Hobby Master HA3111 | F-102A Delta Dagger 31802, 16 FIS, Naha AFB, Okinawa late 1950s

General Background:

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.

The Aircraft:

31802 was a modified JF-102A and sent to the Wright Air Development Center. In 1955/56 the
aircraft spent the winter at Ladd AFB, Alaska as the Cold Weather Test airframe. Beginning in
1959 until 1965 the 16th FIS was stationed at Naha AB, on Okinawa. It was in 1959 that F-102A
31802 joined the 16th FIS before heading to the 317th FIS, the 509th FIS, Idaho ANG 190th FIS
and storage in 1971. In February 1977 the aircraft was scrapped.

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