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Aircraft record

Northrop F-89 Scorpion

F-89 · Northrop · United States

Roles
Interceptor (Primary)
Era
Cold War
Status
Retired
F-89J aircraft. Northrop F-89J Scorpion museum aircraft.
Northrop F-89J Scorpion museum aircraft. Source · Not separately identified on the file page; public domain; source credit: National Museum of the United States Air Force. Public domain

Reference data

Quick facts

First flight
1948
Manufacturer
Northrop
Country
United States
Status
Retired

Reference data

Historical Content

Development and Design

Aircraft family

The Northrop F-89 Scorpion was developed as an all-weather interceptor for the United States Air Force. [1]

Aircraft family

Its two-person crew included a radar operator, allowing the aircraft to locate and engage targets in darkness or adverse weather. [1]

Aircraft family

The first F-89 flew in August 1948, and deliveries to the Air Force began in July 1950. [1]

Air Defense Service

Aircraft family

The F-89 served with Air Defense Command as part of the United States' Cold War air-defense system. [1]

Aircraft family

Its mission centered on intercepting approaching aircraft using onboard radar and air-to-air armament. [1]

F-89J and Genie

Variant: F-89J

The F-89J was a conversion of the F-89D designed to carry nuclear-armed AIR-2 Genie air-to-air rockets. [1]

Variant: F-89J · Test aircraft and event

On July 19, 1957, an F-89J launched a Genie test rocket carrying a nuclear warhead over a Nevada test range. [1]

Variant: F-89J · Test aircraft and event

This event applies to the F-89J test aircraft and does not describe the equipment of every Scorpion variant. [1]

Reference data

Specifications

Representative Variant Specifications

Representative variant

F-89J

These specifications apply to the F-89J variant and should not be read as values for every F-89 Scorpion version.

Dimensions

MeasurementValue
Length16.36 m53 ft 8 in
Wingspan18.24 m59 ft 10 in
Height5.33 m17 ft 6 in

Performance

MeasurementValue
Maximum speed1,009 km/h627 mph
Cruise speed748 km/h465 mph
Range2,575 km1,600 mi
Ceiling13,716 m45,000 ft

Powerplant

turbojet · F-89J

Allison J35

Quantity: 2

Thrust32 kN7,200 lbfper engine, with afterburner

Reference data

Variants

Recorded variants of this aircraft family. Variant entries here do not create separate public pages.

F-89A
F-89A
F-89B
F-89B
F-89C
F-89C
F-89D
F-89D
F-89H
F-89H
F-89J
F-89J
Representative variant

Reference data

Sources

  1. Northrop F-89J ScorpionNational Museum of the United States Air ForceF-89J representative variant specifications
  2. Allison J35-A-35A TurbojetNational Museum of the United States Air ForceF-89J representative variant specifications
  3. Northrop F-89J ScorpionNational Museum of the United States Air ForceDevelopment and Design · Aircraft family · Air Defense Service · Aircraft family · F-89J and Genie · Variant: F-89J · F-89J and Genie · Variant: F-89J · Test aircraft and event