F2H Banshee
The F2H Banshee was a US carrier-based, folding-wing jet fighter aircraft which was used by the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps during the Korean War. The F2H was developed by McDonnell Aircraft between 1945 and 1947, with the prototype, the XF2H-1, flying for the fist time on January 11, 1947. It entered into service 1948 and was phased out in 1959.
The cockpit of the F2H was fully pressurized and the flaps, landing gear, folding wings, canopy, and air brakes were electrically operated rather than pneumatically operated. This fighter aircraft incorporated a novel design feature: "kneeling" nose gear consisting of a pair of very small wheels forward of the regular nosewheel. The nosewheel could be retracted so the aircraft rested on the smaller wheels, allowing it to taxi with its tail high in the air. This was intended to ease hangaring and enhance safety by directing the hot jet blast upwards while taxiing.
Specifications
Engine: two Westinghouse J34-WE-34 turbojets, 3,250 lbf (14.5 kN) each.
Maximum speed: 580 mph (933 km/h)
Range: 1,716 mi (2,760 km)
Length: 48 ft 2 in (14.68 m)
Wingspan: 41 ft 9 in (12.73 m)
Crew: one
Armament: Guns: four 20 mm (0.79 in) Colt Mk 16 cannons; Rockets: eight 60 lb High Explosive rockets, or six 500 lb bombs
