Il Convair F-106 Delta Dart It was a major US Air Force supersonic interceptor fighter used during the Cold War.
The aircraft was produced by the Convair aircraft company and, in total, 342 examples were built.
It is worth noting that the F-106 was developed from the F-102 (see article Interceptor Fighters: The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger); however, the aircraft showed some differences compared to the other interceptor and among these were: a new fuselage design, redesigned to take into account the area rules (area rule*); a new Pratt & Whitney J75 turbojet composed of afterburners. In addition, the air intakes were enlarged to cope with the new speeds and variable geometry inlet ducts were adopted which were able to improve performance at supersonic speeds and allowed a reduction in the length of the air supply flow paths for the engine. In addition, the fuselage was made more aerodynamic and the wing surface and the rudder were expanded.
The first F-106 prototype took flight on December 26, 1956, and entered active service with the U.S. Air Force in June 1959.
Il Convair F-106 Delta Dart It was one of the fastest aircraft of its time. Furthermore, it had a good flight range, which allowed it to cover great distances without having to refuel.
The fighter was equipped with a powerful radar, ideal for intercepting and tracking targets at long ranges. In addition, its delta design gave it good stability and maneuverability at high speeds.
However, the advanced technology of the aircraft required demanding and expensive maintenance. The aircraft, being an interceptor fighter, was not suitable for other tasks.
As the years passed, the F-106's design and operational capabilities became increasingly obsolete when compared to even more modern combat aircraft, such as air superiority fighters (notably, in the 70s, the F-15).
It is worth noting that the F-106 never saw combat during the Vietnam War.
The aircraft was gradually withdrawn from active service in the 1980s by the US Air Force and Air National Guard, while NASA used the aircraft for testing purposes until the late 1990s.
The F-106A had a wingspan of 11,67 m, a height of 6,18 m and a length of 21,55 m. The empty weight was 11077 kg, while fully loaded it was 15653 kg.
Engine: 1 Pratt & Whitney J 75 with afterburner. Maximum speed was 2454 km/h at 12200 m and service ceiling was 17000 m.
The armament consisted of 1 M61 cannon Vulcan 20 mm, 2 AIM-4F Falcon missiles, 2 AIM-4G missiles Falcon and 1 AIR-2 Genie.
* aerodynamic principle discovered in the 50s that affects the shape of supersonic aircraft: to reduce aerodynamic drag at transonic and supersonic speeds, the fuselage must taper at the wings and other protuberances, so as to maintain a uniform overall profile.
Photo: USAF
