McDonnell Aircraft Corporation was one of America's most innovative aerospace companies, founded by James Smith McDonnell in St. Louis, Missouri in 1939. From its earliest experimental piston-engine fighters through to the legendary F-4 Phantom II, McDonnell built a reputation for bold engineering, cutting-edge propulsion research, and a willingness to explore unconventional configurations. In 1967, the company merged with Douglas Aircraft Company to form McDonnell Douglas Corporation.
Aircraft Involved
Fighters & Interceptors
McDonnell XP-67 (1944) — A single prototype twin piston-engine interceptor fighter featuring a distinctive blended fuselage-nacelle design. An ambitious attempt at a high-altitude interceptor, the XP-67 was plagued by engine problems and never entered production.
McDonnell FH Phantom (1945) — 62 built. The first jet-powered aircraft to operate from a U.S. aircraft carrier, the FH Phantom was a twin jet engine fighter and a landmark in American naval aviation history. It gave McDonnell its enduring association with the name "Phantom."
McDonnell F2H Banshee (1947) — 895 built. A twin jet engine fighter that succeeded the FH Phantom in U.S. Navy service. The Banshee was a capable and reliable carrier fighter that served through the Korean War era.
McDonnell XF-85 Goblin (1948) — 2 prototypes. A single jet engine parasite fighter designed to be carried and launched from the bomb bay of a Convair B-36 strategic bomber. A fascinating Cold War concept that proved impractical in testing.
McDonnell XF-88 Voodoo (1948) — 2 prototypes. A twin jet engine long-range penetration fighter that lost the USAF competition but directly led to the F-101 Voodoo.
McDonnell F3H Demon (1951) — 519 built. A single jet engine carrier-based fighter that replaced the Banshee in U.S. Navy service. The Demon introduced all-weather capability and missile armament to McDonnell's fighter line.
McDonnell F-101 Voodoo (1954) — 807 built. A twin jet engine supersonic fighter that served in interceptor, tactical strike, and reconnaissance roles with the USAF and RCAF. The Voodoo was the direct evolution of the XF-88 concept.
McDonnell F-4 Phantom II (1958) — 5,195 built. The crowning achievement of McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. The twin jet engine F-4 Phantom II became one of the most produced supersonic military aircraft in history, serving with the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, as well as numerous allied nations. It was flown by both the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds and saw extensive combat in Vietnam. The Phantom II defined an era of American air power.
Rotorcraft & Experimental Aircraft
McDonnell XHJH-1 Whirlaway (1946) — 1 prototype. A twin piston engine helicopter representing McDonnell's early exploration of rotary-wing aviation.
McDonnell XH-20 Little Henry (1947) — 2 prototypes. A pioneering experimental light helicopter powered by twin ramjet engines mounted at the rotor blade tips — an unconventional and innovative approach to rotorcraft propulsion.
McDonnell XV-1 (1954) — 2 built. An experimental compound gyroplane powered by a single piston engine, designed to explore high-speed rotorcraft flight by offloading rotor lift at speed. The XV-1 set a world helicopter speed record in 1956.
McDonnell 120 (1957) — 2 built. An experimental light helicopter using three ramjet engines, continuing McDonnell's research into tip-jet rotor propulsion concepts.
Business Aviation
McDonnell 119 (1959) — 1 prototype. A four-engine business jet prototype that represented McDonnell's attempt to enter the emerging executive jet market. The program did not proceed to production.
Legacy
McDonnell Aircraft Corporation's 28-year independent history produced an extraordinary range of aircraft — from parasite fighters and ramjet helicopters to the most iconic carrier fighter of the Cold War era. James McDonnell's philosophy of pursuing bold, unconventional engineering solutions gave the company a distinctive character that set it apart from its contemporaries. When McDonnell merged with Douglas in 1967, it brought that spirit of innovation to one of the largest aerospace companies in the world.
The F-4 Phantom II alone — with over 5,000 examples built and service with more than a dozen nations — stands as one of the defining aircraft of the 20th century and the ultimate expression of McDonnell Aircraft Corporation's engineering ambition.