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F-94
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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.
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).
Specifications for the Lockheed F-94C Starfire
Rate-of-Climb: 7,980ft/min (2,432m/min)
Service Ceiling: 51,394ft (15,665m;
9.7miles)
turbojet engine generating 8,750lbs of
thrust.
Armament Suite:
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.