Here's the plane Bush flew in the Air National Guard-
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Convair F-102 "Delta Dagger"
The primary mission of the F-102 was to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft. It was the world's first supersonic all-weather jet interceptor and the USAF's first operational delta-wing aircraft. The F-102 made its initial flight on Oct. 24, 1953 and became operational with the Air Defense Command in 1956. At the peak of deployment in the late 1950's, F-102s equipped more than 25 ADC squadrons. Convair built 1,000 F-102s, 875 of which were F-102As. The USAF also bought 111 TF-102s as combat trainers with side-by-side seating.
In a wartime situation, after electronic equipment on board the F-102 had located the enemy aircraft, the F-102's radar would guide it into position for attack. At the proper moment, the electronic fire control system would automatically fire the F-102's air-to-air rockets and missiles.
TYPE
YF-102
YF-102A
F-102A
TF-102A
F-102B Number built/Converted
10
4
875
111
0 Remarks
Prototype
Area rule YF-102;
Interceptor
Dual-cockpit trainer
Became F-106
SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 38 ft. 1 in.
Length: 68 ft. 4 in. (including boom)
Height: 21 ft. 2 in.
Weight: 31,559 lbs. max.
Armament: 24 unguided 2.75 inch rockets and six guided missiles
Engine: One Pratt & Whitney J57 of 16,000 lbs. thrust with afterburner
Cost: $1,184,000
PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 810 mph.
Cruising speed: 600 mph.
Range: 1,000 miles
Service Ceiling: 55,000 ft.
Convair F-102 photo gallery
Convair YF-102
At the Convair assembly plant - S/N 52-7994, 2 Oct 53; the date of completion for the first airframe. 1 Apr 52 was the start date of the detail design. 1 May 53 was the date of design completion.
3/4 front view - S/N 52-7994. This is the first YF-102 built.
3/4 front top view - S/N 52-7994 on Rogers Dry Lake.
Landing - S/N 52-7994
3/4 front view - S/N 52-7995, the second YF-102 built.
Landing with drag chute - S/N 53-1781. Note the drag chute is deployed while the aircraft is still airborne.
In flight - S/N 53-1782
In flight (color) - S/N 53-1782
Convair YF-102A "Hot Rod"
In flight - S/N 53-1787. The first YF-102A built. The YF-102A was a major redesign of the YF-102. To overcome high drag loads at transonic speeds, Convair engineers redesigned the fuselage and wing. The fuselage design used the "area-rule" which resulted in the characteristic "coke bottle" shape.
Convair F-102A
Landing - S/N 53-1791, the first F-102A built.
2 aircraft take off - S/N 56-1067 and 56-1018 of the 111 Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Texas Air National Guard.
2 aircraft formation - S/N 56-1212 and 56-1138
In flight firing GAR-1 missiles - S/N 57-0825
In flight - S/N 53-1809
Landing with drag chute - F-102A-75-LO S/N 56-1279 of the 317th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, May 1969.
In flight - S/N 53-1809
3 aircraft take off - 327th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, George AFB, CA. S/N 54-1400 is the first aircraft.
In flight front view - S/N 53-1809
In flight (color) - S/N 55-3372
3/4 front view (color) S/N 56-1268 of the 317th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, January 1958.
Take off (color) - of the 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Keflavik AFB, Iceland
Landing (color) - S/N 56-1394 of the 57th FIS, Keflavik AFB, Iceland.
On the runway - S.N 56-1394, 57th FIS, Keflavik AFB, Iceland.
In flight intercepting a Soviet "Bear" bomber - S/N 55-1350.
Cockpit flight simulator mock-up
MC-3 fire control system mock-up
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Convair TF-102A "Delta Dagger"
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