Chance Vought F-8K Crusader, N19TB / A35-17, Thunderbird Aviation
This picture is © Martin Laycock and may not be used or published without permission.
Registration: N19TB
Construction Number: A35-17
Code Number: 01 / Catherine
Model Chance Vought F-8K Crusader
Operator: Thunderbird Aviation
Airport: Phoenix - Deer Valley (DVT / KDVT), USA - Arizona
Photographer: Martin Laycock
Date Taken: 09/05/1993
Date Submitted: 20/12/2008
First flown on 12 March 1987, it took Thunderbird Aviation 2½ years, 19,000 man-hours and $2,000,000 to restore N19TB to airworthy status. With parts coming from salvage yards and LTV Products Group, the aircraft is a true hybrid, with the fuselage from F-8K 145592, tail-section also from an F-8K, F-8L wings, and fitted with an F-8J Pratt & Whitney J57-P-55 engine. After Thunderbird Aviation went bankrupt N19TB was eventually sold to Microsoft's co-founder Paul Allen and registered Vulcan Warbirds Inc.
Picture ID:1147666