McDonnell F-101 Voodoo
     Developed from the XF-88 penetration fighter, the F-101 originally was designed as a long-range bomber escort for the Strategic Air Command.  But when the high-speed, high altitude B-52 jet bomber entered service, escort fighters were not needed.  The F-101's design was changed to fill both tactical and air defense roles.
     The F-101 made its first flight on Sep. 29, 1954. The first production F-101A became operational in May 1957, followed by the F-101C in Sep. 1957 and the F-101B in Jan. 1959. By the time F-101 production ended in March 1961, McDonnell had built 785 Voodoos including 480 F-101Bs, the two-seat, all-weather interceptor used by the Air Defense Command. 
    In the reconnaissance versions, the Voodoo was the world's first supersonic photo-recon aircraft. The RF-101 was the world's first supersonic photo-recon aircraft.  The program began in 1956 when 35 RF-101As and 166 RF-101Cs were produced.  Many earlier single-seat Voodoos were later converted to the reconnaissance configuration.  The RF-101 was used widely for low-altitude photo coverage of missile sites during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and during the late 1960s in Southeast Asia.
    The F-101A and F-101C are single place supersonic fighters built by McDonnell Aircraft. The RF-101G and RF-101H are single place, supersonic, long range photo-reconnaissance airplanes modified from F-101A and F-101C airplanes by Lockheed Aircraft Service Company. Their appearance is characterized by thin, short, swept wings with triangular intake ducts in the wing roots, and swept back empennage. The horizontal stabilizer is a one-piece unit mounted high on the vertical stabilizer. The ailerons, mounted on the outer trailing edge of the wings, and the empennage control surfaces, operate through irreversible hydraulic systems which produce required control surface deflections. Aerodynamic feel is simulated by an artificial feel system.  When production ended in March 1961, nearly 800 Voodoos had been built. 

F-101 Voodoo
From our Premier Series.  1/55th scale.  8.75" wingspan x 15" long.
  No. AFG2D-PR.  Only $164.95
 
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