RidgeRunner Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 (edited) Hi all, My next project will be a Voodoo carrying this test gear. Is there anyone out there who knows what it is and has more information about it. I've searched the net without success so I am now hoping the wonderful resource that is BM can help ;). It is slung on a F-101A, operating out of Tyndall AFB in the early 1960s. As well as the vehicle itself any thoughts of the pylon apparatus woyld be of immense help. Thank you. Martin Edited February 9, 2019 by RidgeRunner 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 ... haven't a clue, but what a subject! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 Martin, Maybe an AAM-N3 Sparrow II test body? That's about all I could find in any of my F-101 references or internet searches. I did send your photo to one of my friends who flew F-101's to see if he knew anything about it. If I get any info, I will post it here. Mike 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 Never seen anything like it in my Voodoo references. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted January 31, 2019 Author Share Posted January 31, 2019 Thanks chaps. My understanding is that it was a test vehicle for a new supersonic target. Does that help? Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostbase Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 An interesting subject. I tried all my usual web resources and came up with a blank, so I went to Robert F Dorr's 'McDonnell F-101 Voodoo' published by Osprey Air Combat 1987 which does contain a b&w photo captioned thus: "A most unusual Voodoo. The 21st F-101A (54-1438) was used at Eglin AFB, Fla, in about 1955 to test a Mach 1.5 tow target for weapons firings at altitudes up to 65,000 ft (19,812m). A stepped diameter tow cable permitted reel-out to to a distance of 40,000 ft (12,192 m). This remarkable Voodoo was painted orange on its upper surfaces and natural metal on the lower side, with a black radome." The photo is credited (USAF Armament Museum via Norman Taylor). Michael 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted January 31, 2019 Author Share Posted January 31, 2019 (edited) Wow! Thanks Michael. While not the same aircraft in the caption it clearly is from the same test unit. I guess there were no photos of the target? Martin Edited January 31, 2019 by RidgeRunner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostbase Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 17 minutes ago, RidgeRunner said: Wow! Thanks Michael. While not the same aircraft in the caption it clearly is from the same test unit. I guess there were no photos of the target? Martin Sadly no additional photos of the target. Looks like Robert F Dorr made a mistake on this one. He refers to the F-101A as the "21st F-101A" as 54-1438 however I checked on Joe Baugher's USAF serial web page and he lists all the F-101A Voodoos from 53-2418 and according to him the 21st F-101A produced was 53-2438 which matches the photo that you have posted. Would be interesting to have a definitive answer. Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted January 31, 2019 Author Share Posted January 31, 2019 I reckon you are right and Robert Dorr simply got his maths wrong Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belcherbits Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 On 1/31/2019 at 4:34 PM, Ghostbase said: "A stepped diameter tow cable permitted reel-out to to a distance of 40,000 ft (12,192 m). " 40,000 feet of tow cable? I'm skeptical. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britman Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 Bit bland Martin! Looking forward to your progress. Keith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beefy Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 The information I have dug out is that F-101A-5-MC Voodoo/53-2428 was converted to JF-101A. originally based at Special Weapons Center, at Kirtland AFB, NM. 2/15/1963: Struck off charge at Edwards AFB, CA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted February 2, 2019 Author Share Posted February 2, 2019 Thanks Beefy. Much appreciated. I will keep digging. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted February 2, 2019 Author Share Posted February 2, 2019 (edited) 7 hours ago, belcherbits said: 40,000 feet of tow cable? I'm skeptical. Yes, it seemed excessive! If true it must have been reeled out om spider thread! ;). Looking at the pylon and the small apparatus on it there is barely room for very much! Edited February 2, 2019 by RidgeRunner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted February 2, 2019 Author Share Posted February 2, 2019 Putting the test vehicle aside, what is the collective's thought on the pylon and tow gear? It doesn't look very standard, does it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 I would have expected the tow gear to be a Delmar pod, after all, they had plenty of them. Unfortunately I can't make out too much in the photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dot Posted February 3, 2019 Share Posted February 3, 2019 Type supersonic target drones into Google and you get lots of images. Looks a bit like an AQM 35 or 37 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted February 4, 2019 Author Share Posted February 4, 2019 23 hours ago, Red Dot said: Type supersonic target drones into Google and you get lots of images. Looks a bit like an AQM 35 or 37 Hmmm..... You are right, there some that look close. I still find anything that looks exactly the same but maybe itbwas just a test profile? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whiskey Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 I'll take a stab at this and say that the aircraft is related to this: https://www.flickr.com/photos/n747ge/6058027264/in/photostream/ Also Sven, @Old Viper Tester apparently did some digging into it as well a few years back here: https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/hyperscale/voodoo-puzzlement-t483643.html So it may be worthwhile asking him about it. Then there was this page which was pretty much asking the same thing: http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread1025291/pg1 Scroll down to the bottom and check the info/links listed in the comments section. Oh and beware the BS ads littering the place. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted February 4, 2019 Author Share Posted February 4, 2019 5 hours ago, whiskey said: I'll take a stab at this and say that the aircraft is related to this: https://www.flickr.com/photos/n747ge/6058027264/in/photostream/ Also Sven, @Old Viper Tester apparently did some digging into it as well a few years back here: https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/hyperscale/voodoo-puzzlement-t483643.html So it may be worthwhile asking him about it. Then there was this page which was pretty much asking the same thing: http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread1025291/pg1 Scroll down to the bottom and check the info/links listed in the comments section. Oh and beware the BS ads littering the place. Hi Zach, The image you show is of the Voodoo in the GE test fleet, unrelated. My thanks for your thought, though. Sven @Old Viper Tester was my first port of call many weeks ago but he drew a blank, sadly. Again, many thanks for your thoughts, though. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whiskey Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 Could it have to do with the orange F-104s than? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted February 9, 2019 Author Share Posted February 9, 2019 (edited) On 31 January 2019 at 10:02 PM, RidgeRunner said: I reckon you are right and Robert Dorr simply got his maths wrong Martin @Ghostbase @Giorgio N @whiskey @Red Dot @72modeler and others. I got myself a copy of the Robert Dorr book, which arrived today. The caption says: "A most unusual Voodoo. The 21st F-101A (54-1438) was used at Eglin AFB, Fla. in about 1955 to test a Mach 1.5 tow target for weapons firing at altitudes up to 65,000ft (19,812m). A stepped diameter tow cable permitted reel out to a distance of 40,000ft (12,192m). This remarkable Voodoo was painted orange on itys upper surfaces and natural metal on the lower side, with a black radome" There is clearly some maths wrong in there and also the ID of the aircraft, which was actually 53-2438. my target machine for my build! :). There is a great photo of her too, although it is little better at illustrating the tow system. Any more ideas???? How about the odd handle-looking attachments to the front of the drone? Where would the winding gear have been? Inside the thick pylon? All ideas and info really appreciated. I'm really excited to build her now!!! Martin Edited February 9, 2019 by RidgeRunner 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted February 9, 2019 Author Share Posted February 9, 2019 I have a suspicion that this was simply an aerodynamic test vehicle that was not reeled out. Maybe Robert Dorr's description was about the ultimate intent rather than reference to this exact set up. Not only is there no winch gear apparent there doesnt appear to be any recovery frame to bring such a device safely back on to the pylon. Or am I mistaken? Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 8 minutes ago, RidgeRunner said: Where wulod the winding gear have been? Inside the thick pylon? The winch would have to have been reasonably powerful to winch 40,000' of cable, the target and the forces imposed travelling at high speed, and then there's the little matter of a drum to stow 40,000' of cable, I don't think there's room there for it in that pylon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted February 9, 2019 Author Share Posted February 9, 2019 33 minutes ago, Wez said: The winch would have to have been reasonably powerful to winch 40,000' of cable, the target and the forces imposed travelling at high speed, and then there's the little matter of a drum to stow 40,000' of cable, I don't think there's room there for it in that pylon. Nor me, mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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