North American AJ-2 Savage N68667.zip 2024-07-16

N68667 was owned by AVCO-Lycoming and used in the testing of the F102 turbofan (intended for the Northrop A-9A) in 1971-72 and again in 1979-80 for the ALF-702, a civilian development of the F102 design. Originally BuNo 130418, this AJ-2 served the Navy between 1953 and 1959. After retirement from the Navy it was converted to a firebomber in 1960 as N101Z, and again retired in 1969. Around that time Lycoming was looking for a suitable warbird to convert to an engine testbed, but difficult requirements -- the aircraft had to be able to sustain M0.8 at 40,000', but also have a bomb-bay big enough to house the F102 -- essentially narrowed the field to just the jet-boosted Savage. After returning it to airworthiness in Tuscon, AZ, the Savage was flown to Lycoming's test field at Bridgeport, CT where a rack was added in the weapons bay able to raise and lower the F102 into the airstream. The center fuel tank was isolated from the other two tanks and adapted to carry AVTUR for the turbofan, the J33 using the same 100LL avgas as the R2800s (it should be noted that the R2800s were limited to 58" MAP while using 100LL). After the conclusion of the ALF702 program in 1980, N68667 was idled but retained by Lycoming in case they needed it for further test work. Finally in 1984 it was donated to the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL, where it resides to this day.