The Convair F-106 Delta Dart was the primary all-weather interceptor aircraft for the U.S. Air Force from the 1960s through the 1980s. The F-106 was envisioned as specialized all-weather missile armed interceptor to shoot down bombers. Its design was evolved from the F-102 Delta Dagger, also built by Convair.
The first F-106A flew on December 26, 1956, and deliveries to the Air Force began in July of 1959. Production ended in late 1960.
Armament: One AIR-2A Genie air-to-air nuclear missile plus four AIM-4 Falcon air-to-air missiles
Engine: One Pratt & Whitney J75-P-17 of 24,500 lbs. thrust with afterburner
Crew: One
Convair F-106 Delta Dart S/N 60465 at George Air Force BaseMaximum speed: 1,525 mph
Cruising speed: 650 mph
Range: 1,500 statute miles
Ceiling: 53,000 ft.
Span: 38 ft. 4 in.
Length: 70 ft. 9 in.
Height: 20 ft. 4 in.
A total of 340 Delta Darts were built. About 26 have survived, and are on display across the United States, including the ones shown below.
Convair F-106A Delta Dart S/N
59-0003, Tucson, Arizona |
F-106 S/N 80-774, Buzz Number FE-774, restored and on display near Salt Lake City |
F-106A Delta Dart S/N 59-123, Museum of Aviation, Warner-Robins, Georgia |
F-106A Delta Dart, S/N 59-0069, on display in Great Falls Air National Guard Base in Montana (photo by Michael Hoschouer) |
F-106A Delta Dart, S/N 59-0145, on display at Tyndall AFB, Florida (photo by Michael Hoschouer) |
F-106A Delta Dart, Serial Number 0-72456, Castle Air Museum in Atwater, California (photo by Michael Hoschouer) |
F-106B Delta Dart S/N 59-0158, Century Circle, Edwards Air Force Base, California (photo by Michael Hoschouer) |
F-106A Delta Dart S/N 59-0137, Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum, McMinnville, Oregon (photo by Michael Hoschouer) |
F-106A Delta Dart S/N 56-0454, Holloman AFB, New Mexico (photo by Michael Hoschouer) |
F-106A Delta Dart at the Aerospace Museum of California, Sacramento, CA (photo by Michael Hoschouer) |
U.S. Air Force F-106 Delta Dart
S/N 72517 |
Convair F-106 Delta Darts parked on the apron |
Convair F-106 Delta Dart
S/N 90119, circa 1979 |
Air Force F-106 Delta Dart
S/N 72504 |
F-106 Delta Dart S/N 0-90002 in flight |