U.S. Air Force McDonnell F-101A Voodoo
Bossey
1/72
05/25/1966
historical significance
First Albuquerque Visit: 1954
Additional Information:
The McDonnell F-101 Voodoo is a supersonic jet fighter designed and produced by the American McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. Development of the F-101 began in the late 1940s as a long-range bomber escort for the United States Air Force’s (USAF) Strategic Air Command (SAC). It was also adapted as a nuclear-armed fighter-bomber for the USAF’s Tactical Air Command (TAC) and as a photo reconnaissance aircraft based on the same airframe.
On September 29, 1954, the F-101A performed its maiden flight and on May 2, 1957, the first F-101A was delivered to the USAF as a replacement for the F-84F Thunderstreak. The F-101A was powered by two Pratt & Whitney J57-P-13 turbojets which allowed for good acceleration, a high rate of climb, and the ability to penetrate the sound barrier during level flight. On December 12, 1957, the F-101A set a number of world speed records for jet-powered aircraft including the fastest airspeed of 1,207.6 miles per hour. The F-101’s time as a fighter-bomber was relatively brief but the reconnaissance version of the aircraft served the USAF for some time. A total of 77 F-101As were built but only 50 aircraft were ever used operationally while the remainder was targeted exclusively for experimental work. They were slowly withdrawn from USAF service beginning in 1966.
The 4925th Test Group was a United States Air Force unit that was last assigned to the 4901st Support Wing (Atomic), at Kirtland Air Force Base, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Designated the 4925th Test Group (Atomic) on 1 July 1951, the unit was known as the “The Megaton Blasters”, and was responsible for the developmental flight testing of all USAF nuclear weapon delivery systems including conducting live test drops from 1951 through 1956. Following 1956 the 4925th focused on operational methods and equipment for delivering nuclear weapons. It was shut down on August 31, 1961 after it was inactivated by the Air Force Systems Command. The components of the 4925th’s mission were distributed among other units.
The McDonnell F-101 Voodoo was attached to the 4925th Test Group (Atomic) at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for weapons suitability tests beginning in 1954. The F-101’s that were documented at Kirtland AFB include tail numbers 60036, 32427 and 32441.
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