McDonnell F-101 Voodoo
F-101 Voodoo | |
---|---|
McDonnell F-101B Voodoo | |
Role | Fighter aircraft |
Manufacturer | McDonnell Aircraft Corporation |
First flight | 29 September 1954 |
Introduction | May 1957 |
Retired | 1972 (USAF) 1973 (ROCAF) 1982 (US ANG) 1984 (Canada) |
Status | Retired |
Primary users | United States Air Force (historical) Republic of China Air Force (historical) Royal Canadian Air Force (historical) |
Number built | 807 |
Developed from | McDonnell XF-88 Voodoo |
Variants | McDonnell CF-101 Voodoo |
The McDonnell F-101 Voodoo is a
Development of the F-101 commenced during the late 1940s as a long-range
Delays in the
The Voodoo's career as a fighter-bomber was relatively brief, but the reconnaissance versions served for some time. Along with the US Air Force's Lockheed U-2 and US Navy's Vought RF-8 Crusaders, the RF-101 reconnaissance variant of the Voodoo was instrumental during the Cuban Missile Crisis and saw extensive service during the Vietnam War.[2] Interceptor versions served with the Air National Guard until 1982, and in Canadian service, they were a front line part of NORAD until their replacement with the CF-18 Hornet in the 1980s. The type was operated in the reconnaissance role until 1979. US examples were handed off to the USAF Air National Guard where they were operated until 1982. The RCAF Voodoos were in service until 1984.
Design and development
Background and XF-88
Initial design on what would eventually become the Voodoo began in June 1946 in response to a USAAF Penetration Fighter Competition launched just after
On 14 February 1947, McDonnell was awarded a contract (AC-14582) to produce a pair of prototypes, designated
Although the XF-88 won the "fly-off" competition against the competing Lockheed XF-90 and North American YF-93, the detonation of the first nuclear weapon by the Soviet Union resulted in the United States Air Force (USAF) (created in 1947) re-evaluating its fighter needs, with interceptors being more important and bomber escorts being of reduced priority, and it terminated the Penetration Fighter program in 1950.[12][13] Another factor in the termination was budgetary limitations.[9][7] Analysis of Korean War missions, however, revealed that contemporary USAF strategic bombers were vulnerable to fighter interception. In early 1951, the USAF issued a new requirement for a bomber escort, to which all major US manufacturers submitted designs.[14] The McDonnell design was a larger and higher-powered version of the XF-88 and won the bid during May 1951. To reflect the level of changes involved, the redesigned F-88 was designated F-101 Voodoo in November 1951.[15][16]
Enlarged design
The new design was considerably larger, carrying three times the initial fuel load and designed around larger, more powerful
Changing roles and into production
Despite securing an order for the type, McDonnell received a stop order for production on 16 April 1954; this was due to a substantial cutback in funding for the USAF in general. Meaningful production activity was not resumed until a favourable instruction was received by the company on 2 November 1954.[22] At this point, the USAF gave McDonnell an operational deadline of early 1957.[23]
The first production aircraft, F-101A serial number 53-2418, performed its maiden flight on 29 September 1954 from
The end of the Korean War and the development of the jet-powered
Through the support of TAC, testing of the F-101 was resumed, with Category II flight tests beginning in early 1955. A number of problems were identified and were mostly resolved during this phase of development. Issues were found with the autopilot, hydraulics, viewfinder, and control system; McDonnell typically replaced unsatisfactory parts with redesigned counterparts.[30] One particular issue was the aircraft's dangerous tendency towards severe pitch-up when flown at a high angle of attack; this would never be entirely rectified.[31][32] However, the USAF was satisfied with the installation of an active inhibitor system to deter such instances.[33] Around 2,300 improvements were made to the F-101 between 1955 and 1956 ahead of full-rate production commencing in November 1956.[34]
Operational history
F-101A / RF-101G
On 2 May 1957, the first F-101A was delivered to the
The F-101 set a number of speed records, including: a JF-101A (the ninth F-101A modified as a testbed for the more powerful J-57-P-53 engines of the F-101B) setting a world speed record of 1,207.6 mph (1,943.4 km/h) on 12 December 1957 during "Operation Firewall",[40] beating the previous record of 1,132 mph (1,811 km/h) set by the Fairey Delta 2 in March the previous year. The record was then subsequently taken in May 1958 by a Lockheed F-104 Starfighter. On 27 November 1957, during "Operation Sun Run," an RF-101C set the Los Angeles-New York City-Los Angeles record in six hours and 46 minutes, the New York to Los Angeles record in three hours and 36 minutes, and the Los Angeles to New York record in three hours and seven minutes.[41]
A total of 77 F-101As were built, only 50 of which were ever used operationally while the remainder were used exclusively for experimental work.[35][38] They were gradually withdrawn from USAF service starting in 1966.[42] Twenty-nine survivors were converted to RF-101G specifications with a modified nose, housing reconnaissance cameras in place of cannons and radar. These served with the Air National Guard through 1972.[43][44]
RF-101A
In October 1953, the USAF requested that two F-101As be built as prototype YRF-101A tactical reconnaissance aircraft.
On 6 May 1957, the RF-101A entered service, the first unit to operate the type being
During October 1959, eight RF-101As were transferred to Taiwan, which used them for overflights of the Chinese mainland.[57][58] These ROCAF RF-101A were modified with the RF-101C vertical fins and air intake; this intake was used to cool the drag chute compartment and eliminated the five minute limit on using the afterburners on the RF-101A.[59] Two were reportedly shot down.[citation needed]
F-101B / CF-101B / EF-101B
In the late 1940s, the USAF had started a research project into future
Although McDonnell proposed the designation F-109 for the new aircraft (which was to be a substantial departure from the basic Voodoo),
The F-101B was stripped of the four M39 cannons and carried four AIM-4 Falcon
Between 1963 and 1966, F-101Bs were upgraded under the Interceptor Improvement Program (IIP; also known as "Project Bold Journey"), being outfitted with a fire control system enhancement against hostile
The F-101B was produced in greater numbers than the F-101A and F-101C, with a total of 479 being delivered by the end of production in 1961.
The F-101B was withdrawn from ADC service between 1968 and 1971, with many surviving USAF aircraft transferred to the Air National Guard (replacing F-102s), serving until 1982.
F-101C / RF-101H
The F-101A fighter-bomber had been accepted into TAC service despite a number of problems. Among others, its airframe had proven to be capable of withstanding only 6.33 g (62 m/s²) maneuvers, rather than the intended 7.33 g (72 m/s²).
Originally serving with the
Both the A and C model aircraft were assigned to the 81st TFW and were used interchangeably within the three squadrons. Operational F-101A/C were upgraded in service with Low Angle Drogued Delivery (LADD) and Low Altitude Bombing System (LABS) equipment for its primary mission of delivering nuclear weapons at extremely low altitudes. Pilots were trained for high speed, low-level missions into Soviet or Eastern Bloc territory, with primary targets being airfields. These missions were expected to be one-way, with the pilots having to eject behind Soviet lines.[72]
The F-101C never saw combat and was replaced in 1966 with the F-4C Phantom II.[20] Thirty-two aircraft were later converted for unarmed reconnaissance use with the RF-101H designation. They served with Air National Guard units until 1972.[20][74]
RF-101C
Using the reinforced airframe of the F-101C, the RF-101C first flew on 12 July 1957,[20] entering service in 1958. Like the RF-101A, the RF-101C had up to six cameras in place of radar and cannons in the reshaped nose and retained the bombing ability of the fighter-bomber versions.[75] As it was intended to be flown unarmed, various passive defensive systems were incorporated, including the AN/APS-54 radar warning receiver.[76] It lacked a true all-weather capability due to the USAF choosing to eliminate the AN/APN-82 electronic navigation system planned for it.[77] 166 RF-101Cs were built, including 96 originally scheduled to be F-101C fighter-bombers.[48]
On 27 November 1957, during Operation Sun Run, an RF-101C piloted by then-Captain Robert Sweet set the Los Angeles-New York City-Los Angeles record in six hours and 46 minutes, and New York to Los Angeles record in three hours and 36 minutes. Another RF-101C, piloted by then-Lieutenant Gustav Klatt, set a Los Angeles to New York record of three hours and seven minutes.[41]
The RF-101C saw service during the Cuban Missile Crisis and soon followed the North American F-100 Super Sabres in October 1961, into combat when RF-101s from the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing deployed to south east Asia, performing reconnaissance flights over Laos and Vietnam.[78] Operations in this theatre quickly exposed the need for nighttime reconnaissance, for which the aircraft was not originally equipped to perform.[79] The 1964 Project "Toy Tiger" fitted some RF-101C with a new camera package and a centerline pod for photo-flash cartridges. Some were further upgraded under the Mod 1181 program with automatic control for the cameras. Some officials remained dissatisfied with the RF-101C's nighttime photographic capability.[80][81]
The RF-101C acted as
After its withdrawal from Vietnam, the RF-101C continued to serve with USAF units through 1979. In service, the RF-101C was nicknamed the "Long Bird"; it was the only version of the Voodoo to see combat.[87]
TF-101B / F-101F / CF-101F
Some of the F-101Bs were completed as dual-control operational
RF-101B
In the early 1970s, a batch of 22 former RCAF CF-101Bs was delivered to the USAF and converted into RF-101B reconnaissance aircraft, each aircraft had its radar and weapons bay replaced with a set of three KS-87B cameras and two AXQ-2 TV cameras. An in-flight refueling boom receptacle was also installed. These aircraft served with the
Variants
- F-101A
- initial production fighter bomber, 77 produced[88]
- NF-101A
- one F-101A used by General Electric for testing of the General Electric J79 engine[88]
- YRF-101A
- two F-101As built as prototype reconnaissance models[88]
- RF-101A
- first reconnaissance version, 35 built[88]
- F-101B
- two-seat interceptor, the most numerous version with 479 built (including CF-101B)[88]
- CF-101B
- 112 F-101Bs transferred to Royal Canadian Air Force[88]
- RF-101B
- 22 former RCAF CF-101Bs modified for reconnaissance use[88]
- TF-101B
- dual-control trainer version of F-101B, redesignated F-101F, 79 built[88]
- EF-101B
- single F-101B converted for use as a radar target and leased to Canada[88]
- NF-101B
- F-101B prototype based on the F-101A airframe; the second prototype was built with a different nose[88]
- F-101C
- improved fighter-bomber, 47 built[88]
- RF-101C
- reconnaissance version of F-101C airframe, 166 built[88]
- F-101D
- proposed version with General Electric J79 engines, not built[88]
- F-101E
- another J79 proposal, not built[88]
- F-101F
- dual-control trainer version of F-101B; 79 re-designated TF-101Bs plus 152 converted F-101Bs[88]
- CF-101F
- Canadian designation for 20 TF-101B/F-101F dual-control aircraft[88]
- TF-101F
- 24 dual-control versions of F-101B, re-designated F-101F (these are included in the -F total)[88]
- RF-101G
- 29 F-101As converted for ANG reconnaissance[88]
- RF-101H
- 32 F-101Cs converted for reconnaissance use[88]
Operators
- Canada
- Royal Canadian Air Force (1961–1968)
- Canadian Armed Forces
- Air Defence Command (1968–1975)
- Air Command (1975–1984; historical)
- Taiwan
- United States
Aircraft on display
Following the type's retirement, a large number of F-101s are preserved in museums or on display as
Specifications (F-101B)
Data from The Complete Book of Fighters,[90] Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems[91]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 67 ft 5 in (20.55 m)
- Wingspan: 39 ft 8 in (12.09 m)
- Height: 18 ft 0 in (5.49 m)
- Wing area: 368 sq ft (34.2 m2)
- Airfoil: root: NACA 65A007 (modified); tip: NACA 65A006 (modified)[92]
- Empty weight: 28,495 lb (12,925 kg)
- Gross weight: 45,665 lb (20,713 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 52,400 lb (23,768 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 2,053 US gal (1,709 imp gal; 7,770 L) internals plus 2x optional 450 US gal (370 imp gal; 1,700 L) drop-tanks
- Powerplant: 2 × afterburning turbojetengines, 11,990 lbf (53.3 kN) thrust each dry, 16,900 lbf (75 kN) with afterburner
Performance
- Maximum speed: 1,134 mph (1,825 km/h, 985 kn) at 35,000 ft (11,000 m)
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.72
- Range: 1,520 mi (2,450 km, 1,320 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 58,400 ft (17,800 m)
- Wing loading: 124 lb/sq ft (610 kg/m2)
- Thrust/weight: 0.74
Armament
- Missiles: 4 (originally 6)× AIM-4 Falcon, or 2× AIR-2 Genie nuclear rockets, plus 2× AIM-4 Falcon[93]
Avionics
- Hughes MG-13 fire control system
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
- Convair F-106 Delta Dart
- Lavochkin La-250
- McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
- Tupolev Tu-28
Related lists
- List of fighter aircraft
- List of military aircraft of the United States
References
Citations
- ^ Francillon 1979, p. 544.
- ^ a b Pike, John. "RF-101 Voodoo". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ^ Greenhalgh 1979, p. 1.
- ^ Greenhalgh 1979, pp. 1-2.
- ^ Davies 2019, pp. 6-7.
- ^ Francillon 1979, pp. 460–461.
- ^ a b Knaack 1982, p. 135.
- ^ a b Angelucci and Bowers 1987, p. 304.
- ^ a b Greenhalgh 1979, p. 2.
- ^ Francillon 1979, p. 461.
- ^ Davies 2019, pp. 7-8.
- ^ Dorr and Donald 1990, pp. 146, 148.
- ^ Davies 2019, p. 8.
- ^ Knaack 1982, pp. 135-136.
- ^ Peacock 1985, p. 76.
- ^ Knaack 1982, p. 137.
- ^ Francillon 1979, p. 538.
- ^ Knaack 1978, pp. 137–138.
- ^ a b c Francillon 1979, p. 539.
- ^ a b c d e Peacock 1985, p. 78.
- ^ Knaack 1982, p. 136.
- ^ Greenhalgh 1979, p. 5.
- ^ Knaack 1982, p. 138.
- ^ Francillon 1990, p. 141.
- ^ F-101A Restored, at Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum Archived 18 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Greenhalgh 1979, pp. 5-6.
- ^ Davies 2019, pp. 9-10.
- ^ a b Greenhalgh 1979, p. 6.
- ^ Davies 2019, p. 10.
- ^ a b Greenhalgh 1979, p. 7.
- ^ Dorr 1995, p. 172.
- ^ Davies 2019, pp. 12-13.
- ^ a b Knaack 1982, p. 139.
- ^ Knaack 1982, pp. 139-140.
- ^ a b Knaack 1982, p. 140.
- ^ Francillon 1979, p. 547.
- ^ a b c d e Taylor 1995, pp. 236–237.
- ^ a b Davies 2019, p. 14.
- ^ a b Donald 2003, p. 55.
- ^ Dorr 1995, p. 173.
- ^ a b "Operation Sun Run". Archived 3 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine National Museum of the United States Air Force. Retrieved: 7 February 2008.
- ^ Knaack 1982, pp. 140–141.
- ^ Dorr 1995, p. 187.
- ^ a b Knaack 1982, p. 141.
- ^ Greenhalgh 1979, p. 3.
- ^ Davies 2019, p. 16.
- ^ Dorr 1995, p. 174.
- ^ a b Peacock 1985, pp. 78, 80.
- ^ Greenhalgh 1979, pp. 3-4.
- ^ Knaack 1982, p. 143.
- ^ Greenhalgh 1979, pp. 9-10.
- ^ Peacock 1985, p. 80.
- ^ Knaack 1982, pp. 143-144.
- ^ Davies 2019, pp. 17-18.
- ^ Knaack 1982, pp. 147-148.
- ^ Knaack 1982, p. 145.
- ^ Greenhalgh 1979, p. 26.
- ^ Knaack 1982, p. 144.
- ^ "ROCAF RF-101C?" taiwanairpower.org. Retrieved: 24 January 2011.
- ^ Knaack 1982, pp. 150–151.
- ^ Dorr and Donald 1990, p. 187.
- ^ Knaack 1982, p. 151.
- ^ a b Knaack 1982, p. 152.
- ^ a b Knaack 1978, p. 153.
- ^ Donald 2003, pp. 54–55.
- ^ Knaack 1982, pp. 152-153.
- ^ Peacock 1985, p. 95.
- ^ Dorr 1995, p. 175.
- ^ Dorr 1995, p. 178.
- ^ Knaack 1978, pp. 154-155.
- ^ "F-101B Voodoo Fighter-Interceptor History and Development US Air Force". Archived 21 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine 444TH FIS Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
- ^ a b c Dorr 1995, p. 181.
- ^ Knaack 1982, p. 142.
- ^ Knaack 1982, p. 146.
- ^ Greenhalgh 1979, pp. 12-15.
- ^ Greenhalgh 1979, p. 19.
- ^ Greenhalgh 1979, pp. 10-11.
- ^ Greenhalgh 1979, pp. 21-25.
- ^ Greenhalgh 1979, pp. 40-41.
- ^ Greenhalgh 1979, pp. 41-43.
- ^ Knaack 1982, p. 147.
- ^ Knaack 1982, p. 148.
- ^ Greenhalgh 1979, pp. 43-44.
- ^ Knaack 1982, p. 149.
- ^ Hobson 2001, p. 269.
- ^ "Vietnam Almanac", Air Force Magazine, September 2004, p. 57.
- ^ "Air Power Classics: F/RF-101 Voodoo". Air Force Magazine, May 2008, p. 168.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Angelucci and Bowers 1987, pp. 309–310.
- ^ CSU Uses F-101B For Storm Study; N8234, nickname, 'the Gray Ghost', on display at Air Combat Museum, Topeka,KS Archived 4 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 14 October 2013
- ^ Green 1994, p. 367.
- ^ Knaack 1978, p. 156-157.
- ^ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
- ^ Falcon missile variants – AIM-4A, AIM-4B, AIM-4C only. The range was about 5 mi (4.3 nmi; 8.0 km)
Bibliography
- Angelucci, Enzo; Bowers, Peter M. (1987). The American Fighter. Sparkford, Somerset, UK: Haynes Publishing Group. ISBN 0-85429-635-2.
- Characteristics Summary, F-101B, dated 16 August 1960.
- Davies, Peter E. (2019). RF-101 Voodoo Units in Combat. Bloomsbury. ISBN 978-1472829153.
- Donald, David, ed. (2003). Century Jets: USAF Frontline Fighters of the Cold War. Norwalk, CT: AirTime Publishing. ISBN 1-880588-68-4.
- ISBN 1-874023-68-9.
- Dorr, Robert F.; Donald, David (1990). Fighters of the United States Air Force. London, UK: Temple Press/Aerospace. ISBN 0-600-55094-X.
- Francillon, René J. (1990). McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920 (Vol. II) (2nd ed.). London, UK: Putnam. ISBN 978-0-85177-828-0.
- Francillon, René J. (May 1980). "It's Witchcraft: McDonnell's F-101 Voodoo". Airpower. 10 (3).
- Goodrum, Alastair (January–February 2004). "Down Range: Losses over the Wash in the 1960s and 1970s". Air Enthusiast (109): 12–17. ISSN 0143-5450.
- Gordon, Doug (May–June 1999). "Early Days of the 81st: The 81st TFW USAFE in the 1950s". Air Enthusiast (81): 36–43. ISSN 0143-5450.
- Green, William; Swanborough, Gordon (1994). The Complete Book of Fighters. London, United Kingdom: Salamander. ISBN 1-85833-777-1.
- Green, William; Swanborough, Gordon (2001). The Great Book of Fighters. St. Paul, Minnesota: MBI Publishing. ISBN 0-7603-1194-3.
- Greenhalgh, William (1979). The Air Force in Southeast Asia The RF-101 Voodoo 1961-1970 (PDF). Office of Air Force History. ISBN 978-1-78039-650-7. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ISBN 0-85059-463-4.
- Hansen, Chuck (1988). U.S. Nuclear Weapons. Arlington, Texas: Aerofax. ISBN 0-517-56740-7.
- Hobson, Chris (2002). Vietnam Air Losses: United States Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps Fixed-Wing Aircraft Losses in Southeast Asia, 1961–73. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press. ISBN 1-85780-115-6.
- Jenkins, Dennis R.; Landis, Tony R. (2008). Experimental & Prototype U.S. Air Force Jet Fighters. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press. ISBN 978-1-58007-111-6.
- Jones, Lloyd S. (1975). U.S. Fighters: Army Air-Force 1925 to 1980s. Fallbrook, California: Aero Publishers. ISBN 0-8168-9201-6.
- Keaveney, Kevin (1984). McDonnell F-101B/F (Aerofax Minigraph 5). Arlington, Texas: Aerofax. ISBN 0-942548-10-8.
- Kinsey, Bert (1986). F-101 Voodoo (Detail and Scale; vol. 21). Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania: Tab Books. ISBN 0-8306-8131-0.
- Knaack, Marcelle Size (1978). Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems: Volume 1 Post-World War II Fighters 1945–1973 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Office of Air Force History. OCLC 834250508. Archived from the originalon 3 March 2016.
- Peacock, Lindsay (August 1985). "The One-O-Wonder". ISSN 0306-5634.
- Taylor, Michael J. H., ed. (1995). The McDonnell Voodoo. Jane's American Fighting Aircraft of the 20th Century. New York, US: Modern Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7924-5627-8.
- United States Air Force Museum Guidebook. Wright-Patterson AFC, Ohio: Air Force Association, 1975 edition.
- Walpole, Nigel (2007). Voodoo Warriors: The Story of the McDonnell Voodoo Fast-Jets. Pen & Sword Books. ISBN 978-1783409778.
External links
- McDonnell F-101 Voodoo articles and publications
- Baugher's F-101 Voodoo Aircraft
- USAF National Museum site: XF-88 page
- McDonnell F-101 "Voodoo" history & information
- F-101 Voodoo Survivors List of static displays, location, serial numbers, and links.