Convair F-102A Delta Dagger

Specifications
Aircraft Type:	Fighter
First Flight:	YF-102, October 1953
Wingspan:	38 feet 1.5 inches
Length:	68 feet 3 inches
Height:	21 feet 2.5 inches
Weight:	19,350 pounds
Capacity:	One
Status:	Display - Static

After the crash of the first prototype and failure of the second, a radical redesign by Convair included a more powerful engine and a longer, more streamlined nose. The new delta wing F-102 Delta Dagger could launch at a moment’s notice, climb thousands of feet at full speed, and combat enemy bombers. By reducing the fuselage cross section where it joined with the wings, Convair greatly reduced the sub-sonic drag of the plane. The Museum’s F-102 joined the United States Air Force in 1957 and ended her flying days with the Oregon Air National Guard 142nd Fighter Group in 1971, and is now on long-term loan from the United States Air Force Museum.