American postwar aircraft

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Lockheed F-94 Starfire

The F-94 was an interim all-weather interceptor developed from the T-33 trainer, which had been developed from the F-80. Initial tests showed that the engine was not powerful enough to support the increased weight of the electronic equipment and the Hughes E-1 fire-control radar. In addition to a higher-performing engine, several changes to the aircraft's lines were required. First accepted in December 1949, F-94As began replacing North American F-82s in Air Defense Command. When the Korean War broke out, Starfires were prohibited from flying over North Korea for fear of compromising their sophisticated electronic equipment. However, mounting B-29 losses led to the lifting of this restriction. On January 30, 1953, Capt. B. L. Fithian (pilot) and Lt. S. R. Lyons (radar operator) shot down an unseen LA-9 piston-engine fighter. The F-94C was phased out of Air Force service in 1959, and the last Air National Guard F-94s were retired in early 1960.

General characteristics
Contractor	Lockheed Aircraft Co., Burbank, Calif.
First flight	April 16, 1949 (YF-94)
Models	F-94A, B, C
Power plant	One Pratt & Whitney J48-P-5 or -5A turbofan.
Thrust	8,750 lb	38.9 kN
Length	44 ft 6 in	13.6 m
Height	14 ft 11 in	4.5 m
Wingspan	42 ft 5 in	12.9 m
Weight	24,200 lb	10,977 kg
Max. speed	640 mph	1,030 km/h
Range	1,200 miles	1,930 km
Ceiling	51,000 ft	15,500 m
Armament	24x 2.75-in Mighty Mouse FFARs in nose and 24x 2.75-in FFARs in two wing pods (12 rockets in each).
Crew	Two (pilot, radar officer)
Number built	856
Unit cost	$534,000

Jirka Wagner