Northrop F-89 Scorpion series

Steve Pace

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Here's a color shot of the XF-89 (46-678) with Fred C. Bretcher in the cockpit.
 

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Some additional images including the YF-89A.
 

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The Scorpion!

It's why Northrop was never really able to sell a first line combat aircraft to the US military for a long time -- the Scorpion series left a pretty bad taste in a lot of people's mouths.

While a lot of aircraft in the fifties had flaws, and "no go areas" -- the F-100 series had a particular part of it's envelope which was basically very dangerous -- the Scorpion was unique for having flaws which could kill the pilot even if he was very conscientious -- like the wings falling off in flight (and when that was fixed, then the engines would explode in flight).

Despite these flaws, I do like the Scorpion -- mostly for the cavalcade of errors which kept cropping up.
 
Apologies for dust speckles -- if you activiate anti dust features on my scanner, it doubles or triples scanning time. And at 600 DPI.... :-\
 

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More F-89 Pictures
 

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Three F-89Ds were modified to serve as service test F-89H airplanes. These three F-89Ds were USAF serial numbers 52-1830 (an F-89D-35-NO), 52-1939 (an F-89D-45-NO) and 52-2149 (F-89D-45-NO). The only one to get the YF-89H designation however was 52-1939. (Some sources claim that 53-249 was the third F-89D converted but this serial number was actually issued to a Boeing KC-97G.) -SP
 
F-89A Scorpion with trainable guns in Martin D-1 turret:
 

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Very cool, CostasTT! Do you have higher res than those you posted? -SP
 
Steve Pace said:
Very cool, CostasTT! Do you have higher res than those you posted? -SP
Unfortunately, no. I'd found them here:
http://strangernn.livejournal.com/931800.html

The Aerofax Datagraph book has photos of F-89C S/N 51-5766 fitted with four 30mm Oerlikon 302RK cannon. I can send you scans if you like. Just pm me your email.
 
I love the F-89. It's always been one of my favorites.
 
Uploaded on Feb 20, 2012

Fred Erb talks about his time at Northrop Aircraft Company during the development of the F-89 Scorpion Jet fighter and accidents.

http://youtu.be/2Xi-ylYhmXM
 
My great uncle Nick Lazar was an engineer for Northrop on the Scorpion. He took me to many air shows in California area and El Toro Marine airbase when I was a kid. I should have asked him about the Scorpion!
 
One of the F-89C with the 30 mm Oerlikon 302RK guns.
 

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And another one with T-110E3 rocket launchers.
 

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