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F-101B “Voodoo”
Designed to serve with the Strategic Air Command as a long-range escort and “penetration” fighter, the F-101 was developed subsequently for both tactical and air defense roles. At the time of its introduction into service, it was the heaviest single-seat fighter ever accepted by the USAF. McDonnell engineers began design studies of a penetration fighter in 1945, and detailed design work started in June 1946. Two prototypes of this design were built as the XF-88 and XF-88A, flight trials started on October 20, 1948, but a change in tactical requirements and a shortage of funds led to the cancellation of the project in 1950.
In 1951, a new USAF requirement for a long-range fighter to serve with SAC as a B-36 escort led to a revision of the original XF-88 design. With an additional fuselage bay for extra fuel and J57 turbojets in place of J34s, it was designated as the F-101.
The Museum’s F-101 was accepted by the USAF on November 30, 1960.
Specifications
Aircraft Type: F-101B, S/N 59-0462, VooDoo, McDonnell
Mission: All-weather fighter-interceptor
Number Built: The Air Force bought a total of 807 F-101s. 2 experimental models (first known as XF-88s), 77 F-101As, 47 F-101Cs, 35 RF-101As, 166 RF-101Cs, and 480 F-101B and F-101F interceptors.
Powerplant: Two Pratt & Whitney J57-P-55 afterburning turbojet engines, 11,990 pounds thrust, 14,990 in afterburner.
Weight: Loaded 39,900 pounds, maximum takeoff weight 46,673 pounds
Dimensions: Wingspan 39’8″, length 67’5″, height 18′
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