N99 - McDonnell F3H Demon

McDonnell F3H Demon

By Tony Buttler

Demon naval fighter is chiefly remembered for the controversial delays and troubles suffered by its jet engine powerplants. The original J40 was a failure and brought the end of the original F3H-1 series but the J71 engine in the revised F3H-2, although not perfect, did help in the development of a decent service aircraft. Begun as an interceptor, Demon was a large and heavy single-seat fighter, it could reach supersonic speed in a dive with ease and one of the later versions became the Navy's first all-weather missile-firing fighter. In the air the Demon handled beautifully. The aircraft never took part in a major conflict but was on hand aboard US Navy carriers between 1958 and 1965 in case any of the crisis situations of that period turned into a major conflict.