First Flight: The prototype of the F3H Demon made its maiden flight on August 7, 1951. 

Power Problems: Like many early jets, problems with the performance of the F3H stemmed from an inadequate engine. In the Demon’s case, it was the Westinghouse J40, which proved too underpowered to support the mission of the airplane as it shifted from short-range interceptor to an all-weather fighter with corresponding increase in weight.  A series of deadly accidents gave the Demon a bad reputation that it never escaped, the poor performance of the engine prompting a congressional investigation. The substitution of the Allison J71 with increased thrust, combined with modifications that increased the wing area, allowed the aircraft to enter full-scale production, with 516 Demons eventually delivered.

Large and Lethal: In an era of increasingly larger carrier-based aircraft, the Demon had a maximum takeoff weight of 39,000 pounds and was a stark departure from its F2H Banshee predecessor in appearance with its streamlined pointy nose and swept wings. It boasted radar and depending on the version of the airplane, the Demon could carry AIM-9 Sidewinders, AIM-7 Sparrows and bombs to bolster its 20mm internal cannon. 

Service: Squadron delivery of the Demon began in March 1956 with assignment to the VF-14 Tophatters, the type eventually equipping 23 Navy fighter squadrons. Two years later, a pair of F3H-equipped squadrons became the first to fire Sparrow missiles while deployed. Pilots found the aircraft to have a roomy cockpit with good visibility and liked its ruggedness, also emphasizing its stability in shipboard operations. However, even with the upgrade in its engine, it was always underpowered. 

The Museum’s Aircraft: Accepted by the Navy on May 24, 1957, the museum’s F3H-2M spent only a brief period of time in operational service flying with Fighter Squadrons (VF) 24, 64, and 121. With the former squadron, the aircraft was temporarily shore-based at Guam and operated from USS Lexington (CVA 16). It was stricken from the Navy aircraft inventory in 1962 with only 641 flight hours. Acquired by the museum from the Naval Air Systems Command in 1989, the aircraft was for many years displayed at NAS Cecil Field, FL, to which the museum placed the aircraft on loan. The F3H-2M Demon returned to NAS Pensacola in 1999 following the decision of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission to close NAS Cecil Field. Following restoration and repainting, it was placed on display in the markings of VF-193.