© Castle Air Museum Foundation, Inc. Optimized for a screen resolution of 1024x768, using IE6+
5050 Santa Fe Drive • Atwater, California • 95301
McDonnell F-101B Voodoo
MUSEUM HOURS
May 1- October 31
9:00am - 5:00pm
November 1 - April 30
10:00am - 4:00pm
The museum is open
daily year round,
except for the
following days:
New Year's Day,
Easter,
Thanksgiving and
Christmas Day.
The McDonnell F-101 Voodoo evolved from an earlier aircraft known as the XF-88. This prototype aircraft was designed in 1946 to serve as an escort for bomber aircraft. After World War II, the role of an escort fighter was no longer felt necessary and the program was dropped.
During the Korean War it was found that escorts were needed and no current aircraft could do the job and the aircraft was reborn as the F-101. However, the extreme long range of the B-36 was beyond that of any fighter and F-101's were reassigned to tactical duties. The F/RF-101 set a number of speed and point-to-point records shortly after its introduction in 1957.
A second version of the F-101 was produced, the F-101B, and was used as a high speed interceptor. It was armed with the Genie air to air missile and served as part of the North American Defense Command. A total of 17 squadrons were equipped with F-101Bs.
A third use evolved for the F-101 during the Vietnam Conflict. There, Voodoos were used as reconnaissance aircraft and its speed of nearly Mach 2 helped it survive over enemy territory. At the end of the Vietnam Conflict, F-101s were withdrawn from active service and transferred to Air National Guard units until their retirement in 1982.
"One-O-One" was the shorthand nickname for the McDonnell CF-101 (Canadian Forces) Voodoo. Designed to carry fuel and weapons over long ranges, this escort fighter was a brute of an Aircraft. The RCAF acquired this Aircraft after the infamous cancellation of the Avro Arrow program in 1959.
The aircraft on display at Castle Air Museum is a "B" version and served with both the Air Force and a Texas Air National Guard unit until its retirement in 1982. For a time it was assigned to the 84th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Castle Air Force Base and it is painted in the unit's former colors.
Specifications
Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: McDonnell Aircraft Co.
Role/Function: Fighter-Bomber
Serial Number: 57-0412
Model Number/Mk. #: n/a
Crew: 2
Power Plant: 2 - Pratt & Whitney J57-P-55 engines with 10,200 lbs. of thrust (16,900 lbs. of thrust with afterburner).
Maximum Speed: 1,134 mph.
Cruising Speed: 585 mph.
Service Ceiling: 58,400 ft.
Range: 1,755 mi.
Weights: Empty: 28,495 lbs. Loaded: 45,665 lbs. Maximum: 52,400 lbs.
Wing Span: 39 ft. 8 in.
Length: 71 ft. 1 in.
Height: 18 ft.
Wing Area: 368 ft² (34.20 m²)
Armament: 2 - Falcon air to air missiles (Radar or Infrared guided), and 2 - MB-1 nuclear tipped Genie air to air missiles.
Cost: $1,754,066.00
# Built: 807
# in Current Service: None. Retired from the: U.S.A.F. in 1972; A.N.G. in 1982; and CAF in 1984.
