Lonnie Ortega Aviation Art

Print Size 8½" x 11" ~ Unlimited print edition

The Northrop F-89 Scorpion is an all-weather, twin-engined interceptor aircraft designed and produced by the American aircraft manufacturer Northrop Corporation. It was the first jet-powered aircraft designed as an interceptor to enter service, the first combat aircraft armed with air-to-air nuclear weapons, and among the first U.S. fighters to carry guided missiles. The name Scorpion came from the aircraft's elevated tail unit and high-mounted horizontal stabilizer, which kept it clear of the engine exhaust.

The Scorpion was designed by Northrop to a specification issued by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during August 1945. Internally designated the N-24, it was originally designed with a relatively slim fuselage, buried Allison J35 turbojet engines, and a swept-wing configuration. The design was changed to a relatively thin straight wing that improved low-speed performance at the cost of top speed. In March 1946, the USAAF selected the N-24 for development, approving an initial contract for two aircraft, designated XP-89, on 13 June 1946.

On 16 August 1948, the prototype performed its maiden flight from Muroc Army Air Field. The XP-89 was found to be faster and more promising than the rival Curtiss-Wright XP-87 Blackhawk, which was consequently canceled. Various alterations and improvements were made after a fatal accident on 22 February 1950; officials had already specified the adoption of more powerful afterburner-equipped Allison J33-A-21 turbojet engines, AN/APG-33 radar, and the Hughes E-1 fire-control system. In September 1950, the Scorpion entered service with the United States Air Force (USAF), its sole operator.

Only 18 F-89As were completed; the variant was superseded in June 1951 by the F-89B configuration, which had better avionics and other improvements. It was soon followed by the F-89C, which had engine upgrades. In 1954, the definitive F-89D was introduced, which had a new Hughes E-6 fire control system with AN/APG-40 radar and an AN/APA-84 computer in place of the cannon armament, being instead armed with 2.75-inch (70 mm) "Mighty Mouse" FFAR rocket pods. The final variant to enter service was the F-89J, which was typically armed with the unguided AIR-2 Genie nuclear air-to-air rocket. They served with the Air Defense Command—later, the Aerospace Defense Command (ADC)—through 1959, and with the Air National Guard, into the late 1960s. The last Scorpions were withdrawn from use in 1969.