When production ended in March 1961, nearly 800 Voodoos had been built.

To accelerate production, no prototypes were built, and the first Voodoo, an F-101A, made its initial flight on 29 September 1954. Range: 1,632 miles without aerial refuelingĬlick here to return to the Cold War Gallery. The F-101 lineage included several versions: low-altitude fighter-bomber, photo-reconnaissance, two-seat interceptor and transition trainer. When flown to the museum in May 1994, it had more than 7,300 hours of flying time.Įngines: Two General Electric J79-GE-15s of 17,000 lbs. During Desert Shield/Desert Storm, this aircraft flew a total of 172 missions, more than any other F-4 aircraft. It served in Vietnam, Japan, Korea, Europe, Cuba and the Middle East. The RF-4C on display was delivered to the USAF on Sept. The Air Force retired all of its RF-4Cs by 1995. In the following years, RF-4Cs flew reconnaissance missions around the world, including Desert Shield/Desert Storm in Iraq in 1990-1991. In October 1965 that unit deployed to Southeast Asia to provide photographic reconnaissance of the growing conflict in South Vietnam. The 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron became the first operational unit to fly the RF-4C. The RF-4C carried no offensive armament, although during the last few years of its service some were fitted with four AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles for defense. It could take photos at both high and low altitude, day or night. The RF-4C can carry a variety of cameras in three different stations in its nose section. The RF-4C development program began in 1962, and the first production aircraft made its initial flight on May 18, 1964. The Air Force officially accepted a total of 499 RF-4Cs. The USAF chose a modification of the F-4C fighter. In the early 1960s, the USAF recognized the need for more tactical reconnaissance aircraft to reinforce the RF-101s then in service.

Rf 101 voodoo avionics bay