F-101B “Voodoo”

Aircraft Type: F-101B, S/N 59-0462, VooDoo, McDonnell

Mission: All weather fighter-interceptor

Number Built: The Air Force bought a grand 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 lbs. thrust- 14,990 in afterburner.

Weight: Loaded 39,900 lbs., Maximum takeoff weight 46,673 lbs.

Dimensions: Wingspan 39’8″, Length 67’5″, Height 18′.

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 detail 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 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, which, with an additional fuselage bay for extra fuel, and J57 turbojets in place of J34s, and was designated as the F-101.

About Our F-101B, S/N 59-0462 : The Museum’s F-101 was accepted by the USAF on November 30, 1960. Below are the unit assignments of this aircraft:

December 12, 1960- 3204th M & S Group, Eglin AFB, Florida

July 29, 1968- To Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio

February, 1970- Dropped from inventory by transfer to the Strategic Air & Space Museum