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Here are a few photographs taken during the flight testing phase of several McDonnell aircraft during the period 1947-1957. A little information is provided on most of them. It is as accurate as my notes and, occasionally my recollection, however I would appreciate any corrections. Most pages have more than one photo. The McDonnell aircraft photos are all black and white. | |
| Model 119/220
The first set of photographs is accompanied by an article, The model 119 was a prototype small jet transport, built on company money as a competitor to the Lockheed JetStar. The photos of the Model 119 Have a link to a story about the interesting and somewhat involved fate of the aircraft after the flight test phase. |
XF-88B
A one-off conversion of the XF-88, a predecessor to the F-101. This conversion was for research on supersonic propellers driven by gas turbine engines. The XF-88B was delivered to Wright Field. |
| FH Phantom The first of two lines of Phantoms (the F4H is the Phantom II), and the first Navy carrier jet fighter. |
F2H Banshee
The widely produced F2H is shown here from first prototype to the F2H-4. |
| F3H-1 Demon
The first of two lines of Demons, the F3H-1 is shown here primarily as the prototype XF3H-1, the "Tin Demon" |
F3H-2 Demon Extensive redesign and new engines created the F3H-2 which served with the fleet for a long time. |
| XF-85
Among the bizarre things the fledgling McDonnell Aircraft tried was the F85. The idea was that strategic bombers - that is long range bombers that normally carried nuclear weapons - would need fighter protection. Because ballistic missiles were still a dream and somewhat of an anathema to the pilot oriented Air Force, ideas generated in the 1930's for the dirigible were recycled. Look at the F85! Is this a great country or what? |
F101 Voodoo
A massive fighter born to do escort duty but served as a nuclear missile-carrying air defense fighter. F-101 |
Miscellaneous Photos | |
| Harlow
A photo taken at Chino airport in Southern California. |
Martin B-61 Matador
A real cold warrior, one of the first "cruise missile" type aircraft and one of the VERY few unmanned aircraft to receive a "B" designation. |