United States of America Navy

When I was a kindergarden or elementary school child, I went to Nagoya Port together with adults. Maybe in before or after 1955. There we showed U.S. Naval torpendo-boats. I still remember boxed mines attached in rear deck. They did not looked as dangerous for me though they were fearful weapons. Pease make our eyes to find every weapon as rather safety machines. That was first encounter to U.S.Navy for me. In 1998 "the Guide Line" make enabled to see U.S.Naval ships in many port in Japan. I would not like to see weapons in any battle fields now.

The development of jet fighters for Aircraft carrier delayed than land based. Especially, it was difficult till strong catapult developped. They overcome many obstacles in place of much victims But while Air force fighters evoluted with specialized objects, Naval fighters maintained traditional air combat ability. When the Vietnum war occurred, Air force officers noticed that they have no air conquest machine nor experience of dog-fight with MiG. Then they introduced F-4 Phantom, Naval jet fighter, reluctantly.
U.S NAVY and Marines have most dangerous occupations in the world. They could reach any sea area within a week, I think. They also have most reckless mind and brave spirit. When any battle happens, some of them certainly killed. Those selfless people are protecting United States and its friend countries. It named "PEACE" what brought by the sacrify of scapegoats. These are my whisper to miss soldiers.

Fighters	F-8U F-3H F-4H F-11F F-14 F-18 F-35
Attackers	A-3 A-4 A-5 A-6 A-7

Fighters

Vaut F-8U Crusader

It was needed to make any super sonic fighters, much swept-backed wing, but same time it ought high speed landing which requires long runway. It is rather small problem for ground-based airplanes. But at the case for shipplanes, it is very difficult to earn lift with such a wing. Early jet shipplanes had long forefoot to get lift. It made the foresight very tight even thogh unshapely big canopy attached. So there happend much landing accidents. It was quite hard to make super sonic shipplanes. Vaut company challenged this subject. They desighned tilting wing for F-8U CRUSADER, no one else could thought. This method brought not only big lift, but also easy arm and maintenance.
F-8U remarked over sonic speed at its first test flight, March 25,1955. F-8U CRUSADER was active till the end of Vietnum war. At that era, American Jet Fighters usually not armed guns and not so considered about dog fight, as the reason to arm AAM and remote combat. But actually, many AAM consumpt fighters flown back from enemy's machine guns. F-8U CRUSADER, armed four 20mm machine guns initially, excellent activity attached , achieved the name "Last Gunfighter" and "MIG Master". Of cource, F-8U armed four Sidewinders, it made much results than machine guns.
F-8U had smart shape, and supllied fourty F-8U to the French Navy. F-8U is still effective these aircraft career not equiped powerful steam catapult. French Airforce deeply admired CRUCADER's foot work and other abilities, so they made similar dog toothed wing type Mirage F1 in place of delta wing.
If you interested in CRUSADER, not hesitate to visit "GUNFIGHTER" homepage. The webmaster, Mr. Dave Johnson, PVO 1965-69, prepared wonderful world of CRUSADER.

Span:10.86m Length:16.52m Height:4.80m Weight empty:7.04t max takeoff:12.47t Engine P-W J57-P-4-12 4,535kg(A/B 7,347kg)1 Cf:4.8kl Vmax M=1.53/35kft 733mph/sea level Vc=570mph Zc=-- RC 6,096m/min Combat radius:350nm Range:1,230nm Armament:20mm cannon4 + 2 AAM +2.75in rocket*32 1st Flight 1955/03(F-8U-1)

Span:10.86m Length:16.60m Height:4.80m Weight empty:8.09t gross:15.46t Engine P-W J57-P-20 4,858kg(A/B 8,172kg)1 Cf:4.8kl Vmax M=1.72/35kft Vc=570mph/28.6kft Zc=-- RC 8,290m/min Combat radius:533nm Combat Range:1,270nm Armament:20mm cannon4 + 4 AAM +over 1.8t bombs(F-8U-2NE)

Vaut F-8U-3 Super Crusader

Powerful J75-P-5A/6 turvo jet attached monster Crucader. Maximum speed estimated mach 3, eesily. But in case to over mach 2.6, canopy begins to melt. Since competitor F-4H recorded good potencial, so F-8U-3 ceased. But the test pilot who controled both fighter said "F-8U-3 was fun to fly,but F-4H was trucky."

Span:11.85m Length:17.86m Height:4.97m Weight empty:9.9t max17.2t Engine P-W J75-P-5A/7,480kg(A/B 13.830kg)1 Cf:7.7kl Vmax M=2.21/50kft 1.05/sea level Vc=575mph Zc=-- RC 10,000m/min Range:1,800nm Armament:20mm cannon4 + 4 AAM

McDonell F-3H Demon

"Demon" itself had a demonish history. It is important and difficult to choose engine for new fighter. Tragedy begined this matter. Delay, powerless, trouble. All-arounded bad conditioned F-3H production also delayed. Too eager test brought serious accidents and evil. There were many engineless F-3H in McDonnel factory. Engeneers proposed to replace engine to J-79. But NAVY did not accept before J-40 cancelled. Also F-4D and XF-10F were cancelled which use J-40 engine. When these trouble ceased at last, to get J-71 engine, F-4H project stage advanced for production. So demon retired with no turn. It must be an act of "Demon"

Span:10.77m Length:17.98m Height:4.44m Weight empty:8.47t gross:11.83t max13.6t Engine WH J40 WE-220A(A/B 4,943kg)*1 Vmax 546kt Vc=481kt RC 3,322m/min Range:1,000nm Armament:-- 1st flight: Dec. 24,1953(F3H-1N)

Span:10.77m Length:17.98m Height:4.44m Weight empty:10.0t gross:15.38t Engine Allison J71-A 43.25kN(A/B 65.77kN)1 Vmax 1,150km/Lo 1,040km/Hi RC 65m/sec Range:1,900km Armament: 20mm cannon4 HP*4 for Spallow and/or Sidewinder (F3H-2)

McDonell Douglas F-4 Phantom II

In my childhood, I believed that jet fighters must be beautiful. When I saw a picture of Phantom in the first, I surprised so much with its quite ugly figure. Then I changed my mind that "This is a monster, terrible, cruel, metal heart. Naturally shaped for the purpose." When nose extended to include big rader , vulcan gun attached unnaturally like a tumor, ugliness shsped more. When Phantom is cruising, like Itarian propeller-driven fighters of European war, nose-up posure needed. This means that wing aliment tuned for much high speed. Further more, It painted with camoufrage color and "Low Visility" National mark and Logo attached instead of clear one. These matter certificated that "This is really a Phantom". Many Japanese air-manias feeled sad and said "There need no Color film but a monochrome film". This illustration is JASDF color, when F-4 brighted ever. These are my self-conceited whisper.

As to the valuation fo F-4 is quite well. Sharp and long ranged rader and weapon system controlled by full-time operator, "Guy in Back" made pilot free . Rather large eread semi delta wing earned big lift and high speed. Rationally angled tails stabilized for cruising. Of cource it have some demelits. But many countries introduced F-4. Even the U.S.A.F, occupied as "F-110" later called "F-4", when they noticed that they have no captured chessman except Naval Phantom. And many countries reconstructed F-4 with gran new weapon system and arms till now. It valued near F-15 leveled, they said. Surely, it is money saving than to get new F-15.

Span:11.70m Length:17.76m Height:4.96m Weight max24.77t Engine GE J79 GE8 4910kg (A/B 7,710kg)2 Cf:--kl Vmax M=2.4 Vc:M=0.92 Zc=21,600m RC 8,840m/min Range:2000nm Combat Radius:600-750nm Lto':640m Lld:910m Armament:20mm Vulcan1 AAM 4-6 Prototype 1st Flight 1958/05(F-4B)

Span:11.77m Length:19.2m Height:5.02m Weight max28,03t Engine GE J79 GE17A (A/B 8,119kg)2 Cf:7.02kl Vmax M=2+ Vc:938km Zc=16,580m RC 15,100m/min Range:1,718nm Combat Radius:683nm Armament:20mm Vulcan1(638)Armament:( AAM AIM-7 * 4 + AIM-9 * 4)or Bomb 7,250kg(F-4E)

Grumman F-11F Tiger

Area-rule shaped F-11F was famous as "Blue Angels" acrobat team-plane for long period. But as a strategical reason, Daytime fighter F-11F's products was soon cancelled that F-4H could be available for shipbone all-weather multirole fighter. So Grumman made F-11-2 "Super Tiger" as a all-weather and mach 2 class intercepter for export model. But Lockheed F-104 had been a excellent competitor of F-11-2. And no country choosed Super Tiger.

Span:9.65m Length:13.69m Height:4.04m Weight empty 6.5t max10.9t Engine TJE J-65-WE-18 3,450kg (A/B 5,000kg)1 Cf:--kl Vmax M=1.35 Vc:517kt Zc=15,400m+ RC ---m/min Range:1640nm Armament:20mm Gun4+4 AAM 1st Flight -- (F-11F Tiger)

Span:9.65m Length:14.86m Height:4.39m Weight empty 7.64t max 11.83t Engine YJ-79-GE-3 4,354kg (A/B 6,804kg)1 Cf:3.46kl+0.572 Vmax M=2.04/hi 836mph/low Vc:400-500kt Zc=21,600m RC 2,730m/min Range:655nm Armament:20mm Gun*4+4 AAM 1st Flight 1956/05/25 (F-11-2 Super Tiger)

Grumman F-14 Tomcat

Name of 'Tomcat' is not origined the cartoon 'Tom and Jerry'. it is a race of wild cat. it have variable sweeping wings, turvofan engine, over 200km rader, over 100km AAM that can hit 6 target at once. it is heavy class champion of shipplane. Its engines hanged under wings. This skill expatiiate following jet fighters. It staged 'Top Gun' movie as the hero. Really they shoot down four enemy plane, Su-22. Its subjected as guard for the developping, but attatched tactic arms.

Span:11.65-19.5m Length:19.1m Height:4.88m Weight self18.19t max33.72t (31.66t on ship)Engine F110-GE-400 6,350kg (A/B 10,478kg)2 Cf:9kl Vmax M=2.34/High M=1.2/Low Vc:400-500kt Zc=15,240m+ RC 9,140m/min Range:1,725nm Lto':427m Lld:884m Armament:20mm Vulcan1(675 tablets) 1st Flight 1970/12/21 (F-14A Plus)

McDonnel Douglas F/A-18 Hornet

In the U.S. movie 'Godzilla', F-18 knocked down monster and destroyed the Chrysler Building. Norfork, near Newyork city have Atlantic NAVY mainbase, so it is easy to attend 100 to 200 attacker.
Northlop company miss many fortunate to adoption. The locus of F-18 was thorny path, too. First, Northlop F-17 was defeted competitor F-16 for USAF fighter. Then NAVY chooose F-17 as the reason double-engined style.
But Nothlop company did not have the experience of Naval airclaft, So main contractor changed to MacDonnel Douglas company. Northlop company ought to be a sub contract company, though it was bette the case of nothing.
Then F-17 reconstracted largely to be F-18, shipplane. it have effective tapered wing at battle speed, unique positioned double vertical wing, efficiency air-intake, over self-wait powered engines, shaped F-18 as powerful and good footworked fighter. It is suitable for many purpose, so it is said that f-18 will fullfill the aircraft carriers.

Span:11.43m Length:17.07m Height:4.66m Weight self10.46t max19.96t Engine GE F404-GE-402 4,420(A/B 7,330kg)*2 Cf:6.06kl Vmax M=1.8+ Zc=15,240m RC --m/min Combat Radius 290nm(Hi-Lo-Lo-Hi) Range:-- Armament:20mm Vulcan(570) Bombs;7t 1st Flight 1978/11/18 (F/A-18C)

McDonnel Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet

Since A-12 project failed with its awful cost, NAVY determinded to use stretched F-A/18 for new attacker, for replace A-6. It certified that F-18 have excellent potential. It is reversed idea to made A-7 from F-8U.

Span:13.62m Length:18.3m Height:4.88m Weight self13.39t max29.94t Engine GE F414-GE-400 (A/B 10,000kg)2 Cf:8.06kl Vmax M=1.8+ Zc=15,240m RC --m/min Combat Radius 490nm(Hi-Lo-Lo-Hi) Range:--nm Armament:20mm Vulcan(570) AAM4 Bombs;8t 1st Flight 1995/11/02 (F/A-18E Super Honet)

Lockheed Martin JSF F-35B/C

JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) planned for USAF, US Navy/Marine and United Kingdom. Main purpose of this project is to replace F-16, A-6, F-14, F-18 and Sea Harrier as stealthy strike fighter which attached V/STOL variation. For make up it with minimal costs, it planned basicly 3 type models which have same basic shell and components. (Estimated production aproximately USAF 1750(X-35A) Marine 600,U.K 150 (X-35B) U.S.Navy 500(X-35C) and estimated cost 40 to 50 million US$) The US Department of Defense determinded on 2001/10/26 to select Lockheed Martin X-35 than Boeing X-32 as the JSF. It will be the first practical used Supersonic VTOL fighter, and the first usuable US origined VTOL fighter. Of course it is the first stealthy fighter/attacker for U.S. Navy and U.K.

Span:10.97m(F-35A) 13.12m(F-35B:Navy model) Length:15.48m Height:4.48m Wing area 4.18 sq.m(F-35A) 50.2sq.m(F-35B) Weight self:9.98(F-35A) 10.89t(F-35B) gross 22.68t Engine P-W F119-PW-100*1 155kN+lift Fan 82kN Cf:6.8t Vmax M=1.5 RC --m/min Combat Radius:1500km(F-35B) Range:3000km Armament:20mm cannon(F-35A) bombs 5.9-7.7t(F-35B) 1st Flight 2000/10/24(X-35A)

Attackers

Douglas A-3 SkyWarrier

Famous Edward Henry Heinemann was one of greatest plane designer. He designed many famous planes, like SDB, Skylocket. F-5D Those A-1, A-3, A-4 Attackers were by his works, too. For long years, all of fight deck attacker had entirely shared by these planes. Douglas A-3 "Skywarrior" had made from B-66 bomber. Nuclear powered carrier enabled to takeoff even such a large aircraft by its strong catapult, energized with excess steam. Same as Air Force RB-66, A-3 used mainly for many kind of reconnaissance. Also it used for air tanker and transportation of Naval VIP. Though the bomb compartment did not removed till it retired, there were no chance to work as "Warrior" in the front of battle field.

Span:22.1m Length:23m Height:6.9m Weight self:17.24t gross:31.78t Engine P-W J57-P10 4.763kg2 Vmax 550kt Zc;13,720m Range:2,500nm Armament:20mm cannon2 + bombs 1st Flight 1952/(A-3B)

Douglas A-4 SkyHawk

"Skyhawk" was typical symple and excellent airplane. Its delta figured main wings made rather short span that needs not to fold. It merits were small and light, economic,but big paylordable attacker, too. It was interesting that blues used A-4 after F-4H met accident, till F/A-18 followed. It meaned that A-4 had good dog-fight ability. "Like Ferrari", they said. "Top Gun" used A-4 instead of MiG-17. It was not easy to chase trainer controled A-4 for young pilots. Since A-4 was such a nice attacker, so many countries used A-4.

Span:8.38m Length:12.29m Height:4.57m Weight self:4.89t max11.11t Engine P-W J52-P408 5080kg1 Cf:3.03kl Vmax 560kt Cruise 500kt RC 3,140m/min Range:1,740nm Lto':832m Armament:20mm(200)2 + bombs 4.6t 1st Flight 1954/06/22(A-4M)

North American A-5 Vigilante

Spanish "Vigilante" means "member of self guard". When I made Rabell A-5 plastic models, sometimes its bomb stopped in tunnel. Interesting matter was real A-5 had same havitation or trouble. Like as B-58, Vigilante used mainly for reconnaissance. These A-5 based in Misawa and Alaska based B-58, collected many confidentisl. Vigilante originally sketched as double horizontal tails. Slanted air-intake enabled good performance when plane look up posed with big angle. These merit follwed by F-15, MiG-25, MiG-31, Su-27 and others.

Span:16.15m Length:22.31m Height:5.91m Weight self:--t gross:27.22t Engine GE J79GE8 7,700kg*2 Vmax M=2.1 Cruise 550kt Zc:21,300m Range:2,000nm Armament:-- 1st Flight:1958/08/31 (A-5A)

Grumman A-6 Intruder

Like a tradpole, bad outlook Intruder have very strong rader and electricity in its ugly head. It can fly surface with mach 0.95 and attack or bombing with quite excellent accuracy. These stragetic ability and require make this airplane for over 40 years activity. Its first flight was April 1960. Of course, electric equipment refreshed many times.

Span:16.15m Length:16.69m Height:4.93m Weight self 12.1t max 26.58t Engine J52-P-8B 4,218kg2 Cf:7.23+1.54 kl Vmax 560kt/SL Zc=12,925m RC 2,323m/min Range:2,818nm Armament:ASM4,AAM4,bombs 1st Flight;1960/04/19(A-6E TRAM)

LTV A-7 Corsair II

NAVY required to get new attacker to replace A-4, within limited cost and big amount.
Then Vaut proposed to make A-7 to use F-8U parts and technology. Though such a easy skill used, A-7 certified excellent performance when the test flight held after September 1965. Easy to control, energy saved, big payload. low initial cost. Then interested U.S.Air Force ordered A-7D, attached more powerful engine and 20mm Vulcan. It was quite valued.
So NAVY changed order as same specification type. Vaut, NAVY and AIR Force all enjoyed big merits with a few effort.

Span:11.8m Length:14.06m Height:4.9m Weight self8.67t max19.05t Engine A TF41-A-2 6,804kg1 Cf:5.68kl Vmax 600kt Vc:470kt Range:2,485nm Armament:20mmVulcan1(1,000) Sidewinder*2 + Bomb6.8t/max Prototype 1st Flight 1965/09/27 (A-7E)

LAST UPDATED 2002/07/29