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Military Aircraft
F-101 VOODOO |
| In 1946 the US Army Air Force issued a requirement for a escort fighter, and a McDonnell submission was rewarded with an order for two XF-88 prototypes. The first flew in October 1948 with two 3,000 -lb thrust Westinghouse XJ34 turbojets and revealed poor performance. The XE-88A second prototype had reheated engines and better performance, but lack of funding then canceled the program. The outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 renewed the need of what was now the US. Air Force for a fighter escort its convar B-36 bombers, and the XF-88 was revised as the Voodoo that flew in F-101A form during September 1954. By This time it was clear that the strategic role was impossible and the type entered service as an all weather interceptor from May 1957. |
TECHNICAL DATA
| Description | Specifications |
| Manufacturer: McDonnell | Length: 67 ft. 4.75 in. |
| First Flight: September 1954 | Height: 18 ft. 0 in. |
| Model: B | Wing Span: 39 ft. 8 in. |
| Crew: Two | Wing Area: 368.0 sq. ft. |
| Nickname: Voodoo | Empty Weight: 28,970 lb. |
| Basic Role: All weather interceptor. | Max. Weight: 52,400 lb. |
| Other
Versions: F-101A interceptor. RF-101A reconnaissance aircraft.
F-101B two seat interceptor with more advanced weapons. TF-101B two seat conversion trainer. F-101C single seat nuclear strike fighter. RF-101C reconnaissance aircraft based on the F-101C. F-101F the f-101Bs with the in-flight refueling probe replaced by an infra red detector. TF-101F the TF-101Bs upgraded to F-101F standard. |
Armament: Two MB-1 Genie nuclear rockets and four AIM-4 Falcon AAMs, or six Falcons. |
| Principal User: USA. |
Propulsion |
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Performance |
Power Plant: Pratt & Whitney J57-P-55 turbojets. |
| Range: 1,550 miles. | Horsepower: 14,880-lb reheated thrust. |
| Max. Speed: 1,221 mph. or Mach 1.85 at 40,000 ft. | No. Of Engines: Two |
| Ceiling: 54,800 ft. | |
| Climb Rate: 17,000 ft. per minute. |
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This Voodoo of the Nevada Air National Guard reveals the revised camera carrying nose of the RF-101 model. Note also the two drop tanks under the wing roots. Coll B. Thouanel |