F3H-2

F3H-2

F9F-8

F8U-2

360://https://wiki.warthunder.com/images/c/c4/Cockpit_f3h-2.jpg

F3H-2

F9F-8

F8U-2

USA

VI Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
9.3	9.0	9.3

Class:

Fighter

Jet fighter

Naval aircraft

Research:160 000

Purchase:450 000

Show in game

Description

The F3H-2 Demon is a rank VI American jet fighter with a battle rating of 9.3 (AB/SB) and 9.0 (RB). It was introduced in Update "Starfighters".

General info

Flight performance

The F3H is quite possibly the most fun and enjoyable jet to play of the American naval jets, once fully upgraded. On first glance the jet may look big and slow and it may be in some situations, but the turning abilities and acceleration are a completely new breath of fresh air for American naval jets.

You are no longer confined to the slow acceleration, slower turns of the F9F series, but are almost if not completely capable of going tip of the spear with full afterburner and charging the enemy, that is with a smart head on charge with your subsonic jet. Note that the leading edge slats can be controlled manually by engaged combat flaps (pressing F by default for flaps) which take your already amazing elevator control to a next level even at lower speeds!

When flying this jet, you can really stretch your legs with different tactics: you have great ordnance for Ground battles, you have great air to air performance. The mix of the two major combat scenarios make this jet a truly universal naval jet with just about any play style for anyone available in someway.

Important things to remember:

• While you may be able to turn fight a MiG for a short period of time, it's important to employ vertical and hi yo-yo manoeuvres as at low speed your aircraft will feel very brick-like. This can be semi-negated by using the combat flaps to extend your leading edge slats.
• The aircraft is very fuel-hungry when using afterburner which drastically increases flight acceleration and overall performance so it is recommended to bring around 20-30 minutes of fuel.
• On take-off there is a tail strike guard, but the elevator may tap the ground if you're not using a full "stick back" takeoff.

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 0 m - sea level)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	1,149	1,141	15240	29.6	30.6	58.0	53.5	750
Upgraded	1,177	1,163		26.6	28.0	87.5	72.0

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	X

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
1360	463	833	833	370	~11	~5

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 810	< 750	< 700	N/A

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Basic Mass			Wing loading (full fuel)
Allison J71-A-2		1	9,965 kg			299 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)					Max Takeoff Weight
Weight (each)	Type		16m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	45m fuel	53m fuel
2,180 kg	Afterburning axial-flow turbojet		11,305 kg	11,640 kg	12,478 kg	13,735 kg	14,405 kg	18,000 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
Condition	100%	WEP	16m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	45m fuel	53m fuel	MTOW
Stationary	4,590 kgf	6,334 kgf	0.56	0.54	0.51	0.46	0.44	0.35
Optimal	4,774 kgf (1,200 km/h)	8,037 kgf (1,200 km/h)	0.71	0.69	0.64	0.59	0.56	0.45

Survivability and armour

• No armour protection
• Large aircraft compared to Sabres and MiGs
• The engine is quite large resulting in grazing bullets probably hitting your engine
• The wings are more than capable of taking high G forces so there is no need to worry about high speed turns
• Fuel tanks are located throughout the belly and shoulders of the wings so there is the chance of fires being started

Armaments

Offensive armament

The F3H-2 is armed with:

• 4 x 20 mm Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 cannons, chin-mounted (190 rpg = 760 total)

Suspended armament

The F3H-2 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 6 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (1,500 lb total)
• 6 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (3,000 lb total)
• 6 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (1,500 lb total)
• 4 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (2,000 lb total)
• 2 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (2,000 lb total)
• 2 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs + 6 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (3,500 lb total)
• 2 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs (4,000 lb total)
• 1 x 3,000 lb M118 bomb (3,000 lb total)
• 56 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
• 114 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
• 4 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
• 2 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles (2,000 lb total)
• 1 x 3,000 lb M118 bomb + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles (3,000 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 42 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
• 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 76 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets

Usage in battles

In Air Realistic battles, it is recommended to start a match with a fuel load of 20 minutes, gaining speed of around 950 km/h, and putting the plane at a 15 to 20 degree climb. The amount of climb is entirely dependent on the pilots play style, as more aggressive players will enjoy a lower altitude. Since the F3H has a high maneuverability, it is recommended to go after lower-ranked vehicles, like the F-86A, MiG-15, and the Hunter F.1. If the F3H gets into a uncomfortable situation against these planes, it can simply dive away to avoid getting caught. Getting used to the four 20 mm cannons will also assist, as their damage is high, allowing for swift attacks in intercepting maneuvers. The most dangerous enemies of the F3H are the G.91 YS, and Lightning F.6 pilots, as they pick it off quite easily.

Modules

Tier	Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
I	Compressor	Fuselage repair	Offensive 20 mm		Mk81	AN-M57A1 BOX
II	New boosters	Airframe		AERO 6A	Mk82	AN-M64A1 BOX
III	Wings repair	G-suit	New 20 mm cannons	AERO 7D	Mk83	Mk84
IV	Engine	Cover		AIM-9B		Mk118

Pros and cons

Pros:

• One of the faster planes compared to its peers
• Can carry 4 AIM-9B missiles (useful for low speed chases or stall outs)
• Wide variety of payload options
• Very good maneuverability
• Good cockpit visibility with well placed in cockpit radar position

Cons:

• Loses much of its speed when maneuvering
• Missiles may be a disappointment if not used correctly

History

The McDonnell F3H Demon was the product of a new swept-wing naval fighter to compete with the F4D Skyray. The aircraft was McDonell's first swept-wing fighter, and also one of the first American fighters to be armed with air-to-air missiles. Originally intended to fight MiG-15s over the Korean peninsula, the aircraft entered service too late to participate in that conflict but went on to become an important carrier-based fighter aircraft, serving until 1964. Along with the F11F Tiger and F8U Crusader, the aircraft was eventually replaced by the F-4 Phantom II - itself being an enlarged evolution of the Demon.

Design and development

The first F3H-1N aircraft in 1954.

The F3H Demon was a new swept-wing aircraft design built around the Westinghouse J40 engine, competing with the F4D Skyray. At that time, the Navy desperately needed a naval fighter to engage the swept-wing MiG-15s commonly encountered over the skies of Korea. As a result, the F3H-1N aircraft were ordered even before the test flight of the XF3H prototype. However, by that time, the Korean war was drawing to a close, meaning the aircraft would not see combat in the Korean theatre.

The aircraft was centred around the Westinghouse J40, an ambitious engine design intended to produce 50 kN of thrust. However, the engine was a failure, only producing half its required thrust. Even worse, the engine was unreliable and resulted in loss of eleven aircraft and four pilots out of the 35 F3H-1N aircraft. As a result the remaining 24 F3H-1N aircraft were permanently grounded, leading to a major fiasco. The J40 engine was cancelled in late 1955.

At that point, the aircraft required a new engine. It was subsequently redesigned around the Allison J71, a more powerful engine producing 64 kN of thrust with afterburner. This engine dramatically improved the aircraft's flying characteristics, though problems were still encountered with engine reliability and ejection seats. At this point, the redesigned aircraft became the F3H-2.

Operational history

Despite the remaining issues with the aircraft's airframe, the Navy ordered a total of 239 F3H-2 Demons. These aircraft began entering service in March 1956, and additional Demons were delivered until the end of production in late 1959. By that point, a total of 519 aircraft of various variants had been built. The aircraft gained praise from pilots for being a reliable aircraft, and relatively easy to take-off and land from carrier decks. The aircraft was also the first naval fighter to be fitted with a radar, giving it some night-fighter capabilities. The aircraft was capable of carrying the AIM-9B Sidewinder, and later F3H-2M variants introduced the first AIM-7 Sparrows.

Despite the aircraft's strong capabilities, it was still limited by fundamental issues with the aircraft's performance. The J71, though powerful, did not give the aircraft sufficient performance. As a result, the plane was limited to subsonic speeds, and had inferior acceleration to many of its Air Force counterparts. Despite that, the aircraft still served as the primary carrier-based fighter on American aircraft carriers, complemented by the F11F and F8U daylight dogfighters. During service, the aircraft was frequently nicknamed "The Chair" due to its excellent cockpit visibility, as well as "Lead sled" due to its lacking engine power. Pilots of the F3H were called "Demon Drivers" while ground personnel were nicknamed "Demon Doctors".

The F3H Demon started to get replaced by the larger and faster F4H (F-4) Phantom II beginning from 1961. The Phantom itself began as an advanced development of the Demon, known as the "Super Demon". The larger and faster Phantom went on to enjoy a long and distinguished service life serving with the air forces of many countries. The last Demon squadron, VF-161 "Chargers", flew their Demons until late 1964 when they traded them for the newer Phantom. Though the aircraft saw some action over the skies of the South China Sea, the aircraft never engaged in actual combat. Three F3H airframes remain intact today, held at various museums.

Media

The Shooting Range #208 - Metal Beasts section at 00:52 discusses the F3H-2 Demon.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• [Devblog] F3H-2 Demon: Linking Eras

McDonnell Aircraft Corporation
Jet Fighters	F2H-2 · F3H-2
	F-4C Phantom II · F-4E Phantom II · F-4J Phantom II · F-4S Phantom II
	F-15A · F-15C MSIP II · F-15E
Strike Aircraft	AV-8B Plus · AV-8B (NA)
Helicopters	AH-6M
Export/Licensed
Aircraft	◄F-4F Early · ◄F-4F · ◄F-4F KWS LV · Phantom FG.1 · Phantom FGR.2 · F-4J(UK) Phantom II · F-4EJ Phantom II · F-4EJ ADTW · Kurnass · Kurnass 2000
	F-15J · F-15J(M) · Baz · Baz Meshupar · F-15I Ra’am
	▄AV-8B Plus
Helicopters	Lahatut
	The McDonnell Aircraft Corporation merged with Douglas Aircraft Company in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas Corporation. Later it was merged with The Boeing Company in 1997.
See Also	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries