The F-106 Delta Dart was a single-engine, jet, interceptor aircraft used by the US Air Force during the Cold War. It was developed from the F-102 Delta Dagger by the American aircraft firm Convair. The prototype flew for the first time on December 26, 1956. The F-106 had delta wings and was fitted out with a more powerful J-75-P-17 afterburning turbojet with enlarged intake diameter to compensate for the increased airflow requirements and a variable geometry inlet duct. This gave the aircraft improved performance at supersonic speeds.
The F-106 Delta Dart was produced by Convair and General Dynamics at a cost of US$4.7 million per unit. The first f-106 interceptors were delivered to the USAF in June 1959. The F-106 was deployed in the United States, Germany and South Korea, but it never saw combat, nor was it exported to any foreign country. It was phased out in 1988. Variants: F-106A, F-106B, F-106C, F-106D, F-106E, F-106F.
Specifications
Engine: one Pratt & Whitney J75-17 afterburning turbojet.
Maximum speed: Mach 2.3 (1,525 mph, 2,455 km/h).
Range: 1,800 mi (2,900 km).
Service ceiling: 57,000 ft (17,000 m).
Length: 70.7 ft (21.55 m).
Wingspan: 38.25 ft (11.67 m).
Crew: one.
Weapons: one 20 mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan gatling gun; two AIM-4F Falcon, two AIM-4G Falcon missiles; one AIR-2A Genie nuclear rocket.
Convair F-106 Delta Dart (Video)
