The Lockheed F-94 Starfire
 The F-94 Starfire was built in 1948 to replace the F-61 Black Widow and the F-82 Twin Mustang as a radar equipped interceptor. Derived from the T-33 shooting Star, the nose was lengthened and filled with guns, radar, and a Hughes E-1 automatic fire control system. A relatively simple conversion. After the first flights on April 16, 1949, it was determined the extra weight of the additional electronics was going to require a more powerful engine. With the addition of an Allison J33 it became the first US production jet with afterburner capability. However, the larger engine meant less room for fuel tanks which then lead to the addition of tip tanks as are shown in the picture. The Starfire saw some action in Korea and remained in Air Force service through 1954, when it was then transferred to the Air National Guard. The largest problem found with the aircraft was the nose mounted rockets, although quite effective,totally blinded the crew after firing. Later variants upgraded to an even more powerful Pratt & Whitney J48 engine, which of course required even more fuel tanks to be added. Eventually, a mid wing fuel and rocket pod was added to compensate for both problems. This is the variant shown in the picture. The first of 387 F-94C production units (the J48 Variant) were delivered in July 1951, and the F-94C was retired from Air Force service in 1959 and removed from the Air National Guard the next year. In all, there were 11 different variants of the plane. There are only 13 surviving Starfires, many of which are on display outdoors, however, the National Museum of the United States Air Force has a F-94A and a F-94C on display inside the museum. For pictures of these aircraft, F-94A and F-94C. Max speed : 640 mph
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Today in Aviation History :
July 30, 1935... Lieutenant Frank Akers of the U.S. Navy becomes the first person to make a "blind" landing at sea. His biplane has a hooded cockpit allowing him to see only his controls and instruments. He lands on the USS Langley.
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Aviation Weather Links
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