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.

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 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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