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.

In 1947 the 345th FS was re-designated the 146th FS and assigned to the Pennsylvania ANG.
In 1952 the 146th FS became the 146th Fighter-Bomber squadron and in 1955 they became
the 146th FIS and retained that designation until 1975. F-102 56-1340 was first assigned to
USAF 64th FIS followed by several other squadrons such as the 325th CAMS, joined the
4756th Air Defense Wing, the Pennsylvania ANG 146th FIS, the Connecticut ANG 118th FIS,
Texas ANG 182 FIS. The next stop was AMARC and in 1975 was converted to PQM-102A
#646 and was shot down September 20, 1978 over the Gulf of Mexico.

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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