Lockheed F-94 Starfire

All-Weather Interceptor Aircraft [ 1950 ]

The F-94 system was a further development of the T-33 twin-seat trainer aircraft produced by Lockheed.

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The F-94 (nicknamed "Starfire" in the "C" model only) was developed from the successful twin-seat Lockheed trainer aircraft known as the T-33 Shooting Star, which in itself was based on the single-seat P-80 / F-80 Shooting Star. The system was designed to overtake the F-80 in terms of performance, but more so to intercept the new high-level Soviet bombers capable of nuclear attacks on America and her Allies - in particular, the new Tupelov Tu-4. The F-94 was quickly designed as such, to fill this role until more capable aircraft could be studied and developed.

The F-94 shared many visual similarities with the Shooting Star series including the single engine powerplant, twin intakes at the front, wingtip fuel tanks and a low-monoplane straight wing. The system was crewed by two personnel and featured a powerful radar, so prized by bomber command in fact, that flights over enemy territory were restricted for fear that the system would fall into enemy hands.©MilitaryFactory.com

Like the F-80 before it, the F-94 was also one of the earlier jet fighters charged with protecting American airspace from Soviet bomber and fighter incursions. Many F-94 systems were kept on ready alert throughout the early production life of the aircraft for this very reason. The fact that Soviet forces had recently detonated their own nuclear bomb made the situation that much more perilous.

Seeing combat action in the Korean War, the F-94 performed acceptably, though it should be noted that the system did not exceed performance of the existing F-80 Shooting Star fighters in any way - despite its newer design and more powerful engine. By the end of the war, the system was already being replaced as a frontline alternative by more modern and capable fighters and strike aircraft. Where the F-94 did shine in the conflict, however, was in using its powerful radar in conjunction with night-fighting sorties, able to find, target and destroy enemy aircraft through instrument use only.

By the middle of the 1950's the stop-gap measure that was the F-94 was being retired in quantity, with several falling into US National Guard hands for home defense. The F-94 "C" system would become the ultimate version of the series, earning the sole nickname of "Starfire" (no other models of the series carried this designation except the "C" model until it was adopted for the whole family of aircraft over time).©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Lockheed Aircraft Corporation - USA
Manufacturer(s)

United States
Operators

1950
Service Year

United States
National Origin

Retired
Project Status

2
Crew

853
Units

INTERCEPTION
Ability to intercept inbound aerial threats by way of high-performance, typically speed and rate-of-climb.

44.5 ft
(13.56 meters)
Length

42.4 ft
(12.93 meters)
Width/Span

14.9 ft
(4.55 meters)
Height

12,701 lb
(5,761 kilograms)
Empty Weight

24,200 lb
(10,977 kilograms)
Maximum Take-Off Weight

+11,499 lb
(+5,216 kg)
Weight Difference

1 x Pratt & Whitney J48-P-5 turbojet engine generating 8,750lbs of thrust.
Propulsion

585 mph
(941 kph | 508 knots)
Max Speed

51,394 ft
(15,665 m | 10 miles)
Ceiling

1,199 miles
(1,930 km | 1,042 nm)
Range

7,980 ft/min
(2,432 m/min)
Rate-of-Climb

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

F-94A:
4 x 12.7mm Browning M3 machine guns in forward fuselage

F-94B:
4 x 12.7mm Browning M3 machine guns in forward fuselage
4 x 12.7mm Browning M3 machine guns in pods underwing (optional)

F-94C:
24 x 2.75-inch Mighty Mouse air-to-air folding-fin aerial rockets underfuselage.
24 x 2.75-inch Mighty Mouse air-to-air folding-fin aerial rockets in wing launchers.

0
Hardpoints

T-33 - Two-Seat Trainer Model on which the F-94 was based on.

YF-94 - Initial Prototype Series Model Designation.

YF-94 - Prototype Model Designation; 2 examples produced.

F-94A - Initial Production Model; 110 examples produced.

YF-94B - Single example; wingtip fuel tanks; improved A model.

F-94B - 357 examples of YF-94B models.

YF-94C - 2 examples based on YF-94B models; fitted with Pratt & Whitney J48 engines; tail surfaces swept; rockets in leading edge; YF-97A was original designation for this model.

F-94C "Starfire" - Production model of YF-94C; elongated nose; JATO rockets; 387 examples produced; only aircraft in the series to be initially designated as the "Starfire".

EF-94C - Proposed Reconnaissance Model

YF-94D - Proposed single-seat close-support fighter.

F-94D - Production Model of YF-94D; none produced with order cancellation.

YF-97A - Original Designation of YF-94C Model.

F-97A - Original Designation of F-94C Model.

Cockpit image of the Lockheed F-94 Starfire

Cockpit image represents the Lockheed F-94C Starfire production model.

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