Today In History:  29 September  [1954]   --  First flight of the McDonnell F-101 Voodoo

The F-101 Voodoo jet fighter prototype makes its first flight, flown by test pilot Robert C. Little. An advanced design of the XF-88, the Voodoo goes supersonic on its first flight. 807 Voodoo would eventually be built.

The Voodoo's career as a fighter-bomber was relatively brief, but the reconnaissance versions served for some time. Along with the US Air Force's Lockheed U-2 and US Navy's Vought RF-8 Crusaders, the RF-101 reconnaissance variant of the Voodoo was instrumental during the Cuban Missile Crisis and saw extensive service during the Vietnam War.

PHOTO: A U.S. Air National Guard McDonnell F-101B Voodoo aircraft banking in flight in 1978. The aircraft was assigned to the 107th Fighter Interceptor Group, New York Air National Guard, at Niagara Falls Air Base, New York (USA).

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Photo Attribution:  Public Domain via Wikimedia.