Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-102>HA3106

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 Aircraft

In 1955 the 32nd Fighter Day Squadron was formed at Soesterberg the Netherlands. In 1956 their F-86’s were replaced by the North American F-100. On July 18, 1958 the unit was re-designated 32nd TFS. In January 1959 the 32nd received 18 F-102A Delta Daggers and were re-designated an FIS. On July 1, 1960 the 32nd FIS was assigned to the USAFE 86th Air Division at Ramstein Air Base in West Germany. The 32nd flew the Delta Dagger from 1959 to 1969 when they transitioned to the F4E Phantom II.

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