This Day in McDonnell Voodoo History: July 25

In 1949, McDonnell began detail design work for a turboprop research airplane to be converted from the first XF-88 prototype as the Model 36J.  Intended to mount a 2,500-hp Allison XT38 turboprop engine and modified J34-WE-15 engines with afterburners, conversion work would soon experience a lengthy delay with the crash of the second prototype and the need to substitute the aircraft for USAF evaluation during the penetration fighter “fly-off.”

Photo: Allison XT38-A-5 turboprop engine that was mounted into the modified nose compartment of the first XF-88 prototype.


Photo Credit: NASA