and need for spares and overhaul? There was even talk that these F-8s were still in a better flyable condition than the F-5s when they were retired.


Doubtful but possible. F-8's were (reportedly) constantly developing problems. wing or fuselage skins would peel off inflight, electrical shorts would extend the refueling probe or knock out comms. the squadron commander of the 7th was killed when his wing fold mechanism failed on take off and went into an uncontrolled roll.

But it was a beatiful plane IMO, plus the sound was something else. The F-5 has a distinct high pitched whine, the F-8 had a deep, full throated roar. really sad to see them gone forever.
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saver111
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Quote:
 
But it was a beatiful plane IMO, plus the sound was something else. The F-5 has a distinct high pitched whine, the F-8 had a deep, full throated roar. really sad to see them gone forever.


Yeah, I remember such roar. Last time I saw them were a pair of F8-s escorting a state visitor's plane upon take-off. Awesome sight! :specool:
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israeli
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it is so sad to reminisce the time when we see the F-8s and F-5A/Bs (or even the F-86 Sabres) of the PAF flying high and securing our aerial domain. those were the glory days of the PAF.

now, the PAF is reduced to the miniscule Air Force composed of nothing but turboprops and helicopters. :headbang:
"To secure peace is to prepare for war." - Carl Von Clausewitz
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Bat21
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What is the current active aircraft inventory of the PAF now?
Thanks and God bless . . .
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Manokski
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cyklonmetal
Jun 24 2005, 12:37 PM
Quote:
 
A mix of old age, offer of Kfirs, and need for spares and overhaul? There was even talk that these F-8s were still in a better flyable condition than the F-5s when they were retired.


Doubtful but possible. F-8's were (reportedly) constantly developing problems. wing or fuselage skins would peel off inflight, electrical shorts would extend the refueling probe or knock out comms. the squadron commander of the 7th was killed when his wing fold mechanism failed on take off and went into an uncontrolled roll.

But it was a beatiful plane IMO, plus the sound was something else. The F-5 has a distinct high pitched whine, the F-8 had a deep, full throated roar. really sad to see them gone forever.


The accident that killed the Sqd commander was not actually due to the age of the aircraft. The wing came off because one of the bolts holding the wing folding mechanism came off or as some reports said was never assembled properly. In short, there was a failure of the assembly and inspection process at Basa after the aircraft was delivered. Thankfully that mistake was not repeated.

The problems you mentioned were happening towards the end of the F-8s service life but the last 8 in service were overhauled with the help of Vought and they addressed those issues for the most part.

What killed the F-8s was the cost of operating them and the mothballing of the PAF radar sites.
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cyklonmetal
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Manokski
Jun 25 2005, 01:27 PM
cyklonmetal
Jun 24 2005, 12:37 PM
Quote:
 
A mix of old age, offer of Kfirs, and need for spares and overhaul? There was even talk that these F-8s were still in a better flyable condition than the F-5s when they were retired.


Doubtful but possible. F-8's were (reportedly) constantly developing problems. wing or fuselage skins would peel off inflight, electrical shorts would extend the refueling probe or knock out comms. the squadron commander of the 7th was killed when his wing fold mechanism failed on take off and went into an uncontrolled roll.

But it was a beatiful plane IMO, plus the sound was something else. The F-5 has a distinct high pitched whine, the F-8 had a deep, full throated roar. really sad to see them gone forever.


The accident that killed the Sqd commander was not actually due to the age of the aircraft. The wing came off because one of the bolts holding the wing folding mechanism came off or as some reports said was never assembled properly. In short, there was a failure of the assembly and inspection process at Basa after the aircraft was delivered. Thankfully that mistake was not repeated.

The problems you mentioned were happening towards the end of the F-8s service life but the last 8 in service were overhauled with the help of Vought and they addressed those issues for the most part.

What killed the F-8s was the cost of operating them and the mothballing of the PAF radar sites.



From what i gathered, these problems happened early on in the F-8s service with the PAF. If these were caused by failures or lapses in assembly and inspection, then these would have most likely been caught and minimized as the 7th maintenance gained experience in the F-8. As you have pointed out, upkeep of the F-8's was very high not only in cost but also in terms of manpower. If the feedback im getting is correct, the 7th was gunning for 16 or 18 maintenance man hours per flying hour hour.

If the F-8's were reworked by Vought later on then it is possible that they were in better shape than the F-5's.
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