The McDonnell Douglas XF-88 Voodoo was a pioneering American jet fighter prototype that laid the foundation for one of the U.S. Air Force’s most important Cold War aircraft. Although it never entered mass production, the XF-88 directly influenced the development of the legendary McDonnell F-101 Voodoo and helped shape early U.S. supersonic fighter design. McDonnell Douglas XF-88 Voodoo Origins of the McDonnell XF-88 In 1946, the newly formed U.S. Air Force sought a long-range escort fighter capable of protecting strategic bombers on deep-penetration missions. At the time, the United States was transitioning from piston-powered aircraft to jet propulsion, and long-range jet fighters were still experimental. The Air Force selected McDonnell Aircraft Corporation’s design proposal, which became the XF-88. The aircraft first flew on October 20, 1948, marking a major milestone in early jet fighter development. Although originally designed as an escort fighter, evolving military doctri...