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. The prototype was lost in a mishap nine days later, but tests with other YF-102 airframes revealed a disappointing truth: the type was sorely underpowered and incapable of level supersonic flight. Rarely had the Air Force invested so much in a system which performed so poorly. Convair designers went back to the drawing board and the indented fuselage or 'area rule' configuration developed by NACA's Richard Whitcomb was hastily introduced in the much-altered YF-102A, which was assembled in a scant 117 days. The first of four YF-102As (53-1787/1790) flew at Edwards AFB on 20 December 1954, not merely with 'area rule' but with cambered wing, new canopy (except on 53-1788) and 5443kg thrust Pratt & Whitney J57-P-23. The new design was supersonic and met USAF expectations. The production F-102A began to reach Air Defense Command squadrons in June 1955. The first two-seat TF-102A combat proficiency trainer (54-1351) flew at Edwards AFB 8 November 1955 and operated alongside F-102As in ADC service. Total Delta Dagger production was 873 airplanes. The F-102B designation was briefly assigned to a new aircraft completed as the F-106. The little-known YF-102C (53-1806), a converted F-102A model, tested change in the internal fire control system, but these were not adopted. A rakish, well-liked and easily-handling aircraft, popular out of proportion to its importance, the F-102A eventually served with 27 ADC and 23 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 and Turkey. A few camouflaged F-102As were deployed to South East Asia in 1964-6, and to trouble-plagued Korea in 1968 but, while they flew a few missions over North Vietnam, they are not thought to have actually been in combat. The PQM-102A is a Sperry-converted airframe under the Pave Deuce programme for use as a fully manoeuvrable manned or unmanned target drone. About 30 have been converted. Numerous F-102A airframes have been saved, the 199th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of the Hawaii Air National Guard having retained no fewer than four non-flyable F-102As for display purposes after transitioning to the F-4C Phantom. FACTS AND FIGURES © To make it supersonic, the original YF-102 was lengthened and given bulges on the rear fuselage to change the cross-section. These protuberances were known as 'Marilyns'. © The YF-102 was a development of the XF-92 research aircraft, which was originally to be the ramjet-powered 'return' component of a large two-part composite attack aircraft. © The canopy of the YF-102 had heavy framing more akin to an early World War II fighter. Convair were probably worried about the stress of supersonic flight on large areas of Perspex. | A three-view drawing (1680 x 1223) |
| CREW | 1 | | ENGINE | 1 x Pratt Whitney J57-P-23, 7802kg | | WEIGHTS | | Take-off weight | 14187 kg | 31277 lb | | DIMENSIONS | | Wingspan | 11.62 m | 38 ft 1 in | | Length | 20.84 m | 68 ft 4 in | | Height | 6.46 m | 21 ft 2 in | | Wing area | 61.45 m2 | 661.44 sq ft | | PERFORMANCE | | Max. speed | 1328 km/h | 825 mph | | Range | 2173 km | 1350 miles | | ARMAMENT | air-to-air missiles |
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| fred bell, e-mail, 21.03.2015 00:39 Does anyone know of any F-102 crash sites in CA? | | Dick Jenkins, e-mail, 27.01.2015 19:47 I guess our only claim to fame regarding the Delta Dagger was that we were one of the first fighter interceptor squadrons to operate using the F-102A. We were the 317th F.I.S. then stationed at McChord AFB. I arrived after completing Fire Control Systems Mechanic school at Lowry AFB in late 1955. When I arrived at McChord both the 317th and 318th F.I.S. were flying F-86Ds and we were patiently awaiting delivery of our deuces from Convair. Our C.O. was Walter O. Beane. Having received our full complement of birds we moved PCS to Elmendorf AFB in October of 1956. New, never before used barracks and chow hall awaited us and we occupied the south end of runway 34. In 1958, sporting a snappy paint job complete with the 317th squadron patch on the forward electronics bay doors we took part in the William Tell Missile Meet which we won. It would not be the last time the 317th brought home the Hughes Trophy. Names that come to mind for 59 years ago are M /Sgts Easterly, Gross, Charlie Wilson, CWO Earl Nash, fellow 32251F airmen, Ted N. Williams, Rbt. G Buttenhoff, Fred W. Benninghoffen, Bill Krueger, Ned Pier, Ray Drew, Lou Espinoza, Harry Karasuchi, Wally Buda, Charlie Fedderwicz, Glenn and Gary Debbin. Col. Beane Jr. passed away in Florida at age 72 in October of 1992.
If you wish to contact me hopefully my registered email address will be provided to you. I will check back periodically. | | sean barrett, e-mail, 26.01.2015 22:12 Did any aircraft have a martin baker seat in it ? | | Greg Gadd, e-mail, 25.01.2015 08:36 Was in 509th 1967 /1969, did normal rotations to Thailand ect as a crew chief. Had a pretty damn good time with all the folks I worked with. Great squadron parties as I recall. Went back to Luke and returned to Ubon in 1972. Back to Luke and finished out my 8 years. | | Jim Tallon, e-mail, 16.01.2015 17:19 Message for Don Henry, If you were S /sgt Henry, I remember you, was there at the same time you were, think I still have a picture of you with helmet on..If you get this call 803-968-2312 or E-Mail jimtallon2@hotmail.com | | Jim Tallon, e-mail, 17.11.2014 22:29 I was the crew chief on F-102A--tail #968 in 1967 & 1968 in the 64th FIS Sq. 405th FW. Stationed at Clark PI. DaNang VM, and Thailand, there are about 25 of us that still stay in touch and even have had two reunions, if you would like to get in touch with us call 803-968-2312 have a list of us all-- Great acft-- got two flts in the TF-102, great flying Bird. Was also Stationed with the 57th FIS, in Iceland 1971, I like that bird. | | Rich Emery, e-mail, 16.11.2014 02:56 I was stationed at Clark AB with the 64th FIS on the F102 and went TDY to Da Nang in 1967 &1968. Worked with a great group of men and loved my F102 with tail # 167. That's the only numbers I remember. It was a great plane to be a crew chief on. | | Walt Steading, e-mail, 04.09.2014 03:35 I went TDY from 509th FIS, Clark to Kissahrazoo (spelling),Japan.Took 102s off barges & assembled them. Test flts. had to land at Yakota No aborting after take-off role(short run-way.)Acft. went to many bases from Yakato. WAs called back to PI; to crew Commanders acft (56-1140) Red & white checker board paintd on nose) | | Terry Mccaffrey, e-mail, 29.08.2014 09:52 I was a crew chief on the F102 with the 509th and 64th FIS at Clark. I did TDY's to all our cites in VN and Thailand .and a mod program at Naha. From 1966 to 1968. The F102 was a great AC. | | Levent Basara, e-mail, 26.02.2014 14:18 Hi,is there anybody who took part at the ferry flights of F-102s to Turkey in 1968-69? Any kind of data will be highly welcomed. Currently working on a book about the Turkish Air Force F-102 history. | | Jetcopters Inc., e-mail, 17.02.2014 03:06 We used this plane many times in the war. We even shot down an F /A-XX. | | Don Blodgett, e-mail, 17.02.2014 03:03 Was in Clark,Nov.1966-March 1968,405th FMS Jet Mech.with the 64th & 509th & B-57s. DaNang, Phan Rang, Udorn. Loved working with the 64th, great bunch of guys. Tent A-7 wasn't bad either. | | Johnny Carrouth, e-mail, 27.12.2013 01:20 I went through 102 training at Perrin in 1965. Flew the Deuce at Goose Bay until a high altitude sickness incident in a T-33 cost me my flying status. Became the 59 FIS Field Maintenance Officer until we closed the 59th in Dec 1966. What a great bird to fly! | | HanknNoel, e-mail, 16.11.2013 18:02 I was an airbourn nav tech at Niagara Fall AFB 27th FIS I was the tech maintaining the tacan ils glide slope gear for the f102 dagger and the f106 at caribou main was working at Niagara when the f102 crashed when the hydraulics failed on the flight controls | | Frank Sanocki, e-mail, 15.11.2013 23:25 I deployed with the 64 FIS from Paine Field Wa to Clark AB and was on the first deployment to Da Nang with these planes. We had 4 planes on alert immediately and then we built a bar and alert quarters. | | Tom Inguagiato, e-mail, 02.11.2013 03:48 I was with the 82nd FIS from '63 to'66 including the
big move to Naha! We flew in a C-130 Travis-Hickam-Wake-
Naha. It was a great time in my life....We maintained
the air /air Falcon missiles, heat and radar types. | | Nick Guzman, e-mail, 07.05.2013 00:40 Bill:I remember the incident very well. It was #844, crew chief named Criddle, pilot Capt Gilbert. I remember you too. I was there from 59 to 65. Happiiest time out my 30 years. | | Richard Hiam, e-mail, 21.04.2013 17:15 Worked on the MG-10 FCS at Truax field, Madison WI 1958-1960. Loved the work. I used to sit in the cockpit after testing the system and thumb thru the pilot's manual. My room mate ran the simulator and he said, 'Don't you try it! Everybody crashes the simulator the first time.' Our Co was Captain Eades. Oh yes, Warrant Officer Crawford ran our piece of the action. He always wore his field cap awry, but it was his trademark. Good man. After I musterred out, I got a job in the SAGE building with AT&T. Just couldn't leave Truax. | | Bob Quinn, e-mail, 11.04.2013 21:17 I had the pleasure of working on the F-102A as a Pneudraulic Repairman at Seymour Johnson AFB -482nd FIS-1964 /65. I also worked the F-101B and the F-100B /C. I still have a great affection for the F-102A. | | Richard (Dick) Vedas, e-mail, 25.02.2013 01:39 I was a 32251F radar tech,496th FIS Hahn AB.As everyone knows the most common thing out, radar out! Hahn was cold rainy,foggy,just plain nasty weather.TDY anywhere was my motto,I tried to go on every one.Madrid every December and January two weeks each TDY.Any 322 radar troop will tell you about the two headed pig known as a TF 102A,what a nightmare to work on,trying to get the rails qualified with WESM's! Always make sure you have counter balance air when removing canopy jack!I was at Hahn May 1965- May 1968
Then back to my favorite Voodoo's 322nd FIS Kingsley,out Oct 68. |
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