V:A-L-Fighter-8/1950

A V:A-L-Fighter-8-J-LR-T/1975 operated by the United Socialist States of Zlamas Air Guard in flight above the Profuágua Crater.

The V:A-L-Fighter-8/1950, comprehensive designation name vehicle:air-light-fighter-8th model/first made in 1950, short name F-8 Golden Eagle, is a jet fighter aircraft that was developed for the Wosteaquean National Air Force, the Republican Air Guard, and the Wosteaquean National Navy from 1944 to 1950 by the Célia Airplane Manufacturer, which was later nationalized, and integrated into the Air Force's Weapons Research division to comply with Wosteaque's national military industrial laws. The F-8 Golden Eagle was the last aircraft with the fighter designation.

The F-8 Golden Eagle is still in used, either as a trainer jet, or in use with Zlamas Air Guard Ceremonial Squadrons. As of 2020 approximately 7,500 F-8 Golden Eagles have been produced.

Design and development

The F-8 Golden Eagle, or the Projeto Jato Três, as the design was called before the adoption by the Wosteaquean Military, was the third jet fighter developed by the Célia Airplane Manufacturer as past designs had unreliable engines and severe wiring problems.

A E-W-M-Autocannon-S/S-2-1949 which was used on early models of the Fighter-8.

Designers at Célia Airplane Manufacturer started with a straight-style wing design, but it was quickly changed to a swept-style wing design after flight trails were conducted at Ivana Air Guard Base.

Design for the FIghter-8 Golden Eagle

The final problem with the Projeto Jato Três was solved in late 1949 with a new engine that was co-designed by the Light Air Vehicle Department. The new engine, dully named, JFE-1/CAM was tested in November of 1949, and was deemed as "more than sufficient" by lead designer Mélody Chrystelle of the Light Air Vehicle Department, with the plane reaching a top speed of 1078 kph (670 mph).

The F-8 Golden Eagle carried four 20 mm (0.78 in) autocannons, with 100 rounds per gun, this armament configuration succeeded in mock dogfights, while preforming poorly in intercepting roles. For this problem, some F-8 Golden Eagles were armed with two 40mm (1.57 in), autocannons with 40 rounds per gun. Research and development for this problem later resulted in the V:A-L-Interceptor-1/1952.

The F-8 Golden Eagle tended to spin after it stalled, and often the pilot could not recover. This was fixed with the V:A-L-Fighter-8-C/1953 variant with better controls, redesigned spars, and a early sound warning system.

An improved variant, the V:A-L-Fighter-8-J-LR/1975 ("lutador revolucionário"), or ("revolutionary fighter") entered service in 1975 with a vastly improved JFE-3/CAM engine, with a top speed of 1160 kph (720 mph) The 20 mm autocannons were also upgraded to newer models, with some other improvements added.

Roucourtain GiM 10

The Roucourtain GiM 10 is a unlicensed, reverse-engineered copy of the F-8 Golden Eagle. One aircraft and it's pilot was captured after a incident caused one of the five fighters to lose directions and crash near the northern coast of Roucourt. The Fighter was participating in a fighter demonstration in Eiria.

The GiM 10 has several major differences such as three 30mm (0.90 in) autocannons instead of the four 20mms, a weaker engine, due to poor metallurgy technology in Roucourt, and the spinning after a stall problem that persisted for 20 years later until it was later fixed. Other differences include fuel tanks in the wings, and four hardpoints instead of two.

Variants

Projeto Jato Três

Prototype.

V:A-L-Fighter-8/1950

First production version.

V:A-L-Fighter-8-I/1950

Interceptor variant, lead to the development of the V:A-L-Interceptor-1/1952.

V:A-L-Fighter-8-A/1950

Second production version

V:A-L-Fighter-8-B/1951

Third production version.

V:A-L-Fighter-8-C/1953

Fourth production version.

V:A-L-Fighter-8-D/1955

Fifth production version.

V:A-L-Fighter-8-D-T/1955

Two seater trainer version.

V:A-L-Fighter-8-E/1958

Sixth production version.

V:A-L-Fighter-8-F/1960

Seventh production version.

V:A-L-Fighter-8-G/1962

Eighth production version.

V:A-L-Fighter-8-H/1964

Ninth production version.

V:A-L-Fighter-8-I/1967

Tenth production version.

V:A-L-Fighter-8-J-LR/1975

Eleven production version, still used by the 9th Zlamas Air Guard Ceremonial Squadron.

V:A-L-Fighter-8-J-LR-T/1975

Two seater trainer version, still used to train pilots.

GiM 10

First production version.

GiM 10/K

Second production version.

GiM 10/KT

Two seater trainer version.

GiM 10/K50

Third production version.

GiM 10/KT50

Two seater trainer version.

Specifications (V:A-L-Fighter-8-J-LR/1975)

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 10.102 m (33 ft 2 in)
• Wingspan: 10.085 m (33 ft 1 in)
• Height: 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in)
• Wing area: 20.6 m² (222 sq ft)
• Airfoil: root: TsAGI S-10; tip: TsAGI SR-3
• Empty weight: 3,681 kg (8,115 lb)
• Gross weight: 5,044 kg (11,120 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 6,106 kg (13,461 lb) with 2x600 L drop-tanks
• Fuel capacity: 1,420 L internal
• Powerplant: 1 × Jet Fighter Engine-3/Célia Airplane Manufacturer, 26.5 kN (5,950 lbf) thrust

Performance

• Maximum speed: 1160 kph (720 mph, 626 kn) at sea level Mach 0.93
• Cruise speed: 1046 km/h (650 mph, 564 kn) Mach 0.84
• Ferry range: 2,520 km (1,570 mi, 1,360 nmi) at 12,000 m (39,370 ft) with 2x600 drop-tanks
• Service ceiling: 15,500 m (50,900 ft)
• Rate of climb: 51.2 m/s (10,080 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 296.4 kg/m² (60.7 lb/sq ft)
• Thrust/weight: 0.55

Armament

• Guns:
  • 4 × 20 mm E:W-M-Autocannon-S/S-5/1969 in the lower front fuselage (100 rounds per gun, 400 rounds total)
• Hardpoints: 2 , with provisions to carry combinations of:
  • Bombs: 100 kg (220 lb) bombs
  • Other: drop tanks, or unguided rockets