The F-101 lineage
included several versions: low-altitude
fighter-bomber, photo-reconnaissance,
two-seat interceptor and transition trainer.
To accelerate production, no prototypes were
built. The first Voodoo, an F-101A, made its
initial flight on Sept. 29, 1954. When
production ended in March 1961, nearly 800
Voodoos had been built. Development of the
unarmed RF-101, the world's first supersonic
photo-recon aircraft, began in 1956. While
35 RF-101As and 166 RF-101Cs were produced,
many earlier single-seat Voodoos were
converted to the reconnaissance
configuration.
The RF-101C on
display participated in Operation Sun Run, a
high-speed transcontinental flight on Nov.
26, 1957. Using air-to-air refueling, a team
of Voodoos set nonstop speed records from
Los Angeles to New York City and return.
Capt. Ray W. Schrecengost, flying the
museum's RF-101, broke three existing speed
records.
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SPECIFICATIONS:
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PERFORMANCE: |
| Span:
39 ft. 8 in.
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Maximum speed:
1,000 mph
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Length:
69 ft. 3 in.
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Cruising speed:
550 mph
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Height:
18 ft. 0 in.
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Range:
2,060 miles |
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Empty Weight:
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Service ceiling:
45,800 ft.
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Gross Weight:
51,000 lbs. maximum
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Crew:
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Engines:
Two Pratt & Whitney J57s of 15,000 lbs.
thrust each with afterburner
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Armament:
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SOURCE:
National Museum of the United States Air
Force |
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