CF-101 Voodoo

CF-101 Voodoo
Name	CF-101 Voodoo
Caption	A CF-101F Voodoo of 414 Squadron in flight.
Type	Interceptor aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	McDonnell Aircraft
Primary user	Royal Canadian Air Force / Canadian Forces
Number built	132 (acquired by Canada)
Developed from	F-101 Voodoo

CF-101 Voodoo. The CF-101 Voodoo was a supersonic, twin-engine, all-weather interceptor aircraft operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and later the Canadian Forces from 1961 to 1984. It was a Canadian variant of the American F-101 Voodoo, procured as an urgent replacement for the Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck to fulfill North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) commitments during the Cold War. Primarily serving with Air Defence Command (Canada), the Voodoo formed the backbone of Canada's continental air defence for over two decades, armed with a mix of AIM-4 Falcon air-to-air missiles and AIR-2 Genie nuclear rockets.

Development and acquisition

The acquisition of the CF-101 was driven by the cancellation of the advanced Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow in 1959, which created an immediate capability gap in Canada's air defences. Facing pressure from its NORAD partner, the United States Air Force, the Government of Canada under Prime Minister John Diefenbaker sought an interim replacement. This led to the 1961 ROCAF agreement, where Canada acquired 56 used F-101B Voodoos and 10 F-101F operational trainers from the USAF in exchange for hosting BOMARC missile sites. A second batch of 66 refurbished aircraft was procured in the early 1970s to replace the original fleet, which were then returned to the United States.

Design and variants

The CF-101 was based directly on the McDonnell F-101B, a two-seat interceptor designed for the USAF Air Defense Command. Its design featured a distinctive area-ruled fuselage, two powerful Pratt & Whitney J57 turbojet engines, and a large radar nose cone for the Hughes Aircraft MG-13 fire control system. The primary armament was carried in an internal weapons bay and consisted of a combination of infrared homing and semi-active radar homing AIM-4 Falcon missiles, plus the unguided, nuclear-tipped AIR-2 Genie. The main variants used were the CF-101B (the F-101B) and the dual-control CF-101F (the F-101F). Canadian aircraft were later updated under the CF-101 Modernization Project, which included new Texas Instruments AN/APN-195 Doppler radar and Litton Industries navigation systems.

Operational history

Entering service with 425 Squadron at CFB Namao in 1961, the CF-101 quickly equipped squadrons across Canada, including 409 Squadron at CFB Comox, 410 Squadron at CFB Uplands, and 416 Squadron at CFB Chatham. Its primary role was Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) duty, maintaining constant armed readiness to scramble against potential Soviet Union bomber aircraft intrusions over the Arctic. The Voodoo participated in numerous NORAD exercises and was a regular performer at events like the Abbotsford International Airshow. Despite its formidable armament, the Genie nuclear rocket was never carried on alert in Canada after 1984. The type was retired in 1984 and replaced by the McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet.

Operators

The sole military operator was Canada. The aircraft served with the Royal Canadian Air Force until the 1968 unification into the Canadian Forces, after which it served with Air Command (Canada) (specifically Air Defence Group). Key operational squadrons included 414 Squadron (Electronic Warfare), 425 Squadron, 409 Squadron, 410 Squadron, 416 Squadron, 439 Squadron, and 448 Squadron. Training was conducted by 410 Tactical Fighter Operational Training Squadron at CFB Bagotville.

Aircraft on display

Several CF-101 Voodoos are preserved in museums across Canada. Examples include a CF-101F (serial 101059) at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa, a CF-101B (101007) at the Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a CF-101F (101067) at the Canadian War Museum. Others are displayed at the CFB Comox Air Force Museum, the CFB Borden Military Museum, the Reynolds-Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, and as a gate guardian at the former CFB Chatham in New Brunswick.

Specifications (CF-101F)

* **Crew:** 2 (pilot and weapons systems officer) * **Length:** 67 ft 5 in (20.55 m) * **Wingspan:** 39 ft 8 in (12.09 m) * **Height:** 18 ft 0 in (5.49 m) * **Powerplant:** 2 × Pratt & Whitney J57-P-55 turbojets * **Maximum speed:** Mach 1.72 at 35,000 ft (10,700 m) * **Range:** 1,520 mi (2,450 km) * **Service ceiling:** 52,100 ft (15,880 m) * **Armament:** Combination of AIR-2 Genie nuclear rockets and AIM-4 Falcon air-to-air missiles

Category:Military aircraft of Canada Category:Cold War interceptors of Canada