last Crusaders of the French Navy, The

Flight Journal, Aug 2000 by Notre, Philippe, Notre, Francois

In 1953, Vought was chosen from eight competitors to build the U.S. Navy's first supersonic carrier-based fighter. Although the U.S. Navy had replaced its Crusaders years before, the French Navy used the F-BE until December 1999, ending its career after almost four decades!

In 1962, the French Navy (Marine Nationale) ordered the Vought F-8 Crusader-a carrier-based air superiority fighter-to succeed the Aquilon and serve aboard the aircraft carriers Foch and Clemenceau. The French Crusader was designated F-8E(FN) (FN stood for "French Navy"/. The Marine Nationale originally planned to order 40 single-seat F-SE(FN) fighters, plus six TF-SE(FN) two-Beaters. However, when the development of the two-seater was abandoned, the order was changed to 42 Crusader single-waters.

The F-8E(FN)s differed from the U.S. model E, and it had to he modified so that it could operate safely aboard French aircraft carriers, which were smaller than their U.S. Navy counterparts. To reduce the approach speed, the maximum angle of incidence of the variable-incidence wing was increased from 5 to 7 degrees and tailplane was given a larger surface area. Landing speeds were somewhere in the range of 90 to 115 knots, compared with i40t knots for U.S. versions. The Crusader was fitted with four 20mm cannon and could carry four fuselage-mounted AIM-98 Sidewinder missiles. However, the Aeronavale used the French-built Matra 8530 or 8550 air-to-air missile, which was replaced in 1988 by the more efficient Magic II. The first production F-SE(FN/ flew in June 1964 and was delivered to France in October 1964. New F-8J wings were installed on French Crusaders in 1969, and in 1979, the Pratt & Whitney turbojets were fitted with new afterburners. The Flotille 12F was the first Aeronavale squadron to receive the Crusader, followed by Flotille 14F six months later. In 1978, the 14F was re-equipped with the Super Etendard and then decommissioned in 1991, leaving 12F based at Landivisiau as the only Aeronavale interceptor squadron.

The Crusader has been serving with the French Navy for over thirty years, and it has become increasingly difficult to keep the aircraft operational. Since the Crusader has been retired from the U.S. Navy, the Aeronavale has to rely on the AMARC at Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona for spare parts, as well as having to manufacture a small number of spare parts itself.

The "Crouze" should have been retired in the 1980s when the Marine Aeronavale expressed interest in leasing or buying the F/A-18 Hornet as a Crusader replacement. However, with the new Rafale program under way, the Aeronavale decided to maintain the Crusader until the end of 1999. In the interim, the F-8E has also been upgraded (between 1992 to 1998) to extend its service life and has been re-designated F-8P. With the retirement of the Crusader in December 1999, Flotille 12F is currently being trained with the French Air Force Mirage 2000 before the Rafale enters service around 2000 to 2001; in the meantime, the Super Etendard had to fill the task of the Aeronavale's only carrier-based fighter. As the French Navy looks forward to receiving the new Rafale, it will remember favorably the contribution of the Crusaders.

-Philippe and Francois Notre