The Convair F-102 Jet Fighter "Delta Dagger" was a part of the backbone of the United States Air Defense System in the late 1950's. Beginning its service to the country in 1956, its main purpose was to intercept enemy aircraft in US Air Space, mainly of potential Soviet bomber fleets during the Cold War. However, due to the project being troubled, the aircraft was soon replaced by the F-101 (Voodoo) and the F-4 (Phantom II's) and thus many of the aircraft were transferred to the United States National Guard for duty by the mid to late 1960s. Because the Delta Dagger fell short of its goals, improvements were being made for the F-102B. Eventually the F-102B upon completion became an entirely new aircraft known as the F-106 "Delta Dart". The aircraft left service altogether in 1976.
A total of 899 F-102As were built and 375 were transferred to the Air Guard units. This plane was assigned to the 112th Fighter Interceptor Group which included the 146th and 147th Fighter-Interceptor Squadrons stationed at the Greater Pittsburgh Airport from the 1960s until 1975. In 1976, this jet was disassembled in Pittsburgh and moved to Ft. Indiantown Gap at its present position. The Basic Statistics of the F-102 are as follows:
Crew: 1
Role: Interceptor
Max: 810 mph
Cruising Range: 1,360 miles
Combat Range: 1,000 miles
Ceiling: 55,000 Feet
Engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney J57 Engine with afterburner
Length: 68.33 feet
Height: 21.17 feet
Wingspan: 38.08 feet
Wing Area: 661.5 square feet
Aircraft No.: 62346
Armament: 24 unguided 2.75 in (70mm) FFAR rockets, six AIM-4 Falcon air-to-air missiles or two AIM-26B guided missiles.
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