Fly the F-102A. The backbone of America's defense against the Soviet Union's nuclear bombers. Fomr 1956 to 1976 the F-102A escorted the Tupolev Tu-95 Bear when they got near US Territory. A member of the Century Series of US fighter aircraft, the F-102 was the first operational supersonic interceptor and delta-wing fighter of the USAF. It used an internal weapons bay to carry both guided missiles and rockets. It saw limited service in Vietnam in bomber escort and ground attack roles.
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 delta wing control surfaces eliminated the need for horizontal control surfaces (stabilizer and elevators). Built by Convair (General Dynamics); the F-102 was the first all-weather supersonic jet interceptor. First to use the 'area rule' design concept which pushed the speed beyond the sonic barrier, the F-102 was to be superseded by the more advanced F-106, which could exceed 1,000 mph.
Crew: 1
Length: 68 ft 4 in (20.83 m)
Wingspan: 38 ft 1 in (11.61 m)
Height: 21 ft 2 in (6.45 m)
Wing area: 95 ft² (64.57m²)
Empty weight: 19,350 lb (8,777 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 31,500 lb (14,300 kg)
Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney J57-P-25 afterburning turbojet
Maximum speed: Mach 1.25 (825 mph, 1,304 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m)
Range: 1,350 mi (1,170 nmo, 2,175 km)
Service ceiling: 53,400 ft (16,300 m)
Rate of climb: 13,000 ft/min (66 m/s)
Rockets: 24 × 2.75 in (70 mm) FFAR (Folding Fin Aerial Rocket) unguided rockets in missile bay doors
Air-to-Air missiles:
6 × AIM-4 Falcon air-to-air missiles or
3 × AIM-4 Falcon; or
1 × AIM-26 Falcon with conventional or nuclear warhead
MG-10 fire control system