Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-102>HA3110

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

Convair F-102A Delta Dagger 56-1188 was first assigned to the 27th FIS before going to the 526th FIS and then the 525th FIS. The next move for 61188 was to the Vermont ANG 134th FIS before finding its way to the 111th FITS, 147th Reconnaissance Wing of the Texas ANG at Ellington Field. This is the same unit that former Texas Governor and 43rd President of the USA George W. Bush and served in and the same type of aircraft he flew. On August 14, 1974 F-102A 61188 was sent to MASDC for storage and in September 1979 it was converted to a QF-102A drone. On April 18, 1980 the aircraft was shot down over White Sands Test Range, NM.

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