Invitation to a birthday party ...

jcf · March 23, 2015, 07:30:34 PM

Dear Museum Friend,

This Wednesday, March 25, is the 60th anniversary of the first flight of one of the Museum's most historic military jets - the Chance Vought XF8U-1 Crusader.

As a valued Museum member, you are invited to our free celebration during an 11 a.m. birthday party with the aircraft, former F-8 pilots, the Curator and others at the Museum's Restoration Center at Paine Field.

For more details, please visit our website at: http://www.museumofflight.org/event/celebrating-60th-birthday-xf8u-1-crusader.

I'm gonna go.

zenrat · March 24, 2015, 12:58:55 AM

Nice pic.
Are you going to take it a present?

NARSES2 · March 24, 2015, 08:36:20 AM

Well at least she's had a wash and brush up for her birthday

Lovely picture.

Enjoy the day

Captain Canada · March 24, 2015, 08:26:14 PM

Great idea. Love the way she looks. Have fun !

jcf · March 25, 2015, 02:15:03 PM

'Twas a nice event with a slew of retired USN/USMC F8 pilots, including a Vought test pilot from the period
and a gentleman who had been a design engineer on the original XF8U-1 project.

I didn't stay for the luncheon with the pilots, Terry 'braincells37' Moore did.

Also walked around and looked at the Boeing SST mockup, peaked in the coming along nicely Comet 4C,
and outside took a close look at Little Squirt the little Boeing Jetfoil test machine, which needs a
lot of work.

I'll post some phone pics later.

kitbasher · March 25, 2015, 02:35:51 PM

Heresy alert: The Crusader's not an ugly aircraft, in many ways quite a handsome beast, but I can't get excited by them.

But A-7 Corsairs are honestly just the business! Least keen on the 'D' though - AAR receptacle spoils the SLUF

jcf · March 26, 2015, 10:29:16 AM

Terry Moore posted some good photos from the event up on Hyperscale:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/149674/message/1427321566/XF8U-1+restoration+unveiled+today

PR19_Kit · March 26, 2015, 04:56:54 PM

What a super job they've made of that.

jcf · March 26, 2015, 07:12:07 PM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on March 26, 2015, 04:56:54 PM
What a super job they've made of that.

Yep, come a long way since I first saw her in the MoF Great Gallery back in the '80s and then wingless
at the resto center in the '90s.

sandiego89 · March 27, 2015, 05:11:19 AM

Quote from: kitbasher on March 25, 2015, 02:35:51 PM
Heresy alert: The Crusader's not an ugly aircraft...... but I can't get excited by them.

But A-7 Corsairs are honestly just the business!......

That is quite a scaldelous statement basher! The SLUF more exciting that it's older sister? Hmmmm, we all have our preferences

Captain Canada · May 21, 2015, 03:59:09 PM

I love 'em both....but that Supersonic SLUF that they were going to build combines the best of both world's into an even better looking beast !