McDonnell F-101 Voodoo, Page 1

Intro F-101A RF-101A F-101B CF-101B&F RF-101B F-101C RF-101C F-101F RF-101G RF-101H

F-101B two-seat interceptor

The F-101B was a two-seat all-weather interceptor variant of the Voodoo, and was numerically the most important Voodoo variant, with a total of 479 being built. Click here for pictures of the F-101B flight simulator.

Development of an all-weather interceptor version of the Voodoo was first considered as early as the fall of 1952, but was rejected at that time as being too costly. However, in the spring of 1953, the idea of the all-weather interceptor Voodoo was revived again, this time as a long-range interceptor to complement the relatively short-range F-86D. The idea was turned down again, since the Air Force's ultimate long-range interceptor was going to be the Mach-2 Convair F-102B (later redesignated F-106A).

However, late in 1953 delays in the F-102B program caused the Air Force to reconsider its procurement policy for all-weather interceptors. At that time, the subsonic Northrop F-89 Scorpion was the backbone of USAF long-range all-weather interceptor squadrons, with the supersonic Convair F-102A Delta Dagger just beginning to undergo flight testing. The F-102A had always been considered by the USAF as only an interim interceptor, filling in the void until the far more advanced F-102B could be made available. However, the F-102A was at that time experiencing teething problems on its own and it appeared that its introduction into service might be appreciably delayed. In addition, the explosion of a hydrogen bomb by the Soviet Union in August of 1953 made it imperative that the Air Force find something other than the F-102A that would help fill in the gap between the subsonic F-89 Scorpion and the Mach-2+ F-102B. The Air Force Council invited the aircraft industry to submit proposals. The work was to be done under the aegis of Weapons System WS-217A.

Northrop submitted an advanced version of the F-89 Scorpion, North American offered an all-weather interceptor version of the F-100 Super Sabre, and McDonnell proposed an adaptation of the F-101 Voodoo. In June of 1954, the Air Force deemed the McDonnell proposal the best of the three submissions.

Before being awarded a contract, McDonnell had been looking into both single- and two-seat configurations for their interceptor and had explored several alternative powerplant installations including General Electric J79s, Pratt & Whitney J57s or J75s, or Wright J67s. In November 1954, a two-seat configuration was finally adopted, and it was decided that the powerplants would be a pair of Wright J67s. The Wright J67 was an license-built version of the British Bristol Olympus turbojet which offered a maximum afterburning thrust of 22,000 pounds. The fire control system was to be the Hughes MG-13 system, an improved version of the E-6 system fitted to the Northrop F-89D Scorpion, and the armament was to consist entirely of Hughes Falcon guided missiles equipped with conventional warheads. No internal cannon armament was to be fitted.

The initial go-ahead decision for the interceptor Voodoo was made on February 25, 1955. It was anticipated that the first flight would take place in mid-1956 and that the initial entry into service would be in early 1958. An initial batch of 28 two-seat interceptors was ordered under a Letter of Intent issued on March 3, 1955. On July 12, an official contract increased the fiscal year 1956 order to a total of 96 aircraft. The aircraft seems to have initially been assigned the designation F-109, but the aircraft was officially designated F-101B in August of 1955. A mockup was inspected in September.

However, the Wright J67 engine soon began to encounter serious developmental difficulties, resulting in a delay in the F-101B program. Both McDonnell and the Air Force agreed to switch to a pair of Pratt & Whitney J57-P-55 turbojets fitted with afterburners which were 24 inches longer than those of the J57-P-13 which powered the single-seat Voodoos. These longer afterburners raised maximum thrust rating from 15,000 pounds to 16,900 pounds.

The F-101B retained the center and rear fuselage sections and the wing and tail surfaces of the F/RF-101A. However, it had a revised forward fuselage housing the MG-13 fire control system with automatic search and track mode, a two-seat tandem cockpit with pilot in front and radar operator in the rear, a retractable flight refuelling probe in front of the pilot's cockpit, and an all-missile armament. The internal fuel capacity was reduced to 2053 gallons to provide more room for electronic equipment and armament. Since the F-101B was heavier than its single-seat predecessor, it employed larger tires with a beefed-up undercarriage. Bulges had to be installed in the lower gear doors and in the undersides of the fuselage in order to accommodate the larger tires. Armament consisted of six Hughes GAR-1 semi-active radar homing or GAR-2 infrared-homing Falcon missiles carried on and launched from a rotary armament door covering the fuselage bay beneath and behind the rear cockpit. Three missiles were attached to recessed slots on each side of the door, with three missiles sitting outside exposed and three inside. After the first three missiles were launched, the door was flipped over, exposing the other three.

The first flight of the two-seat Voodoo (designated NF-101B, serial number 56-232) took place on March 27, 1957, nearly a year later than predicted back in early 1955. Unlike the airframes of production F-101B, which were stressed for 7.33g maneuvers, the airframe of the NF-101B was limited to 6.33 g maneuvers.

In the next two years, about 50 F-101Bs were accepted and subjected to extensive tests before being released for operational service. Category I flight tests were carried out at Edwards AFB, and Category II and III tests were carried out at Eglin AFB and at Otis AFB, respectively. These tests were completed on March 15, 1959.

During flight testing, problems were encountered with the radar operator's position in the rear cockpit. It had been badly designed, and little could be done except to make minor changes. The Hughes MG-13 fire control system turned out to be inadequate, being merely a refinement of the E-6 fire control system fitted to the F-89D and could not effectively control the weapons of an interceptor as fast as the F-101B. A proposal to replace the MG-13 with the MA-1 system planned for the F-106 was turned down as being too costly. The only option was to improve the Central Air Data Computer that was the heart of the MG-13 system.

The first F-101Bs were delivered to the 60th Interceptor Squadron at Otis AFB in Massachusetts on January 5, 1959. F-101Bs ended up equipping 18 air defense squadrons (the 2nd, 13th, 15th, 18th, 29th, 49th, 59th, 60th, 62nd, 75th, 83rd, 84th, 87th, 98th, 322nd, 437th, 444th, and 445th Fighter Interceptor Squadrons). F-101Bs also served with the 4570th Test Squadron and the 4756th CCTS (later designated the 2nd Fighter Interceptor Training Squadron), both based at Tyndall AFB in Florida. These units carried out operational suitability tests and training for the Air Defense Command.

Late production F-101Bs (blocks 115 and 120) were completed with modified fire control systems and with provisions for carrying a pair of Douglas MB-1 Genie unguided nuclear-armed rockets on the rotary weapons bay in place of two of the Falcon missiles. Starting in 1961, many earlier F-101Bs were upgraded to this standard under Project Kitty Car. The MG-13 fire control system was capable of hands-off Genie launches, including the automatic launch of the rocket, turning the aircraft into the escape maneuver, and detonating the nuclear warhead at the appropriate time. Between 1963 and 1966, many F-101Bs were fitted with an infrared sensor in front of the pilot's cockpit in place of the retractable refuelling probe. Other modifications were made to the control system as part of the Interceptor Improvement Program (also known as Project Bold Journey). Most F-101Bs were fitted between 1964 and 1968 with a modified pitch control system for the automatic pilot in an attempt to address the "pitch-up" problem that had plagued the Voodoo throughout its service life. Included in the upgrades was an enhancement of the resistance of F-101B airframes to electromagnetic pulses, and an improved MG-13 fire control system was installed for use against low-flying targets.

Produced alongside the F-101B interceptor was the F-101F operational and conversion trainer. The two-seat trainer version was initially designated TF-101B. 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.

The last of 480 F-101Bs was delivered in March of 1961. Once the teething troubles with its fire control system had been corrected, the F-101B proved to be a quite successful interceptor. However, it was outshone by the faster and more maneuverable Convair F-106A Delta Dart when that interceptor entered service.

Under a program known as Operation Queens Row, a batch of 56 F-101Bs was delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force (later renamed the Canadian Armed Forces) between July 1961 and May of 1962. In addition, Canada also received ten F-101F two-seat operational trainers. In Canadian service, they were designated CF-101F.

In 1970-71, the 46 surviving CF-101Bs and CF-101Fs from the initial batch delivered to Canada were traded to the USAF for 56 refurbished and modernized F-101B interceptors and 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.

F-101Bs began to leave active duty with the USAF beginning in 1969, many aircraft being passed along to the Air National Guard. The last active duty USAF squadrons to fly the F-101B were the 60th and 62nd FISs which were deactivated in April of 1971. However, a few F-101Bs continued on with training units for another ten years. The last Voodoo in US service (F-101B-105-MC 58-300) was finally retired by the 2nd Fighter Interceptor Training Squadron at Tyndall AFB in Florida on September 21, 1982.

The first F-101Bs were delivered to the Air National Guard in November of 1969, entering service with the 116th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of the Washington ANG and the 132nd FIS of the Maine ANG. They also served with the 179th FIS of the Minnesota ANG, the 136th FIS of the New York ANG, the 137th FIS of the New York ANG, the 192nd FIS of the Nevada ANG, the 178th FIS of the North Dakota ANG, the 123rd FIS of the Oregon ANG, and the 111th FIS of the Texas ANG. The F-101B passed out of ANG service when the last F-101B was retired by the 11lth FIS in 1981. It had operated the F-101B/F briefly as part of the Tactical Air Command after ADC was inactivated on April 1, 1980.

The Colorado State University operated a civil registered F-101B-110-MC (N8234, ex 57-410) in a research program to study severe storms.

Serials of the F-101B:

56-0232                 McDonnell F-101B-30-MC Voodoo
56-0233/0237            McDonnell F-101B-40-MC Voodoo
                                0235 with Yankee Air Force, Ypsilanti, Michigan
56-0238/0240            McDonnell F-101B-45-MC Voodoo
56-0241/0243            McDonnell F-101B-50-MC Voodoo
                                0241 at USAF History and Traditions Museum,
                                   Lackland AFB, TX.
56-0244/0245            McDonnell F-101F-51-MC Voodoo
56-0246/0247            McDonnell F-101F-56-MC Voodoo
56-0248/0250            McDonnell F-101B-55-MC Voodoo
                                0250 at USAF Armament Museum, Eglin AFB, FL
56-0251/0252            McDonnell F-101B-60-MC Voodoo
56-0253                 McDonnell F-101F-61-MC Voodoo
                                to Canadian Armed Forces as 101001 in 1970/71
56-0254/0257            McDonnell F-101B-60-MC Voodoo
56-0258/0259            McDonnell F-101B-65-MC Voodoo
56-0260                 McDonnell F-101F-66-MC Voodoo
                                to Canadian Armed Forces as 101002 in 1970/71
56-0261                 McDonnell F-101B-65-MC Voodoo
56-0262                 McDonnell F-101F-66-MC Voodoo
                                to Canadian Armed Forces as 101003 in 1970/71
56-0263/0268            McDonnell F-101B-65-MC Voodoo
56-0269/0273            McDonnell F-101B-70-MC Voodoo
56-0274/0277            McDonnell F-101F-71-MC Voodoo
                                0277 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101004 
                                        in 1970/71
56-0278/0280            McDonnell F-101B-70-MC Voodoo
56-0281/0288            McDonnell F-101B-75-MC Voodoo
56-0289                 McDonnell F-101F-76-MC Voodoo
56-0290/0293            McDonnell F-101B-75-MC Voodoo
56-0294                 McDonnell F-101F-76-MC Voodoo
56-0295/0298            McDonnell F-101B-75-MC Voodoo
56-0299                 McDonnell F-101F-76-MC Voodoo
56-0300/0303            McDonnell F-101B-80-MC Voodoo
56-0304                 McDonnell F-101F-81-MC Voodoo
                                to Canadian Armed Forces as 101005 in 1970/71
56-0305/0307            McDonnell F-101B-80-MC Voodoo
56-0308                 McDonnell F-101F-81-MC Voodoo
56-0309/0311            McDonnell F-101B-80-MC Voodoo
56-0312                 McDonnell F-101F-81-MC Voodoo
56-0313/0315            McDonnell F-101B-80-MC Voodoo
56-0316                 McDonnell F-101F-81-MC Voodoo
56-0317/0319            McDonnell F-101B-80-MC Voodoo
56-0320                 McDonnell F-101F-81-MC Voodoo
56-0321/0323            McDonnell F-101B-80-MC Voodoo
56-0324                 McDonnell F-101F-81-MC Voodoo
                                to Canadian Armed Forces as 101006 in 1970/71
56-0325/0327            McDonnell F-101B-80-MC Voodoo
56-0328                 McDonnell F-101F-81-MC Voodoo
                                to Canadian Armed Forces as 101007 in 1970/71
57-0247/0262            McDonnell F-101B-80-MC Voodoo
57-0263                 McDonnell F-101F-86-MC Voodoo
57-0264/0266            McDonnell F-101B-85-MC Voodoo
57-0267                 McDonnell F-101F-86-MC Voodoo
57-0268/0270            McDonnell F-101B-85-MC Voodoo
                                0268 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101008
                                        in 1970/71
57-0271                 McDonnell F-101F-86-MC Voodoo
57-0272/0274            McDonnell F-101B-85-MC Voodoo
                                0273 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101009
                                        in 1970/71
57-0275                 McDonnell F-101F-86-MC Voodoo
57-0276/0278            McDonnell F-101B-85-MC Voodoo
57-0279                 McDonnell F-101F-86-MC Voodoo
57-0280/0282            McDonnell F-101B-85-MC Voodoo
                                0282 at Pima Air Museum, Tucson, AZ.
57-0283                 McDonnell F-101F-86-MC Voodoo
57-0284/0286            McDonnell F-101B-85-MC Voodoo
                                0286 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101010
                                        in 1970/71
57-0287                 McDonnell F-101F-86-MC Voodoo
57-0288/0291            McDonnell F-101B-85-MC Voodoo
                                0289 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101011
                                        in 1970/71
57-0292                 McDonnell F-101F-86-MC Voodoo
57-0293/0296            McDonnell F-101B-85-MC Voodoo
                                0293 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101012
                                        in 1970/71
                                0296 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101013
                                        in 1970/71
57-0297                 McDonnell F-101F-86-MC Voodoo
57-0298/0301            McDonnell F-101B-85-MC Voodoo
                                0298 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101014
                                        in 1970/71
                                0299 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101015
                                        in 1970/71
                                0301 converted to RF-101B in 1971-72
57-0302                 McDonnell F-101F-86-MC Voodoo
57-0303/0306            McDonnell F-101B-85-MC Voodoo
                                0303 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101016
                                        in 1970/71
                                0305 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101017
                                        in 1970/71
                                0306 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101018
57-0307                 McDonnell F-101F-86-MC Voodoo
57-0308/0311            McDonnell F-101B-90-MC Voodoo
57-0312                 McDonnell F-101F-91-MC Voodoo
57-0313/0316            McDonnell F-101B-90-MC Voodoo
                                0314 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101019
                                        in 1970/71
                                0315 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101020
                                        in 1970/71
57-0317                 McDonnell F-101F-91-MC Voodoo
57-0318/0321            McDonnell F-101B-90-MC Voodoo
                                0321 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101021
                                        in 1970/71
57-0322                 McDonnell F-101F-91-MC Voodoo
57-0323/0326            McDonnell F-101B-90-MC Voodoo
                                0323 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101023
                                        in 1970/71
57-0327                 McDonnell F-101F-91-MC Voodoo
57-0328/0331            McDonnell F-101B-90-MC Voodoo
57-0332                 McDonnell F-101F-91-MC Voodoo
                                at Tyntall Air Park, Florida
57-0333/0336            McDonnell F-101B-90-MC Voodoo
                                0334 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101025
                                        in 1970/71
57-0337                 McDonnell F-101F-91-MC Voodoo
57-338/341              McDonnell F-101B-90-MC Voodoo
                                0340 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101026
                                        in 1970/71
                                0341 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101027
                                        in 1970/71
57-342                  McDonnell F-101F-91-MC Voodoo
57-343/346              McDonnell F-101B-90-MC Voodoo
                                0346 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101028
                                        in 1970/71
57-347                  McDonnell F-101F-91-MC Voodoo
57-348/351              McDonnell F-101B-90-MC Voodoo
                                0351 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101029
                                        in 1970/71
57-352                  McDonnell F-101F-91-MC Voodoo
57-353/356              McDonnell F-101B-90-MC Voodoo
                                0354 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101030
                                        in 1970/71
57-357                  McDonnell F-101F-91-MC Voodoo
57-358/364              McDonnell F-101B-95-MC Voodoo
                                0358/0360 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101031/
                                        101033 in 1970/71
                                0362/0364 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101034/
                                        101036 in 1970/71
57-365                  McDonnell F-101F-96-MC Voodoo
57-366/371              McDonnell F-101B-95-MC Voodoo
                                0366 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101037
                                        in 1970/71
                                0368/0369 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101038/
                                        101039 in 1970/71
57-372                  McDonnell F-101F-96-MC Voodoo
57-373/378              McDonnell F-101B-95-MC Voodoo
                                0373/0375 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101040/
                                        101042 in 1970/71
57-379                  McDonnell F-101F-96-MC Voodoo
57-380/385              McDonnell F-101B-95-MC Voodoo
                                0380/0382 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101043/
                                        101045 in 1970/71
                                0381 at Edward J. Peterson Space Command
                                        Museum, CO.
                                0384 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101046
                                        in 1970/71
57-386                  McDonnell F-101F-96-MC Voodoo
57-387/392              McDonnell F-101B-95-MC Voodoo
                                0388 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101047
                                        in 1970/71
                                0391 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101048
                                        in 1970/71
57-393                  McDonnell F-101F-96-MC Voodoo
57-394/399              McDonnell F-101B-95-MC Voodoo
                                0395/0396 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101049/
                                        101050 in 1970/71
                                0398 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101051
                                        in 1970/71
57-400                  McDonnell F-101F-96-MC Voodoo
57-401/406              McDonnell F-101B-95-MC Voodoo
57-407                  McDonnell F-101F-96-MC Voodoo
57-408/413              McDonnell F-101B-100-MC Voodoo
                                0412 at Castle AFB, CA.
57-414                  McDonnell F-101F-101-MC Voodoo
57-415/420              McDonnell F-101B-100-MC Voodoo
                                0418 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101053
                                        in 1970/71
                                0420 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101054
                                        in 1970/71
57-421                  McDonnell F-101F-101-MC Voodoo
57-422/427              McDonnell F-101B-100-MC Voodoo
                                0424 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101055
                                        in 1970/71
                                0426 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101056
                                        in 1970/71
                                0427 on display at McClellan AFB
57-428                  McDonnell F-101F-101-MC Voodoo
57-429/448              McDonnell F-101B-100-MC Voodoo
                                0429 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101057
                                        in 1970/71
                                0431/0434 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101058/
                                        101061 in 1970/71
                                0441/0444 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101062/
                                        101065 in 1970/71
57-449                  McDonnell F-101F-101-MC Voodoo
57-450/452              McDonnell F-101B-100-MC Voodoo
                                0551 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101066
                                        in 1970/71
58-0259/0261            McDonnell F-101B-105-MC Voodoo
58-0262                 McDonnell F-101F-106-MC Voodoo
58-0263/0268            McDonnell F-101B-105-MC Voodoo
58-0269                 McDonnell F-101F-106-MC Voodoo
58-0270/0275            McDonnell F-101B-105-MC Voodoo
                                0271 at Wings Over the Rockies Aviation
                                        and Space Museum, Denver, CO.
                                0273 at Shaw AFB, NC.
58-0276                 McDonnell F-101F-106-MC Voodoo
58-0277/0282            McDonnell F-101B-105-MC Voodoo
58-0283                 McDonnell F-101F-106-MC Voodoo
58-0284/0289            McDonnell F-101B-105-MC Voodoo
                                0285 on display at Travis AFB museum
                                0288 at Air Force Flight Test Center,  
                                        Edwards AFB, CA.
58-0290                 McDonnell F-101F-106-MC Voodoo
58-0291/0296            McDonnell F-101B-105-MC Voodoo
                                0291 at K. I. Sawyer AFB, MI.
58-297                  McDonnell F-101F-106-MC Voodoo
58-298/303              McDonnell F-101B-105-MC Voodoo
                                0300 to Canadian Forces in 1982 as 101067.
                                It is now in a museum in Minneapolis.
58-304                  McDonnell F-101F-106-MC Voodoo
58-305/310              McDonnell F-101B-110-MC Voodoo
58-311                  McDonnell F-101F-106-MC Voodoo
58-312/317              McDonnell F-101B-110-MC Voodoo
                                0315 at Grand Forks AFB, ND.
58-318                  McDonnell F-101F-106-MC Voodoo
58-319/323              McDonnell F-101B-110-MC Voodoo
                                0321 at Stout Field Military Equipment
                                        Museum.
58-324                  McDonnell F-101F-106-MC Voodoo
58-0325/0330            McDonnell F-101B-110-MC Voodoo
                                58-0325 on display at WPAFB, but it is marked
                                as F-101B-91-MC
                                0330 at Washington ANG, Camp Murray ANG Park, 
                                        WA.
58-331                  McDonnell F-101F-106-MC Voodoo
58-332/337              McDonnell F-101B-110-MC Voodoo
58-338                  McDonnell F-101F-106-MC Voodoo
58-339/342              McDonnell F-101B-110-MC Voodoo
59-0391/0392            McDonnell F-101B-115-MC Voodoo
                                to RCAF as 17391 and 17392 in 1968
                                        upon return to USA, converted to
                                        RF-101B.
59-0393                 McDonnell F-101F-116-MC Voodoo
                                to RCAF as 17393 in 1968 
59-0394/0399            McDonnell F-101B-115-MC Voodoo
                                all to RCAF as 17394/17399 in 1968
                                0397 and 0398 converted to RF-101B upon return
                                        to USA.
59-0400                 McDonnell F-101F-116-MC Voodoo
                                to RCAF as 17400 in 1968.
59-0401/0406            McDonnell F-101B-115-MC Voodoo
                                all to RCAF as 17401/17406 in 1968.
                                0402/0404 converted to RF-101B upon return to
                                USA.
59-0407                 McDonnell F-101F-116-MC Voodoo
                                to RCAF as 17407 in 1968.
59-0408/0412            McDonnell F-101B-115-MC Voodoo
                                0408/0411 to RCAF as 17408/17411 in 1968.
                                0410 converted to RF-101B upon return to USA.
                                0412 at Tennessee ANG, Chattanooga, TN.
59-0413                 McDonnell F-101F-116-MC Voodoo
                                at Empire State Aerosciences Museum, Scotia,
                                        NY.
59-0414/0418            McDonnell F-101B-115-MC Voodoo
                                0418 at March Field Museum, CA.
59-0419                 McDonnell F-101F-116-MC Voodoo
59-0420/0424            McDonnell F-101B-115-MC Voodoo
                                0420 on display at Dover AFB Historical
                                        Center
59-0425                 McDonnell F-101F-116-MC Voodoo
59-0426/0436            McDonnell F-101B-115-MC Voodoo
                                0426 at South Dakota Air and Space Museum,
                                        Lackland AFB.
                                0428 at Dover AFB, DE.
                                0433/0436 to RCAF as 17433/17436 in 1968.
                                0434 converted to RF-101B upon return to USA.
                                0436 converted to RF-101B upon return to USA.
59-0437                 McDonnell F-101F-116-MC Voodoo
                                to RCAF as 17437 in 1968.
59-0438/0440            McDonnell F-101B-115-MC Voodoo
                                all to RCAF as 17438/17440 in 1968.
59-0441/0442            McDonnell F-101B-120-MC Voodoo
                                both to RCAF as 17441/17442 in 1968.
                                0441 converted to RF-101B upon return to USA.
59-0443                 McDonnell F-101F-116-MC Voodoo
                                to RCAF as 17443 in 1968.
59-0444/0448            McDonnell F-101B-120-MC Voodoo
                                all to RCAF as 17444/17448 in 1968.
                                0447,0448 converted to RF-101B upon return to
                                USA.
59-0449                 McDonnell F-101F-116-MC Voodoo
                                to RCAF as 17449 in 1968.
59-0450/0453            McDonnell F-101B-120-MC Voodoo
                                all to RCAF as 17450/17453 in 1968.
                                0450 converted to RF-101B upon return to USA.
                                0453 converted to RF-101B upon return to USA.
59-0454                 McDonnell F-101F-116-MC Voodoo
59-0455/0459            McDonnell F-101B-120-MC Voodoo
                                455/457 to RCAF as 17455/17457 in 1968.
                                0457 converted to RF-101B upon return to USA.
                                459 to RCAF as 17459 in 1968.  Converted to
                                        RF-101B upon return to USA.
59-0460                 McDonnell F-101F-116-MC Voodoo
                                to RCAF as 17460 in 1968.
59-0461/0465            McDonnell F-101B-120-MC Voodoo
                                0461 to RCAF as 17461 in 1968.
                                0463/0465 to RCAF as 17463/17465 in 1968.
                                0463 converted to RF-101B upon return to USA.
59-0466                 McDonnell F-101F-116-MC Voodoo
                                to RCAF as 17466 in 1968.
59-0467/0471            McDonnell F-101B-120-MC Voodoo
                                all to RCAF as 17467/17471 in 1968.
                                0467 converted to RF-101B upon return to USA.
59-0472                 McDonnell F-101F-116-MC Voodoo
                                to RCAF as 17472 in 1968.
59-0473/0477            McDonnell F-101B-120-MC Voodoo
                                475/477 to RCAF as 17475/17477 in 1968.
                                0477 converted to RF-101B upon return to USA.
59-0478                 McDonnell F-101F-116-MC Voodoo
                                to RCAF as 17478 in 1968.
59-0479/0483            McDonnell F-101B-120-MC Voodoo
                                all to RCAF as 17479/17483 in 1968.
                                0481/0483 converted to RF-101B upon return 
                                to USA.
59-0484/0491            cancelled contract for F-101B

Specification of the F-101B:

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.

Performance: Maximum speed 1134 mph at 35,000 feet (Mach 1.72). 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.

Fuel: Maximum internal fuel load was 2053 US gallons, housed in five fuel cells in the upper fuselage and three in each wing. A total of two 450 US gallon under-fuselage drop tanks could be carried, bringing maximum fuel load to 2953 US gallons.

Armament: 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.

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft Armament, Bill Gunston, Orion, 1988.

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.

McDonnell F-88/F-101 Voodoo Variant Briefing, Robert F. Dorr, Wings of Fame, Vol 1, 1996.

Webmaster's note: All of the information above is provided by a friend of the FISRG, Joe Baugher (jbaugher@worldnet.att.net)

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