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| F-94C Starfire with mid-wing rocket pods |
Lockheed F-94C Starfire
First Flight: 1949,
April 16 (YF-94)
Type: two-seat
all-weather interceptor
Power:
Pratt
& Whitney J48-P-5 turbojet engine
License-built
version of Rolls-Royce Tay turbojet
3969kg
/ 8750lb afterburning thrust
Armament:
69.85mm
/ 2.75in Mighty Mouse air-to-air rocket projectiles (24) / nose
Mid-wing
launcher pods with Mighty Mouse unguided rockets (12 + 12)
Size:
Wingspan: 12.93m / 42ft 5in
Length: 13.56m / 44ft 6in
Height: 4.55m / 14ft 11in
Wing
Area: 31.4m2 / 338ft2
Weight:
Empty: 5761kg / 12,700ft
Loaded: 8301kg /
18,300lb
Max. Take-off: 10,977kg / 24,200lb
Performance:
Max.
Speed: 941kph / 585mph
1030kph
/ 640mph @ sea level
Cruise
Speed: 793kph / 493mph
Ceiling: 15,665m / 51,400ft
Range:
1930km / 1200
miles – maximum
1295km / 805
miles – normal
Climb: 2430m / 7980ft per minute
Production: 853
F-94s (models A, B, C)
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| F-94 featured in comic strip Terry and the Pirates |
The detonation of an atomic bomb by the Soviet Union in 1949
and the fear by American leaders of a Soviet bomber threat pushed the United
States into an urgent program to develop an all-weather jet interceptor. This sense of vulnerability created a rush to
convert the T-33 jet trainer into a jet equipped with a first-of-its-kind radar
fire control system. These first
versions of the F-94 were considered to be interim solutions at best. Because the T-33 was a converted F-80
Shooting Star, it passed along the deficiencies of this early jet fighter to
the new Air Force interceptor. Foremost
among these problems was the lack of fuel capacity which severely limited the
F-94’s range. While the thrust of the
new jet and its armament would be improved over time there was never a remedy
for its inherent design weakness that required nearly all of its fuel to be
stored in the wing and wingtip tanks.
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| Unguided Mighty Mouse rockets use shot-gun effect |
The introduction of the MiG 15 into the Korean War in late
1951 and its success in downing B-29s was the main reason for introducing the
F-94 into that conflict. Unfortunately
the presence of the F-94 had little effect on MiG operations because Air Force
policy forbid the plane be used over Communist controlled territory. This decision was made to prevent the plane’s
secret airborne radar technology from falling into enemy hands. This is an understandable concern but,
unfortunately, this revolutionary weapons control system was highly unreliable and
very limited in its effectiveness in directing attacks against enemy
planes. Many of the F-94 missions
involved using their technology in night operations to intercept hostile
aircraft operating over friendly territory.
These consisted largely of preventing obsolete propeller planes from
launching ‘Bedcheck Charlie’ nuisance attacks on allied air bases.
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| Snap-hinge doors contain Mighty Mouse rockets |
The F-94 will be best remembered for contributing to the air
defense of the North American continent between 1949 and 1953. In 1953 development of the aircraft had
matured into its final form as the F-94C Starfire. The aircraft had substantial greater thrust
and its armament had been significantly upgraded from four .50 caliber machine
guns in the nose to being able to launch a flurry of 24 missiles at its
target. Development had taken two years
longer than hoped for primarily due to the difficulty in perfecting the jet’s
new fire control system. One of the
difficulties involved launching rockets near the plane’s radome in the nose
which had a tendency to cause an engine flameout. As it turns out the F-94C had limited service
as a front line interceptor as it was soon replaced by the F-89 Scorpion and
the supersonic F-86D Sabre.
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| F-94 deployed drag chute for landing |
These initial combat jets were designed under the time
constraints of facing imminent threats generated by tensions of the early Cold
War. Pilots on the frontline were Beta
testing aircraft often rushed to the field.
Everyone, engineers and pilots alike, was discovering through personal
experience what this new jet technology was all about. If you were a combat pilot over Korea during
these years you are eating, drinking and sleeping this stuff or taking on a far
greater risk of an early death headed nose first towards the ground.
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| Click picture for video of rocket firing |
