Warplanes of the USA: Northrop F-89 Scorpion

Northrop F-89 Scorpion

(USAF Photo)

U.S. Air Force Northrop F-89D-45-NO Scorpion interceptors of the 59th Fighter Interceptor Squadrons, Goose Bay AB, Labrador (Canada), in the 1950s. 52-1959 in foreground, now in storage at Edwards AFB, California. 1950.

The Northrop F-89 Scorpion is an all-weather, twin-engined interceptor aircraft designed and produced by the American aircraft manufacturer Northrop Corporation. It was the firstjet-powered aircraft to be designed for the interceptor role from the outset toenter service, as well as the first combat aircraft to be armed withair-to-air nuclear weapons in the form of the unguided Genie rocket. The nameScorpion came from the aircraft's elevated tail unit and high-mountedhorizontal stabilizer, which kept it clear of the engine exhaust.

The Scorpion was designed by Northrop in response to a specification issued bythe United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during August 1945. Internallydesignated as the N-24, it was originally designed with a relatively slimfuselage, buried Allison J35 turbojet engines, and a swept wing configuration,however, the unfavorable low speed characteristics of this wing led to itssubstitution for a relatively thin straight wing instead. While its straightwings limited its performance, the Scorpion was among the first Americanfighters to be equipped with guided missiles. During March 1946, the USAAFselected both the N-24 and the rival Curtiss-Wright XP-87 Blackhawk fordevelopment, leading to an initial contract for two aircraft, designated XP-89,being approved on 13 June 1946.

On 16 August 1948, the prototype performed its maiden flight from Muroc ArmyAir Field. Following competitive evaluations of the XP-89, officials opted tocancel the competing XP-87 to concentrate resources on the Scorpion, it havingproven to be the fastest aircraft evaluated and was viewed as the mostpromising. Various alterations and improvements were made following a fatalaccident on 22 February 1950; prior to this, officials had already specifiedthe adoption of more powerful afterburner-equipped Allison J33-A-21 turbojetengines, AN/APG-33 radar, and the Hughes E-1 fire-control system. DuringSeptember 1950, the Scorpion entered service with the United States Air Force(USAF), its sole operator.

Only 18 F-89As were completed as it was quickly superseded by the more capableF-89B configuration, most of the changes being avionics-based, that arrived inJune 1951. It was soon followed by the F-89C, which featured engine upgrades.During 1954, the definitive F-89D was introduced, which installed a new HughesE-6 fire control system with AN/APG-40 radar and an AN/APA-84 computer in placeof the cannon armament, being instead armed with 2.75-inch (70 mm) "MightyMouse" FFAR rocket pods. The final variant to enter service was the F-89J,which was typically armed with the AIR-2 Genie nuclear air-to-air rocket. Theyserved with the Air Defense Command, later renamed the Aerospace DefenseCommand (ADC), through 1959, and with the Air National Guard, into the late1960s. The last Scorpions were withdrawn from use in 1969. (Wikipedia)

(USAF Photo)

Northrop F-89D-45-NO (Serial No. 52-1938) with AIM-4 Falcon missiles.

(USAF Photo)

Northrop F-89J Scorpion fighter (s/n 53-2619) from the 178th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 119th Fighter Group, North Dakota Air National Guard, in flight. The North Dakota Air National Guard flew the F-89 from 1960-1966.

(USAF Photo)

Northrop F-89B (Serial No. 49-2450) at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Note the external vibration dampeners on the horizontal stabilizer. This distinguishing characteristic of -A and -B models was modified to an internal dampening system starting with the -C model.

(USAF Photo)

84th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron Northrop F-89J-35-NO Scorpion 52-1868 1957 Hamilton Air Force Base, California First operational F-89J squadron.

(USAF Photo)

Northrop F-89J (Serial No. 53-2550) of the 124th Fighter Squadron, Iowa Air National Guard, July 1968.

(USAF Photo)

433d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron Northrop F-89C-15-NO Scorpion 50-777 1953 Stationed at Truax Field, Wisconsin. Later returned to Northrup for upgrading to arctic specificaions and reassigned to 65th FIS at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. Aircraft crashed on 29 October 1953.

(USAF Photo)

84th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron Northrop F-89C-5-NO Scorpion 50-746 1952 Stationed at Hamilton Air Force Base, California. Preparing for takeoff on a training mission.

(USAF Photo)

445th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron Northrop F-89H-5-NO Scorpion 54-0402 1956 Stationed at Wurtsmith AFB, MI. First F-89H model delivered.

(USAF Photo)

84th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron Northrop F-89H-1-NO Scorpion 54-312 1956 Hamilton Air Force Base, California.

(John Mollison, South Dakota Air National Guard Photo)

Northrop F89-D Scorpion (Serial No. 51-1149), South Dakota Air National Guard, 1957.

(USAF Photo)

Northrop F-89A Scorpion, 126th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Wisconsin Air National Guard, ca. 1953.  

(USAF Photo)

Northrop F-89A Scorpion (Serial No. 49-2435), 126th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Wisconsin Air National Guard, ca. 1953.

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Northop F-89 Scorpion spreserved

F-89B

(Author Photo)
49-2434 - Texas Air Museum - Stinson Chapter, San Antonio, Texas.

(Silverquill Photo)

49-2457 – Lakeview Park, Nampa, Idaho.

F-89D

(Locoscoutla Photo)

(Author Photos)
52-1862 – Elmendorf AFB, Anchorage, Alaska. Marked as 53-2453 (actual 53-2453is an F-89J. Previously displayed at Tyndall AFB, Florida.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

53-2463 – Museum of Aviation, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.
53-2494 – home base of the 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard,Burlington Air National Guard Base, Vermont.
53-2517 – Planes of Fame Museum, Chino, California. The rudder of 53-2519 wasadded to the aircraft at the museum.

(Uwn K Owen Photo)
53-2536 – EAA Air Venture Museum, Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
53-2610 – Air Force Armament Museum, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
53-2646 – Friendship Park, Smithfield, Ohio.

(Author Photos)

(Simeon87 Photo)

(Eric Salard Photo)
53-2674 – Pima Air & Space Museum (adjacent to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base), Tucson, Arizona.

(USAF Photo)

Northrop F-89J (Serial No. 53-2677) of the Wisconsin Air National Guard, 176th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. 1972.

(Robert Dilley Photo)
53-2677 – Minnesota Air National Guard Museum, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

F-89H

(USAF Photos)

(Mike Freer - Touchdown Aviation Photo)
54-0298 – Dyess Linear Air Park, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.

(Jerry Gunner Photo)

54-0322 – Hill Aerospace Museum, Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

F-89J

(Author Photos)
52-1856 – Bangor International Airport / Bangor Air National Guard Base (formerDow AFB), Maine.

(Michigan ANG Photo)
52-1868 – Selfridge Military Air Museum, Selfridge ANGB, Michigan.

(Author Photo)

52-1896 – New England Air Museum, Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

(NMUSAF Photo)

(NMUSAF Photos)

(Martin McGuire Photo)
52-1911 (painted as 53-2509) – National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio. This aircraft was the last F-89remaining in service when it was transferred to the Museum from the Maine AirNational Guard in July 1969.

(Nehrams2020 Photo)
52-1927 – Castle Air Museum (former Castle AFB), Atwater, California.

(Author Photos)
52-1941 – Peterson Air and Space Museum, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

(Mike Freer - Touchdown-aviation Photo)

(aceebee Photo)

(Tomás Del Coro Photo)
52-1949 – March Field Air Museum, March Air Reserve Base (former March AFB), Riverside, California.

(William Grimes Photo)

(Author Photos)
52-2129 – Air Power Park and Museum (near Langley Air Force Base), Hampton, Virginia.

53-2534 -Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum,  McMinnville, Oregon.

(Banjodog Photo)
53-2547 – 120th Fighter Wing of the Montana Air National Guard at Great Falls Air National Guard Base, Great Falls International Airport, Montana. It is the only F-89 to have ever fired a Genie rocket with a live nuclear warhead, having done so as part of Operation Plumbob.
53-2453 – Heritage Flight Museum, Burlington, Washington. (Painted as 53-2453).

53-2465 - painted as (Serial No. 53-2604). Fargo, North Dakota Air National Guard, 119th FG, Hector Field, Hector International Airport.
53-2604 – 119th Wing of the North Dakota Air National Guard, Fargo Air NationalGuard Base / Hector Field, Fargo, North Dakota.

(Skytamer.com, John Shupek Photo)

Northrop F-89J Scorpion (Serial No.), hulk, Pinal Air Park, Marana, Arizona.

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