F-102sday

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn) 01/20/2015 at 09:48 • Filed to: planelopnik

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The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger entered service in 1956. Its main role was to intercept Soviet bomber fleets during the Cold War, and it was the first operational supersonic interceptor and delta-wing fighter of the US Air Force. The Delta Dagger was retired in 1979 after a production run of 1000 aircraft. Compare that to the F-22, of which only 195 have been built.

Jcarr > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 10:00

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Yes! Since I was off yesterday I forgot it was even Tuesday.

ttyymmnn > Jcarr 01/20/2015 at 10:03

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I started writing this post last week with the line "In b4 Jcarr". But I ended up throwing it together this morning. We're going to run out of "2" planes very quickly.

ttyymmnn > Jcarr 01/20/2015 at 10:04

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Also, I had to look at the date on my computer about 5 times to make sure that it really is Tuesday. Sure feels like Monday.

Jcarr > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 10:06

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I was thinking the same thing. Might have to get obscure once we burn through the typical "2s".

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 10:06

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It's/its error in first paragraph. Also, an interesting note is that the original F102 prototypes suffered from some drag produced by a large cross-section increase rate that was mitigated in its successor (the production models) by a "wasp waist" narrowing of the fuselage behind the cockpit. This setup was improved still further in the F106. Both had some limitations to forward visibility, but the F106 had a projection system for the IR seeker heads, so was (in theory) useful at short range.

McMike > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 10:09

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I was hoping there would be a Bear photo.

Just like we have three generations of pilots that have flown the BUFF, I'm sure there are also three generations of interceptors who have escorted a Bear.

ttyymmnn > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/20/2015 at 10:10

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Thanks. And I read that paragraph about 7 times before posting it. And thanks for the added info. You know who flew the 102 , at least for a while?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 10:17

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Ayup.

They have the info on the wasp waisting thing on wikipedia, but where I read it first (as a kid) was this:

'67 Life Science Library series - "Flight"

They had neat little diagrams of the reduction and everything.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > ttyymmnn 01/20/2015 at 11:35

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These are 3 of the first 8 F-102A's built according to Wikipedia. The first 8 were built before applying area rule.

ttyymmnn > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/20/2015 at 12:29

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We own that series of books from back in the '70s. They are dated now, but what they knew then is still valid today. Lots of good info still to be gleaned from those books.

sunnydaysam > ttyymmnn 01/21/2015 at 11:07

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I grew up in Mukilteo off the approach end to 16R at Paine Field when a Delta squadron was stationed there. It seemed that every time the weather got bad they flew and I watched them from my second story bedroom window. Let me tell you, those things were LOUD! I loved 'em.