Convair 8 / F-102 Delta Dagger
The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger resulted from a 1950 USAF design competition for an integral all-weather interceptor weapon system. Combining the Hughes Falcon air-to-air missile, the delta wing platform first flown on the XF-92A, and the 4944kg thrust Pratt & Whitney J57-P-11 turbojet, the first of 10 YF-102s (52-7994/7995 and 53-1779/1786) flew at Edwards AFB, California, on 24 October 1953, piloted by Dick Johnson. The prototype was lost in a mishap nine days later.
![]() YF-102 (nearest), F-102 (rear)
The YF-102 was not a success, proving unable to maintan supersonic speeds in level flight. The fuselage was completely redesigned into a ‘coke bottle’ shape using the area rule concept, and a more powerful engine installed. The indented fuselage or 'area rule' configuration was developed by NACA's Richard Whitcomb was introduced in the much-altered YF-102A, which was assembled in 117 days.
![]() YF-102
The F-102A eventually served with 32 ADC and 21 States ANG squadrons. Air Defense Command machines went through several modernisation programmes before being relegated to the ANG, the internal provision for rockets being eventually omitted. A few F-102As went to Greece (20 F-102A and 4 TF-102A) and Turkey (40 F-102A and 9 TF-102A).
![]() 1964 on arrival at Saigon, Vietnam
A few camouflaged F-102As were deployed to South East Asia in 1964-6, and to Korea in 1968 but, while they flew a few missions over North Vietnam, they are not thought to have actually been in combat. No air-to-air kills were achieved but one F-102A was shot down by a MiG-21 on 5 February 1968.
![]() F-102A
Convair F-102A Delta Dagger
Engines: 1 x Pratt & Whitney J57-P-23 turbojet, 17,200 lb (5307/7802kp) thrust.
Length: 68 ft 4.5 in (20.84m)
Wingspan: 38 ft 1.5 in (11.62m)
Wing area: 695.031 sqft / 64.57 sq.m
Wing loading: 45.31 lb/sq.ft / 221.0 kg/sq.m
Height: 21 ft 2.5 in (6.46m)
Empty Weight: 19,026lbs (8,630kg)
Maximum Take-Off Weight: 31,500lbs (14,288kg)
Maximum Speed: 825mph (1,328kmh; 717kts) at 36,000 ft
Cruising speed: 469 kts / 869 km/h
Cruising altitude: 34449 ft / 10500 m
Maximum Range: 1,350miles (2,173km)
Rate-of-Climb: 17,400ft/min (5,304m/min)
Service Ceiling: 54,003ft (16,460m) Armament: 6 x AIM-4A / AIM-4C Falcon Air-to-Air Missiles 2 x 2.75" Rocket Pods (24-shot, unguided rockets) Nuclear Capable munitions as needed. Accommodation: 1 Hardpoints: 6 ![]() |