U.S. Air Force F-89D Scorpions in formation, S/N 32623 in the foreground |
Northrop designed the F-89 as an all-weather fighter-interceptor for the Air Defense Command.
With the radar operator in the rear seat guiding the pilot, the F-89 could locate, intercept and destroy enemy aircraft by day or night under all types of weather conditions.
The first F-89 made its initial flight in August 1948 and deliveries to the Air Force began in July 1950.
Though its straight wings limited its performance, the F-89 was among the first Air Force jet fighters with guided missiles, and notably the first combat aircraft armed with air-to-air nuclear weapons.
Northrop produced a total of 1,050 F-89s for the Air Force.
F-89 Scorpion (from the Airplanes Online Topps Wings Friend or Foe collection)Armament: 2 AIR-2A Genie air-to-air rockets w. nuclear warheads plus 4 AIM-4C Falcon missiles
Engines: Two Allison J35s of 7,200 lbs. thrust each (with afterburner)
Maximum speed: 627 mph
Cruising speed: 465 mph
Range: 1,600 miles
Ceiling: 45,000 ft.
Span: 59 ft. 10 in.
Length: 53 ft. 8 in.
Height: 17 ft. 6 in.
Weight: 47,700 lbs. maximum Production Numbers and Surviving F-89 Aircraft
Only 19 F-89s survive today, including the F-89s in the photographs below.
Northrup F-89J Scorpion S/N 53-2674 at the Pima Air Museum in Tucson, Arizona |
Northrup F-89H Scorpion S/N 54-322 at the Hill Aerospace Museum in Ogden, Utah |
Front view of Northrup F-89H Scorpion S/N 54-322 |
F-89 Scorpion at the Air Force Armament Museum at Eglin AFB, Florida |
F-89 Photos by Our Friends and Supporters
U.S. Air Force F-89J Scorpion, Serial Number 53-2646 Originally built by Northrup as a F-89D, it was later converted to a F-89J. Assigned to the Wisconsin ANG 176th FIS. Was at Florence Air and Missile Museum, South Carolina. Located in 2010 at Friendship Park, Smithfield, OH, it is currently at the Jefferson County Veterans Association in Steubenville, Ohio (photo courtesy of R. Nelson) |
Northrup F-89 Scorpion at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska (photo by Michael Hoschouer) |
F-89D on display in Nampa, Idaho in the markings of the Idaho Air Guard (photo by Michael Hoschouer) |
F-89J Scorpion, S/N 53-2547, of the Montana Air Guard, on display at Great Falls Air National Guard Base, Montana
(photo by Michael Hoschouer) |