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| 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 |
| Harold Sealman, e-mail, 30.09.2011 17:33 I was stationed at Paine Field , Wa. and was a crew chief on tail # 6-1420. The 57th CAMRON Group was attached to the 64th FIS . My biggest kick was taxing and compass swings , engine run-ups @ full burner . I would be interested in hearing from others stationed there during the 60's . hsealman@wbfrec.com reply | | Jim McNamara, e-mail, 24.06.2011 20:36 I was in the first class to train in the deuce at Perrin. Got there early August 1960. We had some of the first AF Academy grads in our class. 11 of us in the class. Went from there to the 16th Fighter at Naha, Okinawa. We were the first to go to Don Maung, Bankok. Late summer of 1961. After 2 1 /2 years and 500 hours, returned stateside to Tyndall for F-106 checkout, then to Duluth to the 11th FIS. From one great flying A /C to the greatest. reply | | jim pappas, e-mail, 05.06.2011 00:59 was one of the first crew chief's on the 102 stationed Duluth Minn 1955 still have my lapel pin we were given by convair at a ceremoney loved working on the plane and won crew chief of the month at william tell at tyndall, would love to hear from any one stationed with me during those times reply | | Roy Barresi, e-mail, 18.04.2011 21:29 I participated in the Phase VI testing of the F-102 at Edwards in 1956. Duluth, MN was the second operational squadron (11th FIS) with the aircraft. I recall several problems with the Sunstrand drive during the test phase when Convair learned that the drive could not be removed on our test models without first removing the engine. Lots of problems with pilots transitioning from the F-89J to the F-102 when the p[lane accelerated so rapidily in A /B and they were late in getting the gear up. Several A /C reurned without gear doors!
We had an unfortunate incident with one of our A /C while our squadron was on TDY. One of our pilots armed the F-102 he was flying and accidently shot down a target T-33 (the crew chief and the pilot never verified the armament B /4 take-off). Fortunately, there were only minor injuries to the T-33 crew which occurred during ejection. reply | |
| | Warren Roepke, e-mail, 18.04.2011 17:22 I joined Convair in June 1952 shortly after receiving my engineering degree. Was assigned to the F-102 project to detail the canopy, the original design with 4 panels on each side. Later in the redesign to incorporate the Whitcomb "coke bottle" (area rule) fuselage, I did the design work on the fuselage formers while 2 technicians detailed them.
In 1954 I briefly worked on the Sea Dart, designing a single ski in an attempst to prevent the wave induced pounding of the twin skis. reply | | Warren Roepke, e-mail, 18.04.2011 17:21 I joined Convair in June 1952 shortly after receiving my engineering degree. Was assigned to the F-102 project to detail the canopy, the original design with 4 panels on each side. Later in the redesign to incorporate the Whitcomb "coke bottle" (area rule) fuselage, I did the design work on the fuselage formers while 2 technicians detailed them.
In 1954 I briefly worked on the Sea Dart, designing a single ski in an attempst to prevent the wave induced pounding of the twin skis. reply | | a.machiaverna, e-mail, 09.04.2011 05:16 President George W. Bush flew the F-102. It may be interesting to note that his last time in the cockpit was in a Navy Viking. He wanted to come aboard the carrier flying an F /A-18 but was talked out of it. The F-102 was a great airplane and the "area-rule" design was one of the most important aerodynamic breakthroughs in aviation. reply | | Garry Wallen, e-mail, 07.04.2011 06:37 message for Don Henry
Don I tried to contact you but you address would nt go through....I would love to talk with you. I did the same trip to the P I and VN and Bangkok as you did..but 18 mos earlier......love it all..drop a line... reply | | Don Henry, e-mail, 07.04.2011 00:56 I was a crew chief of the F-102 stationed at Clark AFB, Phillipines from July of 1967 to December of 1968 in the 509th FIS. Went TDY to Bien Hoa Vietnam, Udorn Thailand and Bangkok Tailand. Would love to hear from anyone who remembers me or was there at the same time. Clark, the country club of the Air Force, great assingment. reply |
| skip foster, e-mail, 24.03.2011 21:07 We always said it had a mach 1 engine, a mach 2 airframe, and a mach 3 canopy. Flew it with the WisANG from 1967-1974. Great airplane!! Won the F-102 category at WmTell in 1972. reply | | Darrell Meldrum, e-mail, 17.03.2011 22:14 Crew chief from 1960 1968 Texas ANG Houston I got to ride in TF102 2 times. my commander took Wally Shera to Dallas in the TF it broke Wally robe in the back seat of a T33 back to Houston I found out what was wrong took tools and rode back to Dallas in the T33 fixed the TF then rode back to Houston in the TF what ride 20 minutes from brakes off on runway to shut down what a ride 300 kt. at the end of the runway pulled nose up leveled off at 23000 ft after burner best part reply | | Darrell Meldrum, e-mail, 17.03.2011 22:13 Crew chief from 1960 1968 Texas ANG Houston I got to ride in TF102 2 times. my commander took Wally Shera to Dallas in the TF it broke Wally robe in the back seat of a T33 back to Houston I found out what was wrong took tools and rode back to Dallas in the T33 fixed the TF then rode back to Houston in the TF what ride 20 minutes from brakes off on runway to shut down what a ride 300 kt. at the end of the runway pulled nose up leveled off at 23000 ft after burner best part reply | | Rick Goodall, e-mail, 13.03.2011 22:09 My Dad flew with the 509th from 1967 to 1969. Does anyone have any pictures of the F-102 in Vietnam or at Clark? If you do, and you'd like to share, my email is rkg3@yahoo.com. Thanks! reply | | larry v whitlock, e-mail, 03.03.2011 21:55 I worked on the 102 as a radar crew chief in Youngstown, Ohio on the first wave to hit the runways. That period was 1957-1960 with the 79th Camron. The planes were flown by the 86th F I S.
Later modifed and upgraded planes at Pa Air Guard in Pitssburgh and Kelly field with Texas Air Guard. Great plane to work on and with..... reply |
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| | dale nevins, e-mail, 27.02.2011 00:39 I was stationed in the Phillipines in 67-68,was a crew chief on the F102.TDY with them to Don maung,Udorn,Bien hoa, Made a lot of friends,time has lost most of them for me! Realy injoyed working on the duce. Spent more time TDY than at Clark.Lot of fun at that time. reply | | dale nevins, e-mail, 27.02.2011 00:37 I was stationed in the Phillipines in 67-68,was a crew chief on the F102.TDY with them to Don maung,Udorn,Bien hoa, Made a lot of friends,time has lost most of them for me! Realy injoyed working on the duce. Spent more time TDY than at Clark.Lot of fun at that time. reply | | Lee Ritter, e-mail, 24.01.2011 01:14 Worked the F /TF-102 docks at Perrin 61-62. Then Flight Line with then at Thule AB, Greenland Dec-62 thru Jan 64. reply | | Garry Wallen, e-mail, 19.01.2011 01:31 This is intresting reading guys..I would love to hear from anyone that worked on or flew the 102 at Travis,in 1963 and 64. then to Clark PI in 64 and 65. during that time I did 70 great days at Don Mong Bankok.That was nov dec jan of 64 and then Danang VN Oct nov dec of 65. I was a Hyd. Mechanic and loved working on the Duce...One of our 102s from Travis is on display at the mus. in Tucson...It had the 82nd emblem on it until a few years ago when they painted the whole plane over...My E-Mail is gwallen@cableone .net So..Please write...Thanks.. reply | | Don Langhorn, e-mail, 09.12.2010 22:43 I was a crew chief on F-102s at Truax fld Madison,Wi from 57 to 1960 reply | | Roger Pile, e-mail, 09.12.2010 19:29 Flew the F102 at Tyndall, Thule, Travis, Okinawa and Clark, deploying to Viet Nam, Thailand, Taiwan and Korea. Accumulated 1800 hrs and 142 combat missions in it over a 9 year period between 1959 and 1970, with a break for an MBA fo 18 months at Syracuse Univ. Was one of the pilots who flew the Thirsty Camel flight from Travis to Okinawa, the first at midair refueling for the Deuce in Feb 1966. While assigned to Clark, came back to Perrin to ferry another one back to Clark, perhaps the only one to do it twice. Jerry Doty was my wingman on the flight from Travis-Hahaii-Wake Island-Okinawa. We had to abort back into Hickam when I had a hydraulic problem right after take-off, so we waited another day for the second wave of 12 F-102's and joined them for the rest of the trip. The bird was a joy to fly and I loved my association with it. If anyone has a squadron patch from either the 82nd or the 509th, please contact me. reply |
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larry v whitlock
Was with the 509th, July 66 to early 1968
Did 1 TDY to Udorn and 2 to Bien Hoa.
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