F-101A & F-101C Voodoo (Gun-Armed Voodoos) — History, Performance, and Discussion

[Nostalgistic]

Place for discussion of the gun-armed Voodoos (F-101A and F-101C), their flight performance, and ordnance.

With the F-101C-55-MC now confirmed via the teaser, let’s bring together and consolidate our sources to ensure that the in-game flight performance and ordnance accurately reflect the available historical documents.

F-101A & F-101C Voodoo

Brief History

Brief History

The McDonnell F-101A and F-101C Voodoo were supersonic fighter-bombers designed in the early 1950s and produced by the American company McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. They were derived from the XF-88 Voodoo, which performed successfully during the USAF’s Penetration Fighter competition but was never placed into production. 77 F-101As were produced, and 47 F-101Cs were produced.

The F-101A fighter-bomber could withstand only 6.33 g (62 m/s²) maneuvers rather than the intended 7.33 g (72 m/s²). To address this limitation, the F-101C was designed with a strengthened airframe that increased structural weight by approximately 500 lb (227 kg), allowing it to sustain 7.33-g maneuvers. It also incorporated a revised fuel system to increase maximum flight time while operating in afterburner.

Throughout their service from 1957 to 1966, the F-101A and F-101C served with the United States Air Force as nuclear-capable fighter-bombers intended to deliver tactical nuclear weapons deep into enemy territory. Although fully combat-capable, neither variant saw combat service, and both were eventually replaced by the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II by 1966. Following their withdrawal from frontline USAF service, many aircraft were transferred to Air National Guard units, where they remained in service until 1972. Several examples were later converted into reconnaissance aircraft, continuing to serve until 1979.

General Specifications

General Specifications

F-101A & F-101C

• Crew:
  • 1 (Pilot)
• Dimensions:
  • Length: 67 ft 4.8 in (20.54 m)
  • Height: 18 ft (5.49 m)
  • Span: 39 ft 8.4 in (12.1 m)
  • Wing Area: 368 sq ft (34.19 sq m)
• Powerplant:
  • 2 x J57-P-13 afterburning turbojet engines
• Fuel/Oil:
  • Internal Fuel: 2,476 US gal. (9373 L)
  • Oil: 6 US gal. (22.7 L)
• Avonics:
  • AN/APS-54 Radar Warning Receiver
  • AN/ASN-6 Ground Position Indicator
  • K-19 Sight System
  • M-1 Toss Bomb System
  • MA-2 Low Altitude Bombing System
  • MA-7 Fire Control System
    • With Radar Drift Computer
• Weapons:
  • 4 x 20mm M-39 cannon in the nose with 200 rounds per gun
  • 1 x special store (i.e., nuclear bomb)
  • 2 x 450 US-gal external drop tanks

F-101A Weights

• Empty: 25,374 lb (11,509 kg) (Actual)
• Design: 37,000 lb (16,783 kg)
• Max. Takeoff: 51,000 lb (23,133 kg)
• Capable of withstanding only 6.33 g (62 m/s²) maneuvers

F-101C Weights

• Empty: 26,277 lb (11,919 kg) (Estimated)
• Design: 37,000 lb (16,783 kg)
• Max. Takeoff: 51,000 lb (23,133 kg)
• Capable of withstanding only 7.33 g (72 m/s²) maneuvers

[tripod2008]

Relevant SACs

• F-101A_Voodoo_SAC_-_November_1962

• F-101C_Voodoo_SAC_-_2_September_1958

Of note should be the AN/APS-54 TRWS (Tail Radar Warning), similar to the MiG-19’s SPO-2 system, with a duplicated forward receiver

[TomLiu126]

@Nostalgistic

Capable of withstanding only 7.33 g (72 m/s²) maneuvers

The 1958 version of the F-101C SAC seems to state a L.F. of only 6.33 g

Also does anyone know what to make of the 1955 version of the F-101A SAC? It says some interesting things like there being 375 rpg that was temporarily limited to 200 rpg, and a L.F. of 7.33 g that was limited to 6.33 on 1st 115 F-101A aircraft…

[Master_Teaz]

so either 9.5G or 11G in game (1.5x multiplier)

Both are going to be enough for the majority of circumstances, i’d reckon you’d want to keep your speed in it and energy trap, and not outright dogfight like an F-100

[noister]

No missiles?

[tripod2008]

Outside of the AIR-2, Only on the -101B and even then only AIM-4 Falcons, which have significant issues currently due to lacking a proximity fuse and how Gaijin computes the Centroid of a target

missing target because they aim at empty space