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.
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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).
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.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 0
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.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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Front left side view of a Lockheed F-94 Starfire at rest; color
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Left side profile view of the Lockheed F-94 Starfire; color
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High-angled front right side view of a Lockheed F-94 Starfire on display at the USAF Museum; color
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Front left side view of a Lockheed F-94 Starfire on display at the USAF Museum; color
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Low left underside view of a Lockheed F-94 Starfire in flight; color
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Right front view of a two-seat Lockheed F-94 Starfire in flight
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Front left side view of a two-seat Lockheed F-94 Starfire at rest with canopy open
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