In 1945, once the war was over, many German swept-wing projects were handed over to American aviation industries. Some studies were reached the design team which designed P-80 in Lockheed (the team later called Skunk Works). In 1946, the USAAF issued requirement for the new generation penetrating fighter which could escort long-range bomber and has ground attack capability. Lockheed submitted their swept-wing design and was won an order for two prototypes, designated XP-90, soon was changed to XF-90 that in competition with McDonnell XF-88 and the North American YF-93. The XF-90 was looked like the enlarged P-80. First flight was on June 1949. The engines were not equipped with afterburners and the performance was disappointing. Since its fuselage could not accommodated the more powerful engines, no any further improvement was made to meet the requirement. In 1950, with the outbreak of the Korean war, the USAF stopped development of the penetrating fighter project.

Type:

Purpose:

Span:

Length:

Height:

Engine:

Max.speed:

Crew:

Armament:

Long range fighter

To meet escort fighter requirement by USAAF

40ft.

56ft.2in.

15ft.9in.

2x Westinghouse J34-WE-11 turbojet

668 mph

1

6x 20mm cannon (planned)

The Lockheed XF-90 is suitable to group with the following collection series.

Post war U.S.A.F. fighter 1946 ~ 1962

Republic F-84 Thunderjet

McDonnell XF-85 Goblin

North American F-86 Sabre

Curtiss XF-87 Blackhawk

McDonnell XF-88 Voodoo

Northrop F-89 Scorpion

Lockheed XF-90

Republic XF-91 Thunderceptor

Convair XF-92A

North American YF-93A (F-86C)

Lockheed F-94A Starfire

North American YF-95A (F-86D)

Republic YF-96A (F-84F) Thunderflash

Lockheed YF-97A (F-94C)

Hughes XF-98 Falcon (AIM-4)

Lockheed XF-99 Bomarc

North American F-100A Super Sabre

McDonnell F-101A Voodoo

Convair F-102 Delta Dagger

Republic XF-103 Thunderwarrior

Lockheed F-104A Starfighter

Republic F-105B Thunderchief

Republic XF-106 (XF-84H) / Convair F-106 Delta Dart

North American YF-107A Ultra Sabre

North American XF-108 Rapier

Bell XF-109

McDonnell F-110A (F-4C) Spectre

General Dynamics F-111A

U.S.A.F. Penetration fighter competition in 1946

McDonnell XF-88 Voodoo

Lockheed XF-90

North American YF-93A (F-86C)

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Lockheed Kelly Johnson's design family

Lockheed P-38 Lightning

Lockheed L-133

Lockheed P-80 (F-80) Shooting star

Lockheed X-7

Lockheed T-33

Lockheed XF-90

Lockheed F-94 Starfire

Lockheed YF-97 (F-94C)

Lockheed F-104 Star Fighter

Lockheed YF-12A (SR-71) Blackbird

Lockheed U-2

Lockheed C-140 Jetstar

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The Korean War operation 1950 ~ 1953

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Post war U.S. experimental aircraft