As the Demon's airframe was too small to fit any larger, more current and proven jet engine, the next batch of production fighters were delivered with the Allison J71 turbojet. This resulted in the "F3H-2N" designation covering some additional 239 aircraft. The J71 was more powerful than the Westinghouse it replaced and was far more reliable in service.
The F3H-2M was brought online to support 4 x AIM-7 "Sparrow" medium-ranged Air-to-Air Missiles (AAMs), two under each wing. Only later was support for the AIM-9 "Sidewinder" short-ranged AAM series included with the usual arrangement of two of each missile carried. A further 239 were acquired as "F3H-2" fighter-bomber models cleared for carrying up to 6,000 lb of drop stores while also retaining the missile-launching qualities of the F3H-2M. The earlier F3H-2N also had a missile-launching function added.
The F3H-2P became a proposed photo-reconnaissance version of the F3H-2M but this initiative fell to naught. The F3H-3 was a more powerful version of the Demon to take the General Electric J73 engine but this design was never realized.
As completed, the Demon was of an all-modern appearance with its pointed nosecone, near-slab-sided fuselage walls and beautifully swept-back wing surfaces. The wing mainplanes were low-mounted along the fuselage sides and featured rounded tips. The tail unit was raised to allow clearance for the jet exhaust port underneath. The tail consisted of a single vertical fin and low-set horizontal planes. The engine, buried within the mid-aft section of the fuselage. was aspirated through two intake slits found along either side of the cockpit. The pilot was given a commanding view of the action ahead, his vision largely unobstructed forwards and to the sides. A tricycle undercarriage was fitted for ground running and the long nose leg gave the aircraft a pronounced "nose-up" appearance when at rest. The wing mainplanes held a hinged feature which allowed for folding aboard space-strapped American carriers. Standard, fixed armament comprised 4 x 20mm Colt Mk 12 cannons (some versions removed a pair as a weight-saving measure).
Demons were equipped with an ever-progressing line of AN/APG-51 radar which allowed for its all-weather interception capability.
The F3H series was a USN frontline fighter from 1956 until 1962 and provided a useful all-weather, missile-carrying counter to enemy aircraft threatening the American carrier force. By this time, the line was technologically outmoded and ultimately succeeded by the stellar Mach 2-capable McDonnell F-4 "Phantom II" series which could undertake all manner of mission types including ground attack and interception while carrying a hefty war load. The Phantom II, and the McDonnell F-101 "Voodoo", were influenced some by the F3H Demon design - hence some similarities in appearance between the three aircraft. The Phantom II was, indeed, born from an F3H endeavor known as the "Super Demon".
The 1962 restructuring by the USAF led to a redesignation of all in-service Demon marks (see variants listing). The F3H was retired in 1964.
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