McDonnell F3H Demon
McDonnell Aircraft Corporation · United States · first flew 1951 · fighter
The McDonnell F3H Demon was a swept-wing, single-engine carrier-based fighter designed to replace the F2H Banshee in US Navy service. Despite a troubled development caused by its unreliable Westinghouse J40 engine, it eventually reached operational status with the Allison J71 powerplant.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 17.96 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- US Navy swept-wing carrier fighter of the 1950s
- Single-engine with large curved air intake under nose
- Drooped leading-edge wing for carrier approach performance
A large single-engine carrier fighter with a prominent mouth-type chin intake, moderately swept wings with a pronounced droop on the outer leading edge, and a conventional tail; the big fuselage and single engine distinguish it from the twin-engine Banshee.
Specifications
- The McDonnell F3H Demon has a length of 17.96 m (59 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.77 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1155 km/h (718 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Demon first flew in August 1951 but suffered catastrophic engine failures with the original J40 powerplant, leading to crashes and a protracted development. Re-engining with the Allison J71 saved the programme and the Demon entered fleet service in 1956. It was the first USN fighter capable of firing the AIM-7 Sparrow missile and served until 1964.
Variants
The F3H-2 with Allison J71 was the main production variant; sub-variants included the F3H-2M Sparrow-armed version and F3H-2P photo-reconnaissance aircraft.
Where you'll see it
Operated exclusively by the US Navy aboard fleet carriers from 1956 to 1964, replaced by the F-4 Phantom II.
Related aircraft
- McDonnell XF-85 Goblin
- McDonnell XF-88 Voodoo
- McDonnell F2H Banshee
- McDonnell XF2H-1 Banshee
- Avia S-102
- Bell X-5
- Dassault Mystère IV
- de Havilland Sea Venom
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.