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Developed from the F-80 Shooting Star, the two-place F-94 was the first American all-weather jet interceptor and the first U.S. production jet to have an afterburner.
Although the F-94 had a redesigned fuselage, it used the F-80/T-33 tail, wing and landing gear.
A lengthened nose area with guns, radar and automatic fire control system was added. The large radar in the nose permitted the observer in the rear seat to locate an enemy aircraft at night or in poor weather.
The F-94B remained in USAF service through 1954 before being transferred to the Air National Guard.
The F-94C was retired from USAF service in 1959, as newer and more capable interceptors entered service. Air National Guard units retired their F-94s a year later.
U.S. Air Force Lockheed F-94 Starfire
(from the Topps Wings Friend or Foe collections)Armament: Four .50-cal. machine guns
Engine: Allison J33 of 6,000 lbs. thrust with afterburner
Maximum speed: 630 mph
Range: 930 miles
Ceiling: 42,750 ft.
Span: 38 ft. 9 in.
Length: 40 ft. 1 in.
Height: 12 ft. 2 in.
Weight: 15,330 lbs.
Lockheed produced 853 F-94s; of these, 110 were F-94As.
Only 9 Starfires have survived and are on display, including the ones shown below.
Lockheed F-94C Starfire S/N 51-5623 in Tucson, Arizona |
F-94C Starfire S/N 50-980 painted to represent F-94C 01054, Buzz Number FA-054, assigned to the 60th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Otis Air Force Base, Mass. during the late 1950s. On display at the Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio |
F-94A Starfire S/N 49-2498, Buzz Number FA-498, on display at the Museum of the United States Air Force |
U.S. Air Force F-94C Starfires flying in information S/N 50-1044, Buzz Number FA-044 is in the foreground. In 1953 it was assigned to the USAF 437th FIS, and later with the 68th FIS and 60th FIS. Buzz Number FA-695 and two other Starfires are seen in the background (photo courtesy of R. Nelson) |
F-94A Starfire, Buzz Number FA-500, Castle Air Museum, Atwater, California (photo by Michael Hoschouer) |
F-94C Starfire, S/N 51-13575, Buzz Number FA-575, Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, McMinnville, Oregon (photo by Michael Hoschouer) |
F-94C Starfire, S/N 50-1006, Peterson Air & Space Museum, Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado (photo by Michael Hoschouer) |
USAF F-94 Photograph
Air Force F-94
Starfires on apron: Buzz Numbers FA-534, FA-536, FA-537, FA-543, on apron |
Historic Image of the F-94 Starfire
F-94 Starfire S/N 82479 Buzz Number FA-479 in flight |