F8U-2NE Crusader of VF-11
History: VF-11 was the first operational squadron to receive the F8U-2NE, receiving its first aircraft on February 8, 1962. The squadron embarked on the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42) with CVG-1 and deployed to the Mediterranean Sea from September 1963 to April 1964. (Ref 1) The F8U-2 NE was the last production version of the F-8 Crusader for the US Navy and Marine Corps. The F8U Crusader was redesignated F-8 with F8U-2NE becoming the F-8E. This version had a AN/APQ-94 radar which required a revised and larger radome, and the ability to carry air-to-ground weapons with the addition of a wing pylon for each wing. F-8E version introduced the AAS-15 infrared track-and-search system contained in a bullet faring forward of the windscreen. (Ref 2) The Kit: This model is the Academy 1/72 scale F-8E Crusader kit (kit No: 1615) with SuperScale decal sheet 72-832 (OOP). The ejection seat is the QuickBoost F-8 Crusader Ejection Seat (QB 72-406) On the F-8, when the wing was