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The Vought F-8 Crusader is perhaps best remembered for having many nicknames.

Thanks to its supersonic speed and how it could safely takeoff even with its wings folded, pilots liked calling it "the sports car of the Navy." Deck crew members fondly referred to the aircraft as "The Gator" because the engine's air intakes were not very high above the ground and had the power to suck in a man.

The Crusader also had a fruitful record during the Vietnam War. After shooting down 18 North Vietnamese MiG-17s, it earned the legendary label of "MiG Master." And since it was the last U.S fighter designed to carry guns (four 20-millimeter autocannons), the F-8 is also remembered with the nickname "The Last Gunfighter."

The Crusader was built when the United States wanted to show off their air superiority. And although history has sometimes neglected the F-8's role in favor of valorizing the F-4 Phantom, this fast and deadly jet is still considered one of the most remarkable aircraft of its generation.

The Crusader was such a beloved aircraft that it originated the saying: "when you're out of F-8s, you're out of fighters!".

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