McDonnell XF-88 Voodoo

The McDonnell XF-88 Voodoo was a long-range, twinjet fighter aircraft designed for the United States Air Force. Although it never entered production, its design was adapted for the subsequent supersonic F-101 Voodoo.

Design and development

The XF-88 originated from a 1946 United States Army Air Forces requirement for a long-range "penetration fighter" to escort bombers to their targets. It was to be essentially a jet-powered replacement for the wartime North American P-51 Mustang that had escorted Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers over Germany. It was to have a combat radius of 900 mi (1,450 km) and high performance. McDonnell began work on the aircraft, dubbed Model 36, on 1 April 1946. On 20 June the company was given a contract for two prototypes designated XP-88. Dave Lewis was Chief of Aerodynamics on this project.

thumb|right|The engineering team stands after Flight 100.

thumb|Supersonic jet–turboprop hybrid XF-88B

thumb|Landing the XF-88B

The initial design was intended to have straight wings and a V-shaped tail, but wind tunnel tests indicated aerodynamic problems that led to a conventional tailplane being substituted and the wings being swept. The USAAF confirmed the order for the two prototypes on 14 February 1947, while a change in designation schemes led to the unflown prototypes being re-designated XF-88 on 1 July 1948, with the type gaining the nickname "Voodoo".

Operational history

The first XF-88 made its maiden flight from Muroc Field on 20 October 1948, piloted by McDonnell Chief Test Pilot Robert Edholm. In order to improve performance, it was decided to fit the second prototype's engines with McDonnell-designed afterburners. Thus modified, the engines became J34-22s, giving 3,600 lbf (16.05 kN) thrust. Despite this, the XF-88 was chosen against the Lockheed XF-90 and North American YF-93 for the USAF's Penetration Fighter requirement, with planned production versions to use more powerful Westinghouse J46 engines.) Changes in Air Force priorities, together with a shortage of money, led the penetration fighter to be cancelled in August 1950.

The first prototype was modified to XF-88B standard as a propeller-research vehicle. The model propeller was driven by a nose-mounted Allison T38 turboprop which was used to assist in the climb as well as to reach the test conditions. The aircraft was used to test three propellers through 1956, the first propeller-equipped aircraft to do so. the first production version of which flew on 29 September 1954.

Operators

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McDonnell - never reached service

Variants

;XF-88

:Company designation Model 36C. First prototype, powered by 3,000 lbf (13.38 kN) Westinghouse J34-13 engines. Unarmed. Fighters of the United States Air Force

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General characteristics

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|gross weight lb=18500

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Powerplant

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|eng1 name=Westinghouse J34-WE-15

|eng1 type=afterburning turbojet engines

|eng1 lbf=3600

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|eng1 lbf-ab=4825

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Performance

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|thrust/weight=0.323

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Armament

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References

Notes

Bibliography

Angelucci, Enzo and Peter Bowers. The American Fighter. Sparkford, Somerset, UK: Haynes Publishing Group, 1987. .
Dorr, Robert F. "McDonnell F-88/F-101 Variant Briefing". Wings of Fame, Volume 1. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1995. .
Dorr, Robert F. and Donald, David. Fighters of the United States Air Force. London: Temple, 1990. .
Francillon, René J. McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920. London: Putnam, 1979. .
Knaack, Marcelle Size. Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems: Volume 1 Post-World War II Fighters, 1945-1973.. Washington, D.C.: Office of Air Force History, 1978. .
Peacock, Lindsay. "The One-O-Wonder". Air International, Volume 29, No. 2, August 1985, pp. 75–81, 93–95. ISSN 0306-5634.

Design and development

Operational history

Operators

Variants

See also

References

Notes

Bibliography