F-94 Starfire
| F-94C Starfire
|
F-94C Starfire
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| Description
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| Role | All-weather interceptor
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| Crew | Two
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| First Flight |
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| Entered Service |
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| Manufacturer |
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| Dimensions
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| Length | ft in | m
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| Wingspan | ' " | m
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| Height | ' " | m
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| Wing area | ft² | m²
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| Weights
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| Empty | lbs | kg
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| Loaded | lbs | kg
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| Maximum takeoff | lbs | kg
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| Capacity |
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| Powerplant
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| Engines |
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| Power | hp | kW
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| Thrust | lbs | kN
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| Performance
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| Maximum speed | 630 mph | 1,103 km/h
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| Combat range | 930 miles | 1500 km
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| Ferry range | miles | km
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| Service ceiling | 42,750 ft | 13,000 m
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| Rate of climb | ft/min | m/min
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| Wing loading | lb/ft² | kg/m²
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| Thrust/Weight |
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| Power/Mass | hp/lb | kW/kg
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| Avionics
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| Avionics |
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| Armament
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| Guns |
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| Bombs |
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| Missiles |
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| Rockets |
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| Other |
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The Lockheed F-94 Starfire was the United States Air Force's first operational jet all-weather interceptor aircraft. Built to a 1948 specification to counter the USSR's new intercontinental bombers, the F-94 was derived from the TF-80C (later T-33) two-seat trainer version of the F-80 Shooting Star, with guns, a radar and automatic fire control system added.
The fire control system was the Hughes E-1, which incorporated an AN/APG-33 radar (derived from the AN/APG-3 which directed the Convair B-36's tail guns) and a Sperry A-1C computing gunsight. The TF-80C fuselage was lengthened to hold the electronics and radar. Since the conversion seemed so simple, a contract was awarded to Lockheed in early 1949.
The added weight of all that electronic equipment soon dictated that a more powerful engine be fitted, the afterburning Allison J33-A-33 replacing the regular J-33. The F-94 was to be the first US production jet with an afterburner. The combination of the new, larger engine and the electronics gear reduced the internal fuel capacity; removable tip tanks were added to compensate. Armament was four 0.50" caliber machine guns mounted in the fuselage, the muzzles exiting just behind the radome. Two 1000 lb bombs could also be carried, giving the aircraft a secondary bombing and attack role.
The first flight occurred on April 16, 1949. After initial problems with the afterburner were sorted out, production orders were placed, 368 orders eventually being made. The first production aircraft was accepted in December 1949. This initial F-94A version proved to be rather unreliable (as might be expected, given that it was the USAF's first all-weather interceptor and its first equipped with afterburner). 109 were produced before production shifted to the improved F-94B.
Externally, little changed in the new version, but the internal systems and equipment were much improved. The F-94B proved to be a reliable interceptor, although its rate of climb and range were not ideal. 356 F-94Bs were built, the first reaching service in April 1951. A detachment were sent to Korea, where they saw some combat in the Korean War, shooting down four enemy fighters.
F-94C Starfire
The F-94C Starfire was significantly modified from the early F-94 variants; in fact, it was initially assigned F-97 but it was decided to treat it as just a new version of F-94. Initially USAF interest was lukewarm, so Lockheed funded development themselves. To improve performance, a totally new wing was fitted, much thinner than the previous one. The J33 engine was replaced by a more powerful Pratt & Whitney J48, and the electronic fit replaced the fire control system with the new Hughes E-5 with APG-40 radar in a much larger nose. The guns were removed, replaced with an all-rocket armament mounted in a ring around the nose radome.
The F-94C was technically the only variant to be named Starfire.
The first production aircraft were delivered in July 1951, 387 examples being delivered before May 1954. The largest problem discovered in service was that the nose-mounted rockets, while effective, blinded the crew with their smoke and fire. Mid-wing fuel and rocket pods were added, each holding twelve rockets. Most of the time, the nose rockets were not installed, and the midwing pod rockets were the sole armament.
The F-94C was retired from service in 1959, as newer and more capable interceptors entered service.
