McDonnell F-101B Voodoo - TAM, Travis AFB, Fairfield, CA
Posted by: Groundspeak Regular Member kb7ywl
N 38° 16.186 W 121° 55.928
10S E 593412 N 4236285
McDonnell F-101B Voodoo s/n 58-0285
Waymark Code: WME76A
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 04/12/2012
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member DougK
Views: 1

The McDonnell F-101 Voodoo was a supersonic military jet fighter which served the US Air Force (USAF) and the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Initially designed by McDonnell Aircraft as a long-range bomber escort (known as a penetration fighter) for the Strategic Air Command (SAC), the Voodoo was instead developed as a nuclear-armed fighter-bomber for the Tactical Air Command (TAC), and as a photo reconnaissance aircraft based on the same airframe. Extensively modified versions were produced as an all-weather interceptor aircraft, serving with the Air Defense Command, later renamed the Aerospace Defense Command (ADC), the Air National Guard, the Royal Canadian Air Force and the unified Canadian Forces after 1968.

Initial design of what would become the Voodoo began just after WW II in response to a USAAF long-range high performance Penetration Fighter Competition in 1946. After being awarded a contract on 14 February 1947, McDonnell built two prototypes, designated the XF-88 Voodoo. The first prototype, powered by two 3,000 lbf Westinghouse XJ34-WE-13 turbojets, flew from Muroc on 20 October 1948. Preliminary testing revealed that while handling and range was adequate, the top speed was a disappointing 641 mph at sea level. After fitting McDonnell-designed afterburners to the second prototype, thrust was increased to 3,600 lbf with corresponding performance increases in top speed, initial rate of climb and reduced takeoff distance. Fuel consumption was greatly increased by use of the afterburners, however, reducing the range.

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 USAF reevaluating its fighter needs, with interceptors being more important and bomber escorts being of reduced priority, and it terminated the Penetration Fighter program in 1950. Analysis of Korean war missions, however, revealed that contemporary USAF strategic bombers were vulnerable to fighter interception. In 1951, the USAF issued a new requirement for a bomber escort with all major US manufacturers submitting designs. The McDonnell design was a larger and higher powered version of the XF-88, and won the bid in May 1951. The F-88 was redesignated the F-101 Voodoo in November 1951.

The F-101 first flew on 29 September 1954 and introduced in May 1957. It retired from the USAF in 1972 and the ANG in 1982. A total of 807 were built.

This aircraft, F-101B-105-MC s/n 58-0285, a fighter-interceptor version, was delivered in 1959. Its last operational posting was with the 136th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 107th Tactical Fighter Group, New York Air National Guard, Niagara Falls, NY. She then served as a maintenance trainer at Sheppard AFB, TX, until acquired by the Travis Museum in 1986.

Specifications:
Crew: 2
Power Plant: 2× 10,200 lbf Pratt & Whitney J57-P-55 turbojets 16,900 lbf w/afterburner
Dimensions:
- Span: 39' 8"
- Length: 71' 1"
- Height: 18' 0"
Weight:
- Empty: 28,495 lb
- Maximum: 52,400 lb
Performance:
- Speed:
- - Max: 1,134 mph @ 35,000 ft
- - Cruise: 600 mph
- Range: 1,520 miles
- Ceiling: 58,400 ft
- Climb: 49,200 fpm
Armament:
- Missiles:
- - 4 (originally 6)× AIM-4 Falcon, or
- - 2× AIR-2 Genie nuclear rockets, plus
- - 2× AIM-4 Falcon missile variants:
- - - AIM-4A
- - - AIM-4B
- - - AIM-4C

Sources: (visit link) (visit link) (visit link)
Type of Aircraft: (make/model): McDonnell F-101B Voodoo

Tail Number: (S/N): s/n 58-0285

Construction:: original aircraft

Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): Located at Travis Air Museum, Travis AFB, Fairfield, CA

inside / outside: outside

Other Information::
JIMMY DOOLITTLE AIR & SPACE MUSEUM Building 80 461 Burgan Bl Travis AFB, CA 94535 Mailing Address: 400 Brennan Circle Travis AFB, CA 94535 Office: (707) 424-5605 Gift Shop: (707) 424-4450 Email: TravisAirMuseum@travis.af.mil Museum Link: http://jimmydoolittlemuseum.org/index.html Museum Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9am-4pm Closed Sundays, Mondays, and Federal holidays Escort hours (no military ID) 9am-(around) 3pm Docent tours on a call-ahead basis. Air park hours: Everyday until dark Admission is free. Gift shop in the museum 10am-3pm Picnic area next door. If you will require a base visitor access pass, please read Access to Travis Air Force Base.


Access restrictions:
Located at Travis Air Museum, Travis AFB, Fairfield, CA Access to Travis Air Force Base If you are traveling to the Travis Air Museum and you do not have someone with official access to Travis Air Force Base to sponsor you, you will need to have an escort sponsor you and bring you to the Museum. You will be required go to the Travis Air Force Base Visitors Center to present a valid drivers license, vehicle registration, current proof of insurance for each vehicle, and submit to a criminal background check. Be advised this is required for all vehicles regardless of type. If a bus or other commercial vehicle will be used, please collect vehicle and driver information to include drivers license, vehicle type, company owner, and contact information, for the vehicle company, and be prepared to provide it upon request. In addition, a valid photo ID is required for all visitors age 18 and older. Please contact the Travis Air Force Base Visitors Center for all questions concerning access to the base and museum. Once this process has been completed and you have a pass, you will be escorted by authorized personnel to the Travis Air Museum. This pass is only valid for travel to and from the Travis Air Museum, is only valid for a specified time, and is not authorized for any other travel on Travis Air Force Base. If you wish a tour of the base or more information please contact the Travis Air Force Base Public Affairs office.


Visit Instructions:
Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored)
Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)

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