The F-102 Delta Dagger
The F-102 Delta Dagger was designed primarily to intercept and kill hostile aircraft. It was the first operational delta-wing aircraft in the USAF’s history as well as the first supersonic all-weather jet interceptor in the world. On October 24, 1953, the F-102 conducted its first flight. In 1956, it joined the Air Defense Command and began operating regularly. During the peak of their use in the late 1950s, F-102 aircraft outfitted over 25 ADC squadrons. Out of the 1,000 F-102s that Convair produced, 889 were F-102As.
Vietnam was the destination of the F-102 Delta Dagger fighter aircraft from the 16th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing at Naha Air Base, Okinawa.
F-102 pilot alone in the cockpit of a KC-135
Former F-102 pilot Roger Daisley recalls on Quora;
‘During the Vietnam era, I was stationed in Okinawa, as a pilot, flying the F-102. I had just finished an R&R to the states and was returning to Okinawa. To get back, I caught a “hop” in a KC-135 (Jet tanker) from Travis Air Force Base, California, to Okinawa. Normally, the passengers sit in the back of the aircraft, where many times it is also packed with cargo, such as spare engines, etc. In this flight, there were about five to ten passengers, as I recall.
‘About halfway through the flight, I decided to walk up to the cockpit and chat with the pilots. I was wearing my fighter pilot flight suit. (In the KC-135, the entrance to the cockpit is not blocked or locked. It is not unusual for a passenger to walk up front and talk to the crew members).’
Daisley continues;
‘We chatted about “pilot things,” such as: Where are we now, what are you using for navigation aid, (before GPS) how is the fuel going and what is our ETA… those kind of things. After about fifteen minutes, the Copilot, sitting in the right seat, asked if I would like to sit in his seat for awhile, while he took a break. The AC (Aircraft Commander), who sits in the left seat, agreed, so I slid into the right seat, as the copilot departed.
10 minutes of KC-135 flying time
‘After about ten minutes, and more “pilot talk,” the AC said he was going to go back and get a cup of coffee. He got up and left the cockpit. So… there I was, the only pilot in the cockpit and I have never piloted a KC-135 before! I sat there and contemplated and marveled at the situation (the aircraft was on autopilot).
‘After about ten minutes, the AC returned and we started chatting again. He asked, “How long have you been flying the KC-135?” I replied, “About ten minutes… I’m an F-102 pilot.” No comment! End of chatting.’
Daisley concludes; ‘I logged 10 minutes of KC-135 flying time in my Air Force flight log!’
Photo by U.S. Air Force
