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.

On August 9, 1954 the 525th Fighter-Bomber-Squadron was re-designated 525th Fighter-
Interceptor-Squadron “The Fighting Bulldogs”. On February 12, 1957 the squadron was
moved to Bitburg Air Base in Germany where it stayed until 1992. In February 1959 the 525th
FIS received its first F-102 Delta Dagger “Deuce” and used them until 1969. F-102 56-1111 c/n
08-10-328 was sent to MASD (Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition) in 1975. Later it was
converted to a QF-102A and ended its career as a PQM-102 target.

Specifications Convair (F-102A) Delta Dagger “Deuce”
Role - Supersonic All-Weather, delta wing interceptor
Crew – 1 pilot
Number Produced – 889
Dimensions
Length – 68 ft 4 in   (20.83 m)
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

Performance
Maximum Speed – Mach 1.25 (825 mph, 1,304 km/h) @ 40,000 ft   (12,190 m)
Service Ceiling – 53,400 ft   (16,300 m)
ROC – 13,000 ft/min   (66 m/s)
Range – 1,350 nm   (2,175 km)

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

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