Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-102>HA3103

General Background

The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was designed to be an interceptor aircraft and act as the core of USAF air defenses in the late 1950s. The F-102 first appeared in service in 1956 with the task to intercept Soviet bombers. The official name for the F-102 was “Delta Dagger” but the most common term used was “Deuce”. There was 889 F-102As manufactured when production ended in September 1958. The Deuce served in Vietnam on fighter patrols and bomber escort. 15 F-102s were lost while in Vietnam.

The Aircraft

The Hellenic AF (Elliniki Polimiki Aeroporia Greek AF) took delivery of 20 Convair F-102A Delta Daggers in June 1969 as well as 2 (some sources say 6) TF-102A for training. The aircraft arrived painted in the original U.S. gray scheme with the HAF roundels. In 1973 the aircraft received their two-tone green, tan and gray schemes. These aircraft equipped the 342nd All Weather Squadron at Tanagra. These aircraft had a rather short service length in Greece because the F-102’s were replaced by the Mirage F-1CG in 1977.

Specifications :

Role :	Supersonic All-Weather, delta wing interceptor
Crew:	1 pilot
Number Produced :	889
Dimensions
Length :	68 ft 4 in (20.83
Wingspan :	38 ft 1 in (11.61 m)
Height :	21 ft 2 in (6.45 m)
Weight
Empty :	19,350 lb 8,777 kg)
Loaded :	24,500 lb (11,100 kg)
Maximum Takeoff :	31,500 lb (14,300 kg)
Powerplant :	1 x Pratt & Whitney J57-P-25 afterburning turbojet
Thrust
Dry :	11,700 lbf (8,777 kg)
With Afterburner :	17,200 lbf (76.5 kN)
Fuel
Internal :	1.085 US gal (4,107 l)
External :	2 x 215 US gal (815 l) drop tanks
Armament:
Rockets :	24 x 2.75 in (70 mm) FFAR (Folding Fin Aerial Rocket) unguided rockets in missile bay doors
Missiles :	AIM-4 Falcon air-to-air
	AIM-26 Falcon with conventional or nuclear warhead
	Missiles were contained in 3 bays inside the aircraft belly
Avionics :	MG-10 fire control system designed by Hughes Aircraft Company