F-102A Delta Dagger 342 All-Weather Squadron, 114 Combat Wing, Hellenic Air Force (1:72)

The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was designed to be an interceptor aircraft and act as the core of USAF air defenses in the late 1950s. The F-102 first appeared in service in 1956 with the task to intercept Soviet bombers. The official name for the F-102 was '_Delta Dagger'_ but the most common term used was '_Deuce'_. There was 889 F-102As manufactured when production ended in September 1958.

The Hellenic AF (Elliniki Polimiki Aeroporia Greek AF) took delivery of 20 Convair F-102A Delta Daggers in June 1969 as well as 2 (some sources say 6) TF-102A for training. The aircraft arrived painted in the original U.S. gray scheme with the HAF roundels. In 1973 the aircraft received their two-tone green, tan and gray schemes. These aircraft equipped the 342nd All Weather Squadron at Tanagra. These aircraft had a rather short service length in Greece because the F-102'_s were replaced by the Mirage F-1CG in 1977.

Specifications Convair (F-102A) Delta Dagger "Deuce"
Role - Supersonic All-Weather, delta wing interceptor
Crew '_ 1 pilot
Number Produced '_ 889
Dimensions
Length '_ 68 ft 4 in (20.83 m)
Wingspan '_ 38 ft 1 in (11.61 m)
Height '_ 21 ft 2 in (6.45 m)

Weight
Empty '_ 19,350 lb 8,777 kg)
Loaded '_ 24,500 lb (11,100 kg)
Maximum Takeoff '_ 31,500 lb (14,300 kg)

Powerplant '_ 1 x Pratt & Whitney J57-P-25 afterburning turbojet
Thrust
Dry '_ 11,700 lbf (8,777 kg)
With Afterburner '_ 17,200 lbf (76.5 kN)
Fuel
Internal '_ 1.085 US gal (4,107 l)
External '_ 2 x 215 US gal (815 l) drop tanks

Performance
Maximum Speed '_ Mach 1.25 (825 mph, 1,304 km/h) @ 40,000 ft (12,190 m)
Service Ceiling '_ 53,400 ft (16,300 m)
ROC '_ 13,000 ft/min (66 m/s)
Range '_ 1,350 nm (2,175 km)

Armament
Rockets '_ 24 x 2.75 in (70 mm) FFAR (Folding Fin Aerial Rocket) unguided rockets in missile bay doors
Missiles
AIM-4 Falcon air-to-air
AIM-26 Falcon with conventional or nuclear warhead
Missiles were contained in 3 bays inside the aircraft belly

Avionics '_ MG-10 fire control system designed by Hughes Aircraft Company