McDonnell F3H Demon
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
Warpaint Series No. 99
Author: Tony Buttler
Publisher: Warpaint Books
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 48
The rapid evolution of aviation technology in the 1950s resulted in quite a few interesting designs that had high potential aerodynamically. However, while airframe design moved forward quickly, engine design did not, and many of these advanced aircraft suffered from poor power performance. Such was the case of the McDonnell F3H Demon, which had its abilities severely hampered by the Westinghouse J40 engine. While later versions got some improvement with the Allison J71, the Demon never achieved its full potential and was replaced by another McDonnell design, the F-4 Phantom.
The newest Warpaint title takes a look at the McDonnell F3H Demon, from the original design competition in 1948 through the engine teething troubles to the final operational history. The Demon was the US Navy's first all-weather missile interceptor, and as such gave the service plenty of experience with the type during that transition period between the mid-1950s and mid-1960s. The technical description does a great job of highlighting that constantly changing period and how the Demon tried to keep up with the changes.
That decade was also a very colorful period for the US Navy, and this book documents that as well. While the very early Demons could be found in overall glossy sea blue, nearly all of them were finished in the standard gull gray and white scheme, with colorful squadron markings. These are illustrated both in color photographs and in side view illustrations. A set of scale drawing help round out the book.
This is a great book on the Demon, an aircraft that does not have much in the way of reference books. My thanks to Warpaint Books for the review copy.