Manufacturer: Convair (Consolidated-Vultee)

Model: unknown

Name: Pellet

Type: Jet fighter

Date:

Status: Service test

Country: United States of America

Service: U.S. Army Air Force

Designation: F-81D

Here is a very rare 1948 photo depicting the Convair F-81D Pellet in flight. This was an all-jet derivative of the XP-81 prototype with redesigned wings and tail.

It was only used in limited numbers and for a limited time as new and much better types had appeared during its development.

The F-81D was reworked from a photo of the XP-81 in flight (see below right). As you can see, apart from the canopy and elevators, there isn't much that has stayed unchanged.

To stay in line with several Convair combat types of the time, which carried names of weapons (Dart, Dagger, Needle...) I elected to call it the Pellet.

• Old school jets, like the straight wing f-84 and the Ouragan and Lansen, always had a charm about them- and this fits perfectly. (RussC)