F3H Demon

F3H Demon
Description
Role
Crew
Dimensions
Length
Wingspan
Height
Wing area
Weights
Empty
Loaded
Maximum take-off
Powerplant
Engines
Power
Performance
Maximum speed
Combat range
Ferry range
Service ceiling
Rate of climb
Armament
Guns
Bombs

The McDonnell F3H Demon was a US Navy carrier-based jet fighter aircraft. The successor to the F2H Banshee, after initial problems, it served from 1956 until 1964.

Development work began in 1949, the aircraft was designed around only a single Westinghouse J-40 engine, which was to have over 11,000 lb of thrust - three times that of the engines in the Banshee. It was the first swept-wing design produced by McDonnell and among the first US aircraft to have missile armament.

The prototype first flew in 1951 and first test flights of the operational design were in January 1953. The engine was a major disappointment, producing only half of the expected power it was tempermental and unreliable, of 35 F3H-1 aircraft that were flown with the J-40 engine eight were involved in major accidents.

The J-40 engined aircraft were grounded and a new engine was sought, the best alternative was destined for the F-100 Super Sabre and subsequent F3Hs were fitted with the Allison J-71 engine (also used in the B-66/A3D) and designated the F3H-2. While more reliable this new engine had to be 'shoe-horned' into the airframe and with less power than needed did little for the aircraft's performance. The first Demon with a J-71 flew in October 1954. Another problem was with the ejector seats, initial versions could fail to operate and had to be replaced with Martin Baker models.

Despite the problems in 1956 the Navy ordered 239 F3H-2s and the first were deployed in March 1956. 522 Demons were built up to the end of production in November 1959. It was the Navy's first all-weather interceptor with radar and the Raytheon Sparrow or Sidewinder AAM and remained the Navy's front-line fighter until 1962 when it was succeeded by the F-4 Phantom II. Although developed during the Korean War it did not see action, although it flew over Lebanon and Quemoy in 1958.

Specifications (F3H-1)

• Wingspan: 10.77 m
• Length: 17.98 m
• Height: 4.45 m
• Weight: 10,055 kg (empty), 15,409 kg (maximum)
• Engine: Westinghouse J40-WE-22 (2,955 kg static thrust)
• Performance: 990 km/hr
• Ceiling: 13,400 m
• Range: 1,818 km
• Crew: 1
• Armament: Four 20 mm cannons; four AIM-7 Sparrow or two AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles

Referenced By