Pirate's Bounty [F-8 Crusader] Artist Proof Print Signed by Pilot Lt.Cdr. John Nichols and Mike Machat

Mike Machat's artistic jet research included flight experiences in numerous 'exotic' aircraft types.  Mike has flown with NASA, the Blue Angels, and the USAF Test Pilot School, and was the first Air Force Artist to fly in the Rockwell B-1B Lancer and Grumman F-14 Tomcat in a U.S. Navy exchange program.  Mike Machat's Art sells incredibly quickly.

Here are a few words about this fine art stunning Artist Proof Limited Edition Print by Mike Machat:

"On  9 July 1968. While escorting a photo-recon RF-8 from VFP-63 aboard the U.S.S. Ticonderoga, the Crusaders were jumped by two MiG-17s over Vinh, North Vietnam.

Nichols called a "left break" to the recon aircraft, and engaged the lead MiG as the second enemy fighter retreated to safety. Although he fired two Sidewinder missiles including a direct hit, Nichols could not bring the MiG down. Streaming raw jet fuel from its tailpipe, the MiG suddenly made a tactical - and fatal - error by turning directly across the bow of Nichol's decelerating Crusader - too close for anything except 20 mm 'Guns'."

There were only 100 of Pirate's Bounty [F-8 Crusader] Artist Proof Print Signed by Pilot Lt.Cdr. John Nichols and Mike Machat made available for the Worldwide market, and each comes with its own Mike Machat signed Certificate of Authenticity [CoA]. The Limited Edition Print had a run of 1,000 Worldwide.

The incredibly beautiful Pirate's Bounty [F-8 Crusader] Artist Proof Print Signed by Pilot Lt.Cdr. John Nichols and Mike Machat captures all the vivid color and brilliance of the original Mike Machat work of art VF-191 ‘Pirate’ Crusader downing the hapless MiG’ whilst on his recon mission over Vinh and its stunning and colorful  blue river network coursing through the landscape.  The art also illustrates and imparts the ‘older fighter pilot's maxim’ of aerial combat ‘get on your adversaries tail’.  Note the F-8 Crusaders 'speed brake' deployed underneath, to slow the MiG 15s capability to turn inside it.  

This stunning Pirate's Bounty [F-8 Crusader] Artist Proof Print Signed by Pilot Lt.Cdr. John Nichols and Mike Machat is an important signed historical art piece for any collection.  It is a unique art record of the U.S. Navy's last 'guns' kill since the Vietnam War.

There were many iconic Aviation and Space in the 20th and now the 21st Century that literally carved the future of the World that we have today,  The generally poor 'kill' ratio early in the Vietnam War led directly to the recognition of the need to create a 'Fighters Pilots School' after the War.  This was to pass on the lessons and tactics of Air Combat learned in Vietnam and over the decades in the 20th Century to ensure they were never 'lost' again.  Lt.Cdr. John Nichols was one of the founding members charged with forming the U.S. Navy 'Fighters Pilots School TOPGUN'.

Please order now so that you do not miss out on this very restricted opportunity! 

Photo Credits

Photo 1  The Art Pirate's Bounty [F-8 Crusader] Artist Proof Print Signed by Pilot Lt.Cdr. John Nichols and Mike Machat

Photo 2  A closer horizontal image of the signed Art

Photo 3  A 'zoomed in' view of the Art with the 'hard right crossover'  maneuver trying to reverse the direction of the 'fight'. 

Photo 4  A U.S. Navy VF-191 Squadron F-8 Crusader number 1506777 in flight in 1968 [courtesy U.S. Navy and Pinterest]

Photo 5  Lt.Cdr. John Nichols U.S. Navy 'full dress Portrait'  [courtesy U.S. Navy]

Photo 6  The Art Pirate's Bounty [F-8 Crusader] Artist Proof Print Signed by Pilot Lt.Cdr. John Nichols and Mike Machat with the lower signature panel shown

Photo 7  The Artist Proof Certificate of Authenticity [CoA]

Photo 8 The Artist Mike Machat climbing the ladder of the NASA 852 McDonnell Douglas F-18B at Edwards Air Force Base.

Mission Profile (source Wikipedia)

Lt.Cdr. John Nichols enlisted in the United States Army and served as a combat medic during the Korean War. After attending college he was accepted for NavCad training and commissioned in 1957. Originally he flew the North American FJ-4 Fury but shortly thereafter made the transition to the more advanced Vought F-8 Crusader, The last U.S. Fighter designed with Guns as its primary weapons system. Called "The Last of the Gunfighters," This would be the aircraft that defined his professional career.

Nichols joined Fighter Squadron 62 (VF-62) and adopted the callsign "Pirate." During the Cuban Missile Crisis in Oct. of 1962, Nichols and the pilots of Fighter Squadron VF-62 flew escort for classified RF-8 reconnaissance flights over Cuba to protect them from Russian Mig Fighters. VF-62 was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation by President Kennedy. Nichols also became a landing signal officer as well as a flight and tactics instructor. In the latter capacity, he was one of the founding members of the Naval Fighter Weapons School that evolved into "Topgun."

During the Vietnam War Nichols made three Tonkin Gulf deployments between 1967 and 1973, flying from the aircraft carriers USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14) USS Oriskany (CVA-34), and USS Hancock (CVA-19).

On his first combat deployment, assigned to VF-191, Nichols was wingman to LCDR Michael Estocin, who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for actions in April 1967. On the following deployment, Nichols destroyed one of two North Vietnamese MiG-17s that were attacking an RF-8 reconnaissance plane. Nichols shoot down of the attacking Mig Fighter saved the life of the reconnaissance pilot and was the final aerial victory to be won with guns in Naval history. For Gallantry in action, Nichols was awarded the Silver Star Medal. He later commanded VF-24 during the closing days of the war in 1973. At the end of his naval career, he was one of only five pilots to log over 3,000 hours in the demanding Crusader. Nichols flew over 350 combat missions during the war.

Upon retirement in 1975, Nichols returned to Florida and wrote occasionally. The first of his two books was a combination memoir and analysis titled On Yankee Station (1987). Warriors, a novel about a Mideast air war, was released shortly before Operation Desert Storm in 1990. Both were written with his friend Barrett Tillman.

The Vought F-8 Crusader (originally F8U) was a single-engine, supersonic, carrier-based air superiority jet aircraft built by Vought for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, replacing the Vought F7U Cutlass, and for the French Navy. The first F-8 prototype was ready for flight in February 1955. The F-8 served principally in the Vietnam War. The Crusader was the last American fighter with guns as the primary weapon, earning it the title "The Last of the Gunfighters" as it earned a reputation for reliability and performance unmatched in the skies over Vietnam.  It achieved 20 MiG kills between June 1966 and September 1968.

The RF-8 Crusader was a photo-reconnaissance development and operated longer in U.S. service than any of the fighter versions. RF-8s played a crucial role in the Cuban Missile Crisis, providing essential low-level photographs impossible to acquire by other means

VF-191 was established as fighter squadron VF-19 on 15 August 1943. On 15 November 1946, it was re-designated VF-19A. On 24 August 1948, it was finally re-designated VF-191 and adopted the new nickname Satan's Kittens. It was disestablished on 1 March 1978.

The squadron took part in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. During the latter conflict, the squadron took part in several combat cruises, flying variants of the F-8 Crusader. After Vietnam VF-191 continued operations with the F-8 until 1976, when they transitioned to the F-4 Phantom II. A single cruise in the F-4 followed as VF-191 was disestablished in 1978.

Collectors' Hints (Space and Aviation Firsts © 2017-2023).

Collectors' Hint 1 - What is an 'Artist Proof' Limited Edition Artist Proof Print? 

'Artist Proofs' is a special early subset of the regular limited edition, limited to the first 10% of the print run.  An ‘Artist Proof’ is just that, an ‘Artist Proof’ and may or may not be numbered at the discretion of the Artist.  They therefore usually sell for 20-50% more than the regular edition print.

The 'Artist Proofs' are the first prints pulled off a fresh "stone", the plate which was drawn or etched by the artist to create the Limited Edition Canvas Prints.

A really serious Collector usually prefers the 'Artists Proof' if one can be obtained, because of the extra value they represent and the status they have in the market and as an investment.

Collectors Hint 2 - What is a 'Lithograph' Limited Edition Print? 

A Lithograph is a print created by running paper through a four-color press (red, yellow, blue, and black) making a full-color reproduction of an original painting in large quantities (usually 500-1,000). 

If signed and numbered, it is a "Limited Edition" Print, and all materials and plates used in making the print are destroyed to ensure that the edition will never be reproduced again. 

Premium Art - Limited Edition Prints utilising the Lithographic printing technique for very high quality provides 'Stand Out Impressiveness' upon your Wall.  

Collectors Hint 3 - Acquisition of 'Rare' Historical Offerings!

I now try to obtain 'rare' offerings when they appear as I lost out on a few key Historical Pieces due to hesitating. 

One was an X-15 photograph signed by 11 of the 12 surviving X-15 Pilots at the time, one being Neil Armstrong.  I have never seen a similar opportunity again during the past 25 years.  I suggest when an opportunity presents itself; please make the decision as to your collection focus and then act so you do not miss out!  

Collectors’ Hint 4 – About Mike Machat

After completing the Foundation Art Program at New York’s Pratt Institute, Mike served in the U.S. Air Force overseas and with the National Security Agency in Washington D.C.

After relocating to Los Angeles, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from California State University, Long Beach and was hired by the Douglas Aircraft Company as a technical illustrator. Mike soon advanced through the ranks to become a Staff Artist and Corporate Representative for the McDonnell Douglas Corporation. 

Moving on from the corporate world, Mike established his own independent aviation art studio and was elected first president of the American Society of Aviation Artists (ASAA). 

He served as president of the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles and became a senior, flight-rated, member of the Air Force Art Program, contributing 21 original paintings to the national collection.  His aviation artwork has won numerous awards in the illustration West, Experimental Aircraft Association, ASAA, Simuflite, and Naval Aviation Foundation art competitions.

As a USAF artist and Aviator, flew in more than 200 different types of 'exotic' aircraft including the A-4, T-38, F-104, F-15, F-16, F-18, and Concorde. 

Mike designed and produced aviation murals for the Bob Hope Airport terminal building in Burbank, California, and created the centerpiece display for the new Air Force Flight Test Center Museum at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

His paintings are displayed in airline corporate headquarters worldwide and have been accepted into the permanent collections of the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, National Soaring Museum, and National Museum of Naval Aviation.

Mike’s career focus includes aviation writing and editing. He served as Editor-in-Chief for Wings & Airpower Magazine as well as Acquisitions Editor for Specialty Press Aviation Publications and brings a wealth of editorial and literary knowledge to all of his aviation endeavors. As the author of two best-selling books and countless magazine and website articles, Mike has told the stories of aviation luminaries and of his own aeronautical exploits. Having worked first-hand on projects with renowned aircraft designers, pilots, and astronauts, he has been able to capture in images and words the dramatic and colorful tales of many of aviation’s greatest legends

Noted for his extensive work in commercial aviation, Mike's paintings are also displayed in many airline corporate headquarters throughout the world including a mural painted in the terminal building of the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, California. His client list includes Airbus Industrie, McDonnell Douglas, Pan American World Airways, Delta, Continental, Flying Tigers, and NASA among many others.

Notes: 

This is serious and enjoyable premium quality Art Space and Aviation Collecting.  If an offer is to be made, please understand the offer needs to be very seriously ‘close’!

Size 

This historical Pirate's Bounty [F-8 Crusader] Artist Proof Print Signed by Pilot Lt.Cdr. John Nichols and Mike Machat has an:

Upon purchase I will be pleased to provide written professional framing hints as an additional courtesy to you. 

This is important signed historical art for any collection. 

Shipping

This new Artist Proof Print will be shipped to you directly from Australia.

This is a great buy and offering for International, UK, European and Asia Pacific Collectors. You can make this copy yours!  

Conclusion

Pirate's Bounty [F-8 Crusader] Artist Proof Print Signed by Pilot Lt.Cdr. John Nichols and Mike Machat is a must-have 'Life Piece' of World and U.S. Navy 'Air Combat' History. A stunning portrait of the F-8 Crusader close in on the tail of the MiG 15 in the sights of "The Last Gunfighter".

Remember there were only 100 of these Pirate's Bounty [F-8 Crusader] Artist Proof Print Signed by Pilot Lt.Cdr. John Nichols and Mike Machat made available for the entire Worldwide market! This new signed copy by the pilot and artist is irreplaceable. 

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