Subject: Number 101 in the Series--McDonnell F-101 Voodoo

From: [email-masked]
Date: 30 Nov 93 17:16:22 GMT

>From [email-masked]

Produced alongside the F-101B interceptor was the F-101F operational 
and conversion trainer.  The 79 F-101Fs were equipped with dual 
controls, but carried the same armament as the F-101B and were fully 
combat-capable.  Most of these F-101Fs were retrofitted with infrared 
sensors and improved fire-control systems as part of Project *Bold 
Journey*.  

Canada's air force received ten F-101F two-seat operational trainers 
in parallel with the acquisition of its 56 F-101B interceptors.  These 
included four F-101F-116-MCs (59-393, 400, 407, and 437) and six 
F-101F-121-MCs (59-443, 449, 454, 460, 466, 472, and 478).  In Canadian 
service, they were designated CF-101F.  

In 1970-71, the surviving CF-101Fs from the initial batch delivered to 
Canada were returned to the USA and exchanged for ten new F-101F 
operational trainers under Operation *Peach Wings*.  These ex-USAF 
Voodoos were from earlier production batches, but had been upgraded 
with infrared sensors and improved fire control systems as part of 
Project *Bold Journey*.  

Specification of the F-101F: 

Two Pratt & Whitney J57-P-55 turbojets, 11,990 lb.s.t. dry and 16,900 
lb.s.t. with afterburner.  Dimensions: wingspan 39 feet 8 inches, length 
67 feet 5 inches, height 18 feet 0 inches, wing area 368 square feet.  
Maximum speed 1134 mph at 35,000 feet.  Initial climb rate 49,200 
feet/min.  Service ceiling 58,400 feet, combat ceiling 51,000 feet.  
Normal range 1520 miles, maximum range 1930 miles.  Weights: 28,970 
pounds empty, 45,664 pounds gross, 40,853 pounds combat weight, 52,400 
pounds maximum takeoff.  Maximum internal fuel load was 2053 US 
gallons.  A total of three under-fuselage drop tanks could be carried, 
bringing maximum fuel load to 2953 US gallons.  Armed with six Falcon 
AAMs (usually 3 GAR-1 (AIM-4) semiactive radar homers and 3 GAR-2 
(AIM-4B) infrared homers) in internal ventral weapons bay.  In later 
versions, two unguided AIR-2A Genie unguided rockets with nuclear 
warheads could be carried on external attachment points.  

Sources:

  McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920: Volume II, Rene J.
  Francillon, Naval Institute Press, 1990.

  United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, Gordon Swanborough and
  Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.

  The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and Peter Bowers, Orion, 1987.

  Fighters of the United States Air Force, Robert F. Dorr and
  David Donald, Temple Press Aerospace, 1990.

  American Combat Planes, Third Enlarged Edition, Ray Wagner, Doubleday,
  1982.

  Post-World War II Fighters, 1945-1973, Marcelle Size Knaack,
  Office of Air Force History, 1986. 

Joe Baugher		AT&T Bell Laboratories   	
2000 North Naperville Road      Naperville, Illinois 60566-7033