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: 08/02/2009
Close up view of Thunderbird's beautiful F-8K "Catherine". 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. The pilot for her first flight was Roger Moore, US Navy, Retired, of San Diego, California. Captain Moore holds the distinction of being the first pilot to receive an FAA license to fly the F-8. The flight didn't go to plan when, immediately after take-off the aircraft went into an uncommanded left roll. Some skilled piloting prevented a total loss of control and after declaring an emergency she was safely landed back at Deer-Valley. Thunderbird Aviation's owner, Bill Hauprich had this F-8 built to meet the needs of test programs requiring an aircraft capable of speeds up to Mach 1.5. Fast and having a large fuel capacity it was ideally suited to this role. In fact Bill often told of missions where F-15s and F-16s had to refuel while the F-8 waited for them aloft! After Thunderbird Aviation went bankrupt N19TB was eventually sold to Microsoft's co-founder Paul Allen and registered Vulcan Warbirds Inc.
Picture ID:1157510