Convair
F-102A Delta Dagger 
F-102A being loaded for transport
from Florida.
F-102A being unloaded following
transport from Florida.
Aircraft Background:
Formerly
assigned to the Florida Military Aviation Museum at Clearwater-St.
Petersburg Airport, when the museum closed the aircraft were removed
from the facility and placed in outside storage. Officially
a part of the U.S. Air Force Museum, Wright Patterson AFB collection,
the F-102A has just been placed on indefinite loan to MAPS Air Museum
for restoration purposes. The main fuselage has been transported
to MAPS and we are awaiting funds to transport the remaining airframe
sections up from Florida. If you would be willing
to contribute to the recovery fund to collect all the parts for this
aircraft, please contact one of the Directors @ MAPS Air Museum. Aircraft's History:
Designed
as an all-weather interceptor, the Convair F-102's purpose was to patrol, intercept,
and if need be, shoot down incoming enemy bomber aircraft such as the
Soviet Tu-52 Bear. Operating from bases in the continental U.S., Greenland, Europe and Alaska,
the Delta Dagger would use her speed and missile weapons to prevent
enemy bombers from reaching the shores of North America. Notable firsts for the aircraft include being the
world's first supersonic all-weather interceptor, and the USAF's first
operational delta wing aircraft. Designed during the US military's
"missiles only" period, the Delta Dagger featured no gun
armament at all, the thinking at the time being that with recent
advances in missile technology, aircraft would never get
close enough to use guns in a "dogfight." 
F-102 Delta Dagger landing following
training sortie.
Specifications:
Span:
38 ft. 1 in.
Length: 68 ft. 4 in.
Height: 21 ft.
2 in.
Weight: 31,559 lbs. max.
Armament: 24
unguided 2.75" rockets and 6 guided missiles
Engine: Pratt & Whitney J57 with 16,000 lbs
thrust in afterburner mode PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed:
810 mph.
Cruising speed: 600 mph.
Range: 1,000 miles
Service Ceiling: 55,000 ft. Crew Chief: Crew Chief's Update (Restoration Progress):
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