Lockheed F-94C Starfire
The U.S. Air Force recognized in the late 1940s that it suffered from a serious lack of a modern all-weather jet interceptor to combat the threat of Soviet bombers. The search for a quick solution to the problem led to the development of the F-86D, F-102A, and the F-94. The Starfire is a highly modified development of the T-33 trainer, incorporating radar and guns. The first F-94 flew in late 1949 and large-scale deliveries to the Air Force began the next year. The F-94C version was the result of further modification of the design and featured a new wing and armament consisting entirely of unguided 2.75-inch Mighty Mouse air-to-air rockets housed in the nose and in two wing mounted pods.
Wingspan | 42 ft 5 in. |
Length | 44 ft 6 in. |
Height | 14 ft 11 in. |
Weight | 24,200 lbs (loaded) |
Maximum Speed | 585 MPH |
Service Ceiling | 51,400 ft |
Range | 1,200 miles |
Engine | One Pratt & Whitney J48-P-5 turbojet with 8,750 pounds of thrust |
Crew | 2 |
Manufacturer
Lockheed
Markings
354th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Oxnard AFB, California, 1953
Serial Number
51-5623
Designation
F-94C