Northrop F-89 Scorpion

The Northrop F-89 Scorpion was an all-weather, twin-engined interceptor aircraft designed and produced by Northrop Corporation. Internally designated the N-24, it was first designed with a slim fuselage, two Allison J35 turbojets buried in the lower fuselage behind their intakes, and a swept wing. The XF-89, with 4,000 lbf J35-A-9 engines, proved underpowered, and a fatal accident on 22 February 1950 prompted alterations including afterburning Allison J33-A-21 engines, AN/APG-33 radar and the Hughes E-1 fire-control system. Production was disrupted by problems with early models, led to major structural modifications, and resumed in full during 1953. About 170 F-89Ds, most built before production resumed, were retrofitted to the later standard.