Convair - F102A
"Delta Dart"
The F-102A, having first flown on October 24, 1953, became the United States Air Force's first operational delta winged aircraft. With its high speed and advanced (for its day) electronics, it was intended to furnish continental defense by intercepting and destroying intruding bombers in any kind of weather before they could reach the United States.
Its unique configuration had the pilot seated in a small comfortable cockpit from which he controlled the aircraft with two control grips. One was to control the aircraft itself while the other was used to adjust the F-102's MG-10 radar. The pilot, with his face pressed into the hood of his radar scope, searched out possible targets and attacked them with air-to-air missiles.
The TF-102A had side-by-side seating and was a modification used for training pilots. Only about 63 of these were manufactured and one was deployed to Ramstein for advanced pilot training after initial training and area familiarization in our Lockheed T-33 (see below)
Technical Data - TF-102A
Type: Fighter Interceptor/Trainer
Crew: One (Two TF-102A)
Engine(s): One 17,200 lb. thrust Pratt & Whitney J-57 Turbojet
WingSpan: 38 ft., 1-1/2 in.
Length: 68 ft., 5 in.
Height: 21 ft., 2-1/2 in.
Maximum Speed: 825 MPH
Cruising Speed: 600 MPH
Combat Radius: 1,350 miles
Service Ceiling: 54,000 feet
Armament: 12 FFAR rockets, updated to 6 AIM Falcon missiles carried internally
Cost: $1.2 to $1.5 million
The Convair F-102 Delta Dart was intended as a developmental aircraft to explore the unknown of supersonic flight, but remained operational into the mid 1960s.
New link from Vincent Arias (Capt) at Ramstein with the 526 from 59-61
Lockheed T-33
The Lockheed T-33 "T-Bird" trainer seated an instructor and a student pilot
Technical Data - T-33
Empty Weight: 8,804 lbs.
Max Weight: 14,442 lbs.
Powerplant: Allison J-33-35 turbojet
Thrust (each): 5,200 lbs.
Performance: Max Speed: 543 mph
Ceiling: 47,500 ft.
Range: 1,343 miles
Armament: (none)
