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