DAGGER ON A POLE

Air Classics, Mar 2004

Important Cold War survivor

The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was the USAF's first delta wing aircraft to achieve operational service, one of the USAF's most important all-weather Cold War combat aircraft, contracts would be issued that would see the proauction of 875 F-IOZAs. The F-102 had been assigned as becoming operationally only armed with guided missiles and unguided rockets - a 1950s' conceit that proved to be operationally unrealistic, reports MiIo Peltzer.

However, the type did become an extremely important Cold War interceptor and formed a distinct threat to possible Soviet aggression. Unfortunately, few F-102s survive today in reasonable condition. One of the nicer examples is on a pole in a park in downtown Great Falls, Montana. USAF s/n 56-1105 last served with the Montana Air National Guard.