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AIRFRAME
NOV 90 McD F-101 VOODOO USAF TFW ANG / CANADAIR CF-101 RCAF / RAF PHANTOMS
McDONNELL F-101 VOODOO USAF /
CANADAIR CF-101 RCAF COLD WAR INTERCEPTOR
FARNBOROUGH SBAC 1990 AIRSHOW
REPORT
SOVIET AIR FORCE SUKHOI Su-27
FLANKER
RAF BATTLE OF BRITAIN FLYPAST
RAF McD PHANTOM SQUADRON COLOR
& INSIGNIA (No.19 SQN, No.56 SQN, No.92 SQN, No.64 SQN & TIGER SQN)
RAF PANAVIA TORNADO SQUADRON
COLOR & INSIGNIA
RAF HAWK T.1A JET TRAINER
SQUADRON COLOR & INSIGNIA
RAF HAWKER HARRIER SQUADRONS
COLOR & INSIGNIA
CENTURION SHIELD HELICOPTERS
RAF ENGLISH ELECTRIC LIGHTNING
F1 JET INTERCEPTOR
BORDER PATROL No.660 SQUADRON
ARMY AIR CORPS AAC HONG KONG
USAF CORONET 9 0
RAF No.22 SQN WESTLAND WESSEX
HELICOPTER RESCUE
FINCASTLE ASW TROPHY
WW2 GRUMMAN HELLCAT ROYAL NAVY
FLEET AIR ARM RN FAA STEPHEN GREY
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Additional Information from
Internet Encyclopedia
The McDonnell F-101 Voodoo was a
supersonic jet fighter which served the United States 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.
After being awarded a contract
(AC-14582) on 14 February 1947, McDonnell built two prototypes, designated the
XF-88 Voodoo. The first prototype (serial number 46-6525), 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
(1,032 km/h) at sea level. After fitting McDonnell-designed afterburners to the
second prototype, thrust was increased to 3,600 lbf (16.1 kN) 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 (created in 1947) 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 first F-101A was delivered
on 2 May 1957 to the 27th Strategic Fighter Wing, which transferred to TAC in
July that year, replacing their F-84F Thunderstreak. The F-101A was powered by
two Pratt & Whitney J57-P-13 turbojets, allowing good acceleration,
climb-performance, ease in penetrating the sound barrier in level flight, and a
maximum performance of Mach 1.52. The F-101's large internal fuel capacity
allowed a range of approximately 3,000 mi (4,828 km) nonstop. The aircraft was
fitted with an MA-7 fire-control radar for both air-to-air and air-to-ground
use, augmented by a Low Altitude Bombing System (LABS) system for delivering
nuclear weapons, and was designed to carry a Mk 28 nuclear bomb. The original
intended payload for the F-101A was the McDonnell Model 96 store, a large
fuel/weapons pod similar in concept to that of the Convair B-58 Hustler, but
was cancelled in March 1956 before the F-101 entered service. Other operational
nuclear payloads included the Mk 7, Mk 43, and Mk 57 weapons. While theoretically
capable of carrying conventional bombs, rockets, or Falcon air-to-air missiles,
the Voodoo never used such weapons operationally. It was fitted with four 20mm
M39 cannon, with one cannon often removed in service to make room for a TACAN
beacon-receiver.
A total of 77 F-101As were
built. They were gradually withdrawn from service starting in 1966. 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.
In October 1953, the USAF
requested that two F-101As be built as prototype YRF-101A tactical
reconnaissance aircraft. These were followed by 35 RF-101A production aircraft.
The RF-101A shared the airframe of the F-101A, including its 6.33 g (62 m/s²)
limit, but replaced the radar and cannons with up to six cameras in the
reshaped nose. Like all other models of the F-101, it had provision for both
flying boom and probe-and-drogue in-flight refueling capability, as well as for
a buddy tank that allowed it to refuel other aircraft. It entered service in
May 1957, replacing the RB-57 Canberra.
USAF RF-101As from the 363d
Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Shaw AFB, SC flew reconnaissance sorties over
Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962.
In October 1959, eight RF-101As
were transferred to Taiwan, which used them for overflights of the Chinese
mainland. These ROCAF RF-101A with modified C-model vertical fins with air
intake. The intake is used to cool the drag chute compartment and eliminates
the 5-minute limit on using the afterburners on the A model. Two were
reportedly shot down.
The F-101A fighter-bomber had
been accepted into Tactical Air Command (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). An
improved model, the F-101C, was introduced in 1957. It had a 500 lb (227 kg)
heavier structure to allow 7.33-g maneuvers as well as a revised fuel system to
increase the maximum flight time in afterburner. Like the F-101A it was also
fitted with an underfuselage pylon for carrying atomic weapons, as well as two
hardpoints for 450-gallon drop tanks. A total of 47 were produced.
Originally serving with the 27th
Tactical Fighter Wing at Bergstrom AFB, Texas, the aircraft were transferred in
1958 from TAC to the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing, part of United States Air
Forces in Europe (USAFE) which operated three squadrons from the twin RAF air
stations Bentwaters & Woodbridge. The 78th Tactical Fighter Squadron was
stationed at Woodbridge, while the 91st and 92nd were stationed at Bentwaters.
The 81st TFW served as a strategic nuclear deterrent force, the Voodoo's long
range putting almost all of the Warsaw Pact countries, and targets up to 500
miles deep into the Soviet Union within reach.
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.
Using the reinforced airframe of
the F-101C, the RF-101C first flew on 12 July 1957, 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. 166 RF-101Cs were built, including 96 originally scheduled to be
F-101C fighter-bombers.
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.
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 Vietnam. The RF-101C was deployed operationally
during the Vietnam War, sustaining losses with the first F-101 being lost in
November 1964 to ground fire. From 1965 through November 1970, its role was
gradually taken over by the RF-4 Phantom II. In some 35,000 sorties, 39
aircraft were lost, 33 in combat, including five to SAMs, one to an airfield
attack, and one in air combat to a MiG-21 in September 1967. The RF-101C's
speed made it largely immune to MiG interception. 27 of the combat losses
occurred on reconnaissance missions over North Vietnam. In April 1967, ALQ-71
ECM pods were fitted to provide some protection against SAMs. Although the
Voodoo was again able to operate at medium altitudes, the added drag and weight
decreased the speed enough to make RF-101 vulnerable to the maneuverable (and cannon-equipped)
MiGs and thus requiring fighter escort.
The McDonnell CF-101 Voodoo was
an all-weather interceptor aircraft operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force
and the Canadian Forces between 1961 and 1984. They were manufactured by the
McDonnell Aircraft Corporation of St. Louis, Missouri for the United States Air
Force (as F-101s), and later sold to Canada. CF-101s replaced the obsolete Avro
CF-100 Canuck in the RCAF's all-weather fighter squadrons. The Voodoo's primary
armament was nuclear AIR-2A Genie unguided air-to-air rockets, and there was
significant political controversy in Canada about their adoption. Although they
never fired a weapon in wartime, the CF-101 served as Canada's primary means of
air defence from Quick Reaction Alert facilities at Canadian airbases. The
CF-101s were retired in the 1980s and replaced with McDonnell Douglas CF-18
Hornet fighters. Many examples are preserved in museums and parks in Canada and
the United States.
After the cancellation of the
CF-105 Arrow program in February 1959, George Pearkes, the Canadian Minister of
National Defence officially maintained that the existing Avro CF-100
interceptors and the Bomarc missiles that had been ordered in September 1958
would be adequate for Canada's air defense needs. Unofficially, it was
recognized that there was still a bomber threat, and discussions had been
underway since before the formal conclusion of the Avro Arrow program
concerning the RCAF acquiring an "off-the-shelf" interceptor from the
United States.
The USAF indicated that it was
prepared to make 56 F-101B interceptors and 10 F-101F trainers available (by
employing Convair F-102 Delta Daggers in less demanding NORAD sectors) for
Canadian purchase. The deal was delayed for over a year by negotiations over
acquisition costs and offsets, as well as debate within the Diefenbaker
government about Canada adopting nuclear weapons systems, which had been agreed
to, in principle, in 1958. The financial arrangements were sorted out by Canada
taking over the staffing and funding of 11 Pinetree Line radar stations within
Canada that had formerly been operated and funded by the USAF. A detailed
agreement signed in June 1961 covered the transfer of the aircraft, meant to
equip five front-line squadrons (replacing nine CF-100 squadrons) and an
Operational Training Unit (OTU).
The issue of nuclear weapons in
Canada had not been resolved in June 1961, thus the CF-101s were armed only
with their secondary AIM-4D Falcon missiles. In April 1963, the issue led to
the collapse of the Diefenbaker government. The succeeding Pearson government
signed an agreement with the United States concerning nuclear arms for Canada
on 16 August 1963. The agreement did not actually state that Canada was
acquiring nuclear weapons; the Canadian government usually refused to confirm
or deny that there were any nuclear arms in Canada. The agreement specifically
stated that the AIR-2A Genie rockets were the property of the United States and
would only be released to Canada for actual use with the joint agreement of
Canada and the United States through NORAD. The stringent training requirements
meant that it took until June 1965 for the Genies to become operational in
Canada. The Genies were kept in the custody of the USAF, with detachments of
the 425th Munitions Support Squadron located at each of the Canadian bases.
On 24 July 1961, the first two
aircraft were transferred to Canada in a ceremony at RCAF Uplands in Ottawa,
marking the beginning of Operation Queen's Row. 425 Squadron officially began
Voodoo operations at RCAF Namao, Alberta, on 15 October 1961, initially acting
as the conversion training squadron for 410, 416, 409, and 414 Squadrons. No.
425 Squadron then became an operational unit itself, turning the conversion
role over to No. 3 All Weather OTU at RCAF Bagotville, Quebec. By the end of
1962, the squadrons were operating out of RCAF Comox, British Columbia, (409
Squadron), RCAF North Bay, Ontario, (414 Squadron), RCAF Uplands, Ottawa,
Ontario, (410 Squadron), RCAF Bagotville, Quebec, (425 Squadron), and RCAF
Chatham, New Brunswick, (416 Squadron). Defence cuts in 1964 eliminated Nos.
410 and 414 Squadrons (although a reformed 414 Squadron would operate the
Voodoo years later).
Each Voodoo base was laid out to
allow aircraft to be kept at immediate readiness at all times. A Quick Reaction
Alert (QRA) facility was positioned at the end of the main runway to allow
alert aircraft to launch as quickly as possible. Two aircraft and their crews
were always on "five minute" alert the aircraft were to be in the
air, en route to intercept unknown aircraft, within five minutes of receiving
the order. In one instance, 416 Squadron was able to get two alert aircraft in
the air only 57 seconds after receiving the alert. Voodoos were dispatched with
some regularity to intercept unidentified NORAD radar contacts, usually
airliners flying off course, although 416 and 425 occasionally intercepted
Soviet Tu-95 Bear bombers flying along the Atlantic coast to Cuba. Fortunately,
no situation ever arose in which a CF-101 pilot fired his weapons in anger.
Between 1970 and 1972, Canada
traded the 56 survivors of the original CF-101 fleet back to the USAF for 66
replacements under Operation Peace Wings. The "new" replacement
aircraft were actually manufactured earlier than the original fleet, but the
"new" airframes had a lower number of hours, plus the "new"
Voodoos received updates which the original Canadian Voodoos had not received
(including the addition of an IR tracking system). Bristol Aerospace of
Winnipeg, Manitoba, performed modifications on the incoming fleet, which
involved transferring some specifically Canadian items of equipment, including
engines, from the "old" aircraft to the "new." Many of the
"old" Canadian Voodoos were scrapped when they returned to the U.S.,
but 22 were converted to RF-101B photo-reconnaissance versions and flew with
the Nevada Air National Guard until 1975.
During its service, the CF-101
was a popular performer at airshows and other events in Canada and the United
States; displays ranged from a single aircraft's appearance to an entire
squadron. In 1967, a CF-101 flew (in company with a CF-104 and The Red Knight
T-33) in the Golden Centennaires display team to mark the nation's Centennial.
In 1984, each squadron painted a special "show" aircraft to
commemorate the type's impending retirement. 409 Squadron produced "Hawk
One Canada," 416 Squadron produced "Lynx One Canada," and 425
Squadron produced "Lark One Canada/Alouette Un Canada."
Through the 1970s, the
increasing obsolescence of the CF-101 and the CF-104 led to the New Fighter
Aircraft program. Launched in 1977, the program sought a replacement for the
CF-5, CF-104 Starfighter, and CF-101 Voodoo. The Grumman F-14 Tomcat, F-15 Eagle,
F-16 Falcon, McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, Panavia Tornado, Dassault Mirage
F1, and the Mirage 2000 were evaluated as potential replacements. Cost
considerations reduced the choice to the F-16 and F-18; the F-18 was ultimately
selected in April 1980. The Voodoo OTU converted to CF-18 Hornets in June 1982;
409 and 425 Squadrons also stood down in June 1984. In 1985 416 Squadron moved
from CFB Chatham, New Brunswick to CFB Cold Lake, Alberta and converted from
the CF-101 Voodoo to the CF-18 Hornet tactical fighter. With the stand down,
the last nuclear weapons in Canada were returned to the United States.
Two Voodoos remained in service
after the stand-down: the unique EF-101B electronic jamming aircraft (also
known as the "Electric Voodoo") and a single CF-101F trainer, in
service with 414 Squadron at North Bay, Ontario. The EF-101B was a conversion
of a regular F-101B, incorporating the electronic jamming suite from an EB-57E
Canberra. Only one aircraft was converted before the program was cancelled and
this sole example was leased to Canada.[citation needed] The last two Voodoos
continued to fly until April 1987, when they were finally retired.[citation
needed] The EF-101B was returned to the United States on 7 April 1987, while
CF-101F 101006 made the world's last Voodoo flight on 9 April 1987, as it made
a delivery flight from CFB North Bay to CFB Greenwood via CFB Bagotville and
CFB Chatham for eventual display at CFB Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, where it
decorated the parade square at the Recruit School.[citation needed] After CFB
Cornwallis closed in 1995, 006 was moved to beside the Cornwallis Military Museum,
located in the old St Georges Chapel on base. In October 2013, because of
corrosion and security concerns, the museum donated 006 to the Jet Aircraft
Museum in London, Ontario, where it is presently undergoing refurbishment.
CF-101B : Two-seat all-weather
interceptor fighter aircraft.
CF-101F : Two-seat, dual control
training aircraft.
EF-101B : Electronic jamming
aircraft.
Royal Canadian Air
Force/Canadian Forces[3]
No. 409 Squadron RCAF CFB
Comox
No. 410 Squadron RCAF CFB
Uplands
No. 414 Squadron RCAF CFB
North Bay
No. 416 Squadron RCAF CFB
Chatham
No.
425 Squadron RCAF CFB Bagotville
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