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Northrop F-89J Scorpion
The F-89 was a twin-engine, all-weather
fighter-interceptor designed to locate, intercept, and destroy enemy
aircraft by day or night under all types of weather conditions. It carried
a pilot in the forward cockpit and a radar operator in the rear who guided
the pilot into the proper attack position. The first F-89 made its initial
flight in August 1948 and deliveries to the Air Force began in July 1950.
Northrop produced 1,050 F-89s.
On July 19, 1957, a Genie test rocket
was fired from an F-89J, the first time in history that an air-to-air
rocket with a nuclear warhead was launched and detonated. Three hundred
and fifty F-89Ds were converted to "J" models which became the Air Defence
Command's first fighter-interceptor to carry nuclear armament.
SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 59 ft. 10 in.
Length: 53 ft. 8 in.
Height: 17 ft. 6 in.
Weight: 47,700 lbs. max.
Armament: Two AIR-2A Genie air-to-air rockets with nuclear warheads
plus four AIM-4C Falcon missiles.
Engines: Two Allison J35s of 7,200 lbs. thrust ea. with afterburner
Cost: $1,009,000
Serial Number: 52-1911
Displayed as: 53-2509
PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 627 mph
Cruising speed: 465 mph.
Range: 1,600 miles
Service Ceiling: 45,000 ft.
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