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Subject: Northrop F-89 Scorpion
Date: 11 Jul 2016 07:17:06 -0700
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_F-89_Scorpion
The Northrop F-89 Scorpion was an early American jet-powered fighter designed
from the outset as an all-weather interceptor, the first jet-powered aircraft
designed as such.[3] Though its straight wings limited its performance, it was
among the first United States Air Force (USAF) jet fighters with guided
missiles, and notably the first combat aircraft armed with air-to-air nuclear
weapons (the unguided Genie rocket).
The Scorpion stemmed from a United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Air Technical
Service Command specification ("Military Characteristics for All-Weather
Fighting Aircraft") for a night fighter to replace the P-61 Black Widow. The
preliminary specification, sent to aircraft manufacturers on 28 August 1945,
required two engines and an armament of six guns, either .60-caliber (15 mm)
machine guns or 20-millimeter (0.79 in) autocannon. The revised specification
was issued on 23 November; it did not specify jet propulsion, but the desired
maximum speed of 530 miles per hour (850 km/h) virtually dictated that all the
submissions would be jet powered. The aircraft was to be armed with aerial
rockets stored internally and six guns split between two flexible mounts, four
movement from the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. Each mount's guns were to
be automatically controlled by radar. For ground attack, it had to be capable of
carrying 1,000-pound (450 kg) bombs and to be able to carry a minimum of eight
rockets externally.[4] Bell Aircraft, Consolidated-Vultee, Douglas Aircraft,
Goodyear, Northrop and Curtiss-Wright all submitted proposals. In March 1946,
the USAAF selected the Curtiss-Wright XP-87, adapted from their proposed XA-43
attack aircraft, and Northrop's N-24 design, one of four submitted by the
company.
Role Interceptor
Manufacturer Northrop Corporation
Designer Jack Northrop
First flight 16 August 1948
Introduction September 1950
Retired 1969
Primary user United States Air Force
Number built 1,050 and 2 prototypes
Unit cost US$801,602 (F-89D)
US$988,884 (F-89H)
Production was authorized in January 1949, with the first production F-89A
flying in September 1950. It had AN/APG-33 radar and an armament of six 20 mm
(.79 in) T-31 cannons with 200 rpg. The swiveling nose turret was abandoned, and
300 US gal (1,100 l) fuel tanks were permanently fitted to the wingtips.
Underwing racks could carry 16 5 in (127 mm) aerial rockets or up to 3,200 lb
(1,455 kg) of bombs.[22]
Only 18 F-89As were completed, which were mainly used for tests and trials,
before the type was upgraded to F-89B standard, with new avionics.[22] The type
entered service with the 84th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron in June 1951. These
had considerable problems with engines and other systems, and soon gave way to
the F-89C. Despite repeated engine changes, problems persisted, compounded by
the discovery of structural problems with the wings that led to the grounding of
the F-89 and forced a refit of 194 -A, -B, and -C models.[24]
The major production model was the F-89D, which first flew 23 October 1951 and
entered service in 1954. It removed the cannon in favor of a new Hughes E-6 fire
control system with AN/APG-40 radar and an AN/APA-84 computer. Armament was two
pods of 52 2.75 in (70 mm) "Mighty Mouse" FFAR rockets, for a total of 104.[25]
A total of 682 were built.[1] In August 1956 a pair of F-89D interceptors were
scrambled from Oxnard Air Force Base to shoot down a runaway F6F-5K drone
leading to The Battle of Palmdale incident.
Specifications (F-89D)
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 53 ft 9 1/2 in (16.40 m)
Wingspan: 59 ft 8 1/2 in (18.20 m)
Height: 17 ft 6 in (5.33 m)
Wing area: 606 ft2 (56.30 m2)
Empty weight: 25,194 lb (11,428 kg)
Loaded weight: 37,190 lb (16,869 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 42,241 lb (19,161 kg)
Dry thrust: 5,440 lbf (24.26 kN) each
Thrust with afterburner: 7,200 lbf (32.11 kN) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 635 mph (552 knots, 1,022 km/h) at 10,600 ft (3,200 m)
Ferry range: 1,366 mi (1,188 nm, 2,200 km)
Service ceiling: 49,200 ft (15,000 m)
Rate of climb: 7,440 ft/min (37.8 m/s)
Armament
Rockets:
Bombs: 3,200 lb (1,500 kg)
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