Last F-102 at Perrin

The Air forces F-102 was the worlds first supersonic all weather jet interceptor. It used electronic eyes to locate hostile aircraft by day or night, in fair or foul weather. Radar guided the F-102 to a point where its air to air missiles or rockets would be within range of the target. At the right instant the electronic fire control system would automatically prepare and fire the F-102's weapons. They would include conventional or nuclear tipped warheads, guided by radar or heat seeking devices. The F-102 started standing air defense alerts for the air force in mid 1956. It was the Alaskan air commands primary interceptor, but was also used extensively by the air defense command, as well as by the United States Air forces in Europe and the Pacific.

For an aircraft that was only to be an interim interceptor, the Deuce served a long and successful life and helped to deter the Soviets or any other enemy from sending bombers against the United States. The biggest drawback to the F-102 was its lack of speed. It was a supersonic aircraft, but only by a small margin. With external tanks attached, it was limited to Mach .95. Once the faster F-101Bs and F-106s became available, its days were numbered. Since it was a great advantage to get to the bombers as fast as possible, or catch them if necessary, speed was essential, and the relatively slow Deuce had to make way for the faster interceptors. The fact that it was built in larger numbers than the F-101B or F-106 was because of delays in getting the F-106 into service, the minimal conventional armament carried by the F-101B, and the lack of funds to replace the F-102 on a one-for-one basis with the F-106 in particular. In the years the F-102 served in Vietnam, they most often stood alert for the air defense mission, but also flew some escort missions for B-52s.

NUMBER BUILT: The Air Force accepted a grand total of 1,000 F-102s. Of these,
889 were listed as F-102As, even though they included 2 prototypes, 8 early
Straight-fuselage and 4 F-102A test aircraft. The remaining 111 were TF-102As.
87 were canceled.

Data:
Contractor: Convair Division of General Dynamics Corporation.
Power Plant and manufacturer. Pratt & Whitney J-57-P23-A turbo jet with afterburner.
Power Plant horsepower/thrust: 16,000 pounds.
Dimensions: Span 38'1" / Length 68'5"/ height 21'3".
Ceiling above 50,000 feet.
Range: Over 1000 miles.
Maximum gross take off weight: over 25000 pounds

Over 120 F-102A's were assigned to Perrin Air Force Base between 1958 and 1971. There were also approximately 63 trainer versions of the F-102's, known as the TF-102A. Assigned to Perrin AFB. Both the 3555th Flying Training Wing and the 4780th Air Defense Wing counted the F-102 as part of their inventories. The F-102A was known as the Delta Dagger

More Perrin F-102 Pictures