Warplanes of the USA: Convair F-102 Delta Dagger

Convair F-102 Delta Dagger

(USAF Photo)

Convair F-102A-75-CO Delta Dagger (Serial No. 56-1281), 31st Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Alaska, 1965.

The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was aninterceptor aircraft designed and produced by the American aircraftmanufacturer Convair. A member of the Century Series, the F-102 was the firstoperational supersonic interceptor and delta-wing fighter operated by theUnited States Air Force (USAF).

The F-102 was designed in response to a requirement, known as the 1954 UltimateInterceptor, produced by USAF officials during the late 1940s. Its main purposewas to be the backbone of American air defences and to intercept approachingSoviet strategic bomber fleets (primarily the Tupolev Tu-95) during the ColdWar. The aircraft was designed alongside a sophisticated fire-control system(FCS); however, a simplified unit had to be adopted due to development difficulties.It used an internal weapons bay to carry both guided missiles and rockets. On23 October 1953, the prototype YF-102 performed its maiden flight; however, itwas destroyed in an accident only nine days later. The second prototype allowedflight testing to resume three months later, but results were disappointing: asoriginally designed, the aircraft could not achieve Mach 1 supersonic flight.

To improve its performance prior to quantity production commencing, the F-102was redesigned, its fuselage was reshaped in accordance with the area rulewhile a thinner and wider wing was also adopted. Flight testing demonstratedsufficient performance improvements for the USAF to be persuaded to permit itsproduction; a new production contract was signed during March 1954. Followingits entry to USAF service in 1956, the F-102 promptly replaced various subsonicfighter types, such as the Northrop F-89 Scorpion, in the interceptor role. TheF-102C tactical attack model, equipped with several improvements, including amore powerful engine and Gatling gun, was proposed but not ultimately pursued.A total of 1,000 F-102s were built, both for the USAF and a handful of exportcustomers, including the Hellenic Air Force and the Turkish Air Force.

By the 1960s, USAF F-102s had participated in a limited capacity in the VietnamWar as a bomber escort and even in the ground-attack role. The aircraft wassupplemented by McDonnell F-101 Voodoos and, later on, by McDonnell Douglas F-4Phantom IIs. Over time, many F-102s were retrofitted with infraredsearch/tracking systems, radar warning receivers, transponders, backupartificial horizons, and modified fire-control systems. Throughout themid-to-late 1960s, many USAF F-102s were transferred from the active duty AirForce to the Air National Guard, and, with the exception of those examplesconverted to unmanned QF-102 Full Scale Aerial Target (FSAT) drones, the typewas totally retired from operational service in 1976. Its principal successorin the interceptor role was the Mach 2-capable Convair F-106 Delta Dart, whichwas an extensive redesign of the F-102. (Wikipedia)

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Convair F-102A-55-CO Delta Dagger (Serial No. 56-1026), 111th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Texas Air National Guard, 1959.

(USAF Photo)

Two USAF Convair F-102A Delta Dagger interceptors of the 509th Fighter Interceptor Squadron over Vietnam in November 1966. Originally deployed to escort bombers over North Vietnam and defend South Vietnamese airspace against possible North Vietnamese bombers, they provided close air support for allied ground forces in South Vietnam. 14 F-102s would be lost during the war, 1 in air to air combat.

(USAF Photo)

Convair F-102A Delta Dagger (Serial No. 54-1385), 190th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 124th Fighter Interceptor Wing, Idaho Air National Guard, 1964.

(USAF Photo)

Convair F-102A-60-CO Delta Dagger (Serial No. 56-1048), 157th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, South Carolina Air National Guard, 1972.

(North Dakota Public Affairs Photo)

A North Dakota Air National Guard 178th Fighter Squadron F-102 Delta Dagger aircraft flies over North Dakota. The 178th FS flew the F-102 from 1966 through 1969.

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(SDA&SM Photo)

Convair F-102A Delta Dagger (Serial No. 54-0185) 190th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 124th Fighter Interceptor Wing, Idaho Air National Guard, Mountain Home AFB, May 1969.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Convair F-102A-75-CO Delta Dagger (Serial No. 56-1361), 146th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Pennsylvania Air National Guard, 1967.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Convair F-102A-90-CO Delta Dagger (Serial No. 57-0847), 46th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Pennsylvania Air National Guard, 1969.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Convair F-102A-75-CO Delta Dagger (Serial No. 56-1314), 122nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Louisiana Air National Guard, 1967.

(USAF Photo)

Convair F-102A-75-CO Delta Dagger fighters (56-1390, 561418) of the 159th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 125th Fighter Interceptor Wing, Florida Air National Guard, ca 1960s.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Convair F-102A-90-CO Delta Dagger (Serial No. 57-0839), 182d Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Texas Air National Guard, 1967.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Convair F-102A-65-CO Delta Dagger (Serial No. 56-1188), 111th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Texas Air National Guard, 1970.

(USAF Photo)

Convair F-102A-90-CO Delta Dagger (Serial No. 57-775), 196th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, California Air National Guard, 1969.

(USAF Photo)

Convair F-102 Delta Dagger (Serial No. 56-0981), 52nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Arizona Air National Guard, 1964.

(RuthAS Photo)

Convair F-102A Delta Dagger (Serial No. 0-60989) of the Connecticut ANG in 1971.

(USAF Photo)

Convair F-102A-75-CO Delta Dagger (Serial No. 56-1279), Wisconsin Air National Guard 176th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, taking off from Truax Field, Wisconsin, 1970.

(USAF Photo)

Convair F-102 Delta Daggers, 199th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Hawaii Air National Guard, 1962.

(USAF Photo)

Convair TF-102A-30-CO Delta Dagger (Serial No. 55-4041), 99th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Hawaii Air National Guard, Hickam AFB, 1964.

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Convair F-102 Delta Dagger fighterspreserved in the USA

YF-102A

(Author Photos)
53-1787 – Air Park at Jackson Barracks Military Museum, New Orleans, Louisiana.
53-1788 – Carolinas Aviation Museum, Charlotte, North Carolina.

TF-102A

(Martin McGuire Photo)
54-1351 – Selfridge Military Air Museum, Selfridge ANGB, Mount Clemens,Michigan.
54-1353 – Century Circle at Edwards Air Force Base, near Rosamond, California.
54-1366 – Pima Air and Space Museum adjacent to Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona.

(US GOV-PD Photo)

Convair TF-102A-38-CO Delta Dagger (Serial No. 56-2317).

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(Chris Light Photos)
56-2317 – Grissom Air Museum, Grissom Air Reserve Base (former Grissom AFB), Peru, Indiana.
56-2337 – Fort Worth Aviation Museum, Fort Worth, Texas.
56-2346 – Pennsylvania National Guard Military Museum, Pennsylvania NationalGuard Headquarters, Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. (Aircraft was assignedto the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, at the 112th Fighter Interceptor Group,Pittsburgh International Airport, Coraopolis, Pennsylvania from 1960 to 1974and is on loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force).

(hummerstation Photo)
56-2352 – Southern Museum of Flight, Birmingham, Alabama.
56-2353 – Wisconsin National Guard Memorial Library and Museum, Volk Field,Camp Douglas, Wisconsin.
56-2364 – Castle Air Museum, Atwater, California.

F-102A
53-1801 – Joe Foss Field Air National Guard Station (Sioux Falls RegionalAirport) - 114th Fighter Wing, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
53-1804 – Fresno Air National Guard Base - 144th Fighter Wing, Fresno,California.
53-1816 – Boise Idaho Military History Museum, Boise, Idaho.

(Aaron Headly Photo)
54-1405 – Strategic Air and Space Museum, Ashland, Nebraska.

(Author Photos)
54-1373 – Hickam AFB, Honolulu, Hawaii.

(USAF Photo)

Convair F-102 Delta Dagger (Serial No. 54-1372), 199th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Hawaii Air National Guard, 1964.

(Author Photo)

(Daniel Ramirez Photo)

(Tony Hisgett Photos)

55-3366 – Pacific Aviation Museum, Ford Island, Honolulu, Hawaii.

(Clemens Vasters Photo)
56-0984 – Wings Over the Rockies Museum, (former Lowry AFB) Denver, Colorado.
56-0985 – McEntire Air National Guard Base, South Carolina.

(Aaron Headly Photo)
56-0986 – MAPS Air Museum, Akron-Canton Regional Airport, Ohio.

(Robert Dilley Photos)

56-1017 – South Dakota Air and Space Museum, Ellsworth AFB, Rapid City, South Dakota.

(kb7ywl Photo)

(Alan Wilson Photo)

Convair F-102A Delta Dagger (Serial No. 56-1247), c/n 8-10-464.

56-1247 - Fairfield, Jimmy Doolittle Air & Space Museum (Travis Air Museum), California.

(articseahorse Photo)

(Author Photos)

Convair F-102A Delta Dagger (Serial No. 56-1274).
56–1053, (painted as 56–1274), – Alaska Heritage Park, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.
56-1105 – Lions Park in Great Falls, Montana.

(Author Photo)

(KJKlock Photo)
56-1109 – Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

(Alan Wilson Photos)

(Tomás Del Coro Photo)
56-1114 – March Field Air Museum, March ARB (former March AFB), Riverside, California.

(Sgt. David Andersen, USAF Photo)
56-1115 – Fairchild AFB, Spokane, Washington.

(Hector Vazquez Photo)

56-1134 – Arizona ANGB, Tucson, Arizona.

(kbyywl Photo)

(Alan Wilson Photo)
56-1140 – Aerospace Museum of California, former McClellan AFB, Sacramento, California. Convair F-102A-65-CO Delta Dagger (Serial No. 56-1140), painted as (Serial No. 55-5431), FC-431, 431st Fighter Interceptor Squadron.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

(Robert Dilley Photo)
56-1151 – Museum of Aviation, Robins AFB, Warner Robins, Georgia.
56-1219 – Empire State Aerosciences Museum, Schenectady County Airport, NewYork.
56-1252 – Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base, Houston, Texas. Future Presidentof the United States George W. Bush flew this model with the 147th FighterInterceptor Group, 111th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of the Texas Air NationalGuard in the early 1970s. It is mounted on a pole that exits the burner. Hisname is on the canopy.
56-1264 – Connecticut ANGB - 103rd FW, Windsor Locks, Connecticut.
56-1268 – San Diego Air and Space Museum, Gillespie Field, El Cajon,California.
56-1273 – Wisconsin National Guard Memorial Library and Museum, Volk Field,Camp Douglas, Wisconsin.

(Piergiuliano Ches Photos)
56-1282 – Transportation and Industry Museum of Alaska, Wasilla, Alaska.
56–1325, (painted as 56–1476), – Minnesota Air National Guard Base,Minneapolis, Minnesota.

(Greg Goebel Photo)

(Valder137 Photos)
56-1368 – Evergreen Aviation Museum, McMinnville, Oregon.
56-1393 – Pima Air and Space Museum adjacent to Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

(Nehrams2020 Photo)
56-1413 – Castle Air Museum (former Castle AFB), Atwater, California.
56-1415 – Pittsburgh IAP Air Reserve Station (located at Pittsburgh International Airport), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Refurbished in 2010.

(NMUSAF Photos)

(Valder137 Photo)

(Clemens Vasters Photos)

(Martin McGuire Photo)

Convair F-102A Delta Dagger (Serial No. 56-1416), C/N 8-10-363.  The F-102A on display in the NMUSAF served the 57th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron in Iceland . On various occasions, it encountered Soviet aircraft flying reconnaissance missions over the arctic.  It was flown to the museum in 1971.

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(NMUSAF Photos)

(Aaron Headly Photo)
56-1416 – National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio.
56-1427 – Travis AFB Heritage Center, Travis AFB, Fairfield, California.
56–1502, (painted as 55–3432), - North Dakota ANGB - 119TH FG, Fargo, North Dakota.
56-1505 – Minot AFB, Minot, North Dakota.

(Articseahorse Photo)
56-1515 – McChord Air Museum, McChord Air Force Base, Washington.
57-0788 – Long Island MacArthur Airport, Long Island, New York.
57–0817, (painted as 56–1357), - Florida Air National Guard Base - 125th Fighter Wing, Jacksonville, Florida.

(kb7ywl Photo)

57-0826 – Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls, Texas.[135]
57-0833 – Hill Aerospace Museum, Hill AFB, Utah.
57-0858 – Burlington Air National Guard Base, Burlington, Vermont.
57-0906 – Museum of Aviation, Warner Robins AFB, Macon, Georgia.

Convair F-102 Delta Daggers preservedoverseas

Canada

F-102A

(Mike from Vancouver Photo)

(Shannon K. Green Photo)

(Maxwell J. Toms Photos)
56-1266 – Stephenville, Newfoundland. This aircraft was formerly of the USAF 59th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Goose Bay (Happy Valley), Labrador.

Germany

F-102A
56-1125 – Flugausstellung Peter Junior.

Greece

F-102A
56-1106 – Tanagra Air Base.
56-1232 – Larissa Air Base.

TF-102A
56-2355 – Hellenic Air Force Museum, Tatoi.
55-4035 – Hellenic Air Force Museum, Tatoi.

Netherlands

F-102A
56-1052 – On display at the Nationaal Militair Museum, Soesterberg. FormerGreek aircraft, painted as 56-1032, 32nd FIS USAF.

Turkey

F-102A

(Darwinek Photo)
55-3386 – Istanbul Aviation Museum.

TF-102A
56-2368 – Istanbul Aviation Museum.

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