A Short History: Unveiling the F-106 Delta Dart - Cold War's Premier Interceptor

[@BuccaneerOverland]

79-83 I was a MA1 tech at Tyndall AFB. Still have fond memories of the F-106.

[@gsmollin2]

In 1971 I was at Hamilton AFB, Novato, CA. Every morning the F-106's would take off, showing the power of their "hard light" afterburners. I loved watching this show, and went near the end of the runway whenever I could. It's still a great memory. Much later I worked for AEL in Lansdale, PA where they converted F-106s to QF-106 target drones. I always thought it was an inglorious end to a thoroughbred interceptor.

[@A_Short_History]

Thanks for sharing! Seeing these kinds of stories in the commentaries is always wonderful. And yes, understand your feelings about the drone conversion.

[@cascadianrangers728]

That's like turning a Kentucky Derby winner into glue! It's sad, but horses get old. Better to go out as a target drone than sit in the boneyard if you ask me.

[@JohnSmith-de2mz]

When I was about 9 I got to see my Dad do a low pass in front of the stands at an Air Show at Andrews about 1961 in a 106, at the end of the pass he lit the afterburner and did a vertical climb out. I was the proudest kid there.

[@user-dz8zn9br7c]

1973-75 my first aircraft was the F-106 at Kingsley field in Klamath Falls Oregon. 5 minute alert birds. Fond memories of the 6!!

[@russvoight1167]

I have a picture given to me by my squadron commander, 28th FMS Ellsworth AFB SD of three F-106s from the 5th FIS, Minot AFB ND flying past Mount Rushmore. Was great to see this video with pictures from the 5th FIS. Did 30 days TDY at Minot February of 1979

[@A_Short_History]

Sound like a nice picture.

[@JohnSmith-de2mz]

My Dad flew everything from CG-4 gliders to F-4's in Vietnam, but his favorite was the 6

[@cascadianrangers728]

Oh man the interceptor mission is so badass. Scramble, take off, and full throttle towards the enemy until you get missle lock! No higher stakes, a single surviving bomber would mean the destruction of at least one city and hundreds of thousands of deaths. The cold war is just insane, and I would love to meet the men who flew this mission! They must have been quite the pilots!

[@armedreptile7889]

F106 is an epic looking plane

[@A_Short_History]

Very true!

[@goUkraine]

Yup, is/was/and forever will be the best looking interceptor of all time. A lot of people still really like the six. I am one of them.

[@allannantes8583]

@@goUkraineThe CF/105 Avro Arrow was better looking and away better interceptor. Look it up.

[@benspigener3037]

F4 Phantom

[@user-kw5hx7ji8h]

Awesome

[@A_Short_History]

An awesome aircraft indeed.

[@stuartkidney3257]

Excellent overview and graphics; pilots from Selfridge AFB (now ANG) flew these and used to do low altitude (200 ft high) flybys over Lake St. Clair just under Mach 1 - great recruiting tool! The F-106 was the backbone patrolling the Northern Skies keeping us Michiganders safe back in the 60's and 70's. I assume F-16s took over most AFNORTH/NORAD duties after that era.

[@A_Short_History]

Thans for watching!

[@goUkraine]

DUDE! I live just a couple of miles of away from Selfridge. I can tell you that the F-106A was far and away the absolute best looking aircraft ever deployed. Nothing like it since. The tail and nose art of the MI ANG Six squadron was legendary, and even pushed the envelope of what was allowed. When that squadron transitioned to F-4Cs they got the same nose and tail treatment. After the F-4C they briefly had F-16As. Now they have A-10s. My opinion: The F-4C could not have possibly been a good replacement for the F-106A in the interceptor role. It was a downgrade. Who made that decision? Actually, even the F-16 is outclassed by the F-106A in the interceptor role. The only plane that came close was the F-15A, but that was below 45,000ft. Above 45,000ft the F-106A rules again, besting more than few F-15s in supersonic air combat. Just ask Bruce Gordon! The very first time I saw the Six it was a flight of four (in formation) into Wurtsmith AFB back in the 1970s. They were based there along with Buffs at the time. I was thoroughly hooked. I cannot get enough of this aircraft.

[@jwagner1993]

This bird were supercruise capable, this means, he could get supersonic without burners when on clean configuration

[@taylormckee9627]

Today it still holds the speed record for a single engine aircraft of 1529.95 MPH or Mach 2.39. One night I saw an alert takeoff from the klaxon to disappearance in the air. As they taxied to the runway from the barn, they were acerating and as they made the turn onto the runway you could hear the tires squealing and the AB igniting. They were about 1/3 of the way down the runway when they were airborne, and wheels were stored. It didn't take them long before they were out of sight.

[@well-blazeredman6187]

Phwoar, what a looker! Efficient video.

[@1955nomad]

5 FIS Minot AFB 1967-1970

[@veng3r663]

Does anyone know WHAT newer plane took over their role as interceptors..?

[@goUkraine]

F-15 series, and now the F-22. I still like the F-106A and wish they were still around. Better looking plane than either the F-15 OR F-22.

[@veng3r663]

@@goUkraine Ahh, cool Thanks. I just wasn't sure if the F-104 Starfighter was ever slotted for its role...

[@goUkraine]

@@veng3r663 No, not really. The F-104 didn't have the range without a lot of drag inducing external fuel tanks. The role that the F-104 excelled at was low level penetration due to a very small radar cross section and high speed. Who would have thought the F-104 would be a good interdiction aircraft? Probably not the original designer, who was Kelly Johnson from the Lockheed Skunk Works.

[@user-jg6vl9jo9r]

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