LOCKHEED F-94C STARFIRE

USAF SERIAL NUMBER 51-13560

The F-94C was flown by the 109^th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and the 279^th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron of the Minnesota Air National Guard from 1954 to 1959. The F-94, built to a 1948 USAF specification for a radar equipped interceptor specifically designed to counter the threat of the USSRs new Tupolev TU-4 bombers (a reversed engineered Boeing B-29). The F-94 was derived from the Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star which is a two seat trainer version of the F-80 Shooting Star. A lengthened nose area with guns, radar and automatic fire control system were added. The first flight took place on 16 April, 1949 with a total of 855 being built. The F-94 was to be the first US production jet with an afterburner. The last F-94s were retired in 1960. The F-94 was used in combat during the Korean War, it is credited with several air to air victories, including the first jet vs. jet night victory. One F-94 is listed as lost due to enemy action, six more to non-enemy causes on combat missions, two were declared as missing on a combat mission and three were lost in accidents.

Cost: $534,073

Crew: 2

Length: 44 Feet, 6 Inches

Wingspan: 42 Feet, 5 Inches

Height: 14 Feet, 11 Inches

Engine: 1 Pratt & Whitney J48-P-5 turbojet, Thrust with afterburner 8,750 pounds

Maximum Speed: 640 MPH

Range: 805 Miles (combat)

Service Ceiling: 51,400 Feet

Armament: 24 or 48 2.75 Inch MK 4/MK 40 Folding Fin Aerial Rockets

Interesting Facts: The museum F-94 was rescued from a playground in South Dakota. Having been derived from the T-33 and F-80 aircraft the F-94 had a seventy-five percent commonality with parts from those two aircraft.

Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star

Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star