F-102 Delta Dagger

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F-102 Delta Dagger
Description
Role	Interceptor
Crew	1
Dimensions
Length	68.33 ft	20.83 m
Wingspan	38.08 ft	11.61 m
Height	21.17 ft	6.45 m
Wing area	661.5 sq ft	61.46 m²
Weights
Empty	19,050 lb	8,639 kg
Loaded	31,559 lb	14,314 kg
Powerplant
Engines	One Pratt & Whitney J57 with afterburner
Power	16,000 lb	71 kN
Performance
Maximum speed	810mph	1,304 km/h
Combat range	1,000 mi	1609 km
Ferry range
Service ceiling	55,000 ft	16,764 m
Rate of climb	12,992 ft/min	3,960 m/min
Armament
Rockets/Missiles	24 unguided 2.75 in (70 mm) rockets, six guided missiles

The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger fighter aircraft was part of the backbone of the United States air defenses in the late 1950s. Entering service in 1956, its main purpose was to intercept invading Soviet bomber fleets. However the project was troubled and by the early 1960s the plane was being replaced by F-101 Voodoos and F-4 Phantom IIs. Many of the F-102s were transferred to United States Air National Guard duty by the mid- to late-1960s, and the plane left service altogether in 1976. The plane was developed from the XF-92A delta-wing research aircraft of the late 1940s. The Air Force took a new approach in putting out the request for proposals for an operational interceptor, considering both the aircraft and armament together in what became known as a "weapon system". The RFP for "Project MX-1554" went out 18 June 1950, and in January 1951 six manufacturers responded, of which Convair, Lockheed, and Republic were chosen to proceed with design. But three projects were too expensive, and in November, only Convair was allowed to continue with its Model 8-80, an interim project using the less-powerful Westinghouse J40 turbojet in lieu of the Wright J67 which was still in development. The YF-102A made its first flight on 24 October 1953, but was lost in an accident nine days later. The second aircraft flew on 11 January 1954, confirming a dismal performance, far below the requirements. The problem was solved by the use of the area-ruled fuselage, and on 19 December the modified plane, Model 8-90, first flew, achieving a speed of Mach 1.22 and an altitude of 53,000 ft (16,155 m). The first operational service of the F-102A was with the 327th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at George Air Force Base, in April 1956, and eventually a total of 889 were built. 111 TF-102A two-seat side-by-side trainers were also produced. In 1973 six aircraft were converted to target drones simulating MiG-21s. The operational Delta Dagger still fell short of its goals, but the planned F-102B improvements eventually became a new plane, the F-106 Delta Dart.

Variants

• YF-102A - prototypes\n* F-102A - 889 built\n* TF-102A - two-seat trainer, 111 built\n* QF-102A - two piloted target drones\n* PQM-102A - (at least) four unpiloted target drones

{| cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style=";clear:both;margin:5px auto; border:3px solid;width:60%; font-size:small;" align="center"\n!bgcolor="#e0e0e0" colspan="2" align="center" style="border-bottom:3px solid"|Related content\n|-\n|Related Development\n|align="center"|\n|-\n|Similar Aircraft\n|align="center"|\n|-\n|Designation Series\n|align="center"|\nF-99 -\nF-100 -\nF-101 -\nF-102 -\nXF-103 -\nF-104 -\nF-105\n|-\n|Related Lists\n|align="center"|List of military aircraft of the United States - List of fighter aircraft\n|-\n|} Category:US fighter aircraft 1950-1959 \n