THE DEUCE IS LOOSE: The Magnificent Delta Dagger Was A 1950s Tech Fest And Vietnam Campfire Killer

The F-102 Delta Dagger - the Deuce - is one of the most instantly recognisable 1950s aircraft. It has the classic interceptor 'look' of a big delta wing, knife-like fuselage and big single engine. Many of us grew up with it as a poster child for speed and firepower. It made for a great model kit.
But the real aircraft had a complicated gestation and an unusual career. Failing to live up to its performance promises, it was rendered obsolete by a successor that became only operational three years after the Deuce's introduction. Its ambitious and technologically cutting edge weapons system took many years to perfect.
And yet this pure bred, slightly underperforming fighter still made an important contribution in the crucial middle years of the Cold War. Sitting on alert across North America, it acted as a deterrent against Soviet aggression. Over the jungles of South East Asia it played an unheralded role as a jack of all trades air superiority fighter, even serving as an unorthodox strike fighter from time-to-time.
In this extensive assessment, I go deep into the Deuce as a part of North American air defence, as an interceptor and as a part of the war effort in Vietnam. I really hope you enjoy this one. It answered some significant questions for me. As ever, comments greatly appreciated.
Notes and Sources:
Amongst other sources, I got a lot of the information in this video from:
Convair F-102 Delta Dagger by Wayne Mutza, an incredibly comprehensive text on the type
F-102 Delta Dagger Units by Peter E Davies, which was particularly useful for its interviews with pilots
F-102 Delta Dagger in Detail and Scale but Bert Kinsey and Rock Roszak was great for the finer points of the Deuce's weapon system
Wings Of Fame, Volume 17 provided some very useful additional information
Other sources:
A maintainer talks about IR/Radar slaving: tombenjey.com/tag/f-102/a
Some interesting Vietnam photos: oldsargesaircraft.blogspot.co...

[@awger90210]

My dad was a SAGE AIC and spent time in Canada (eh) running 101s and 102s. Several of their attack profiles were one-way, because they never pulled out of burner (running out of gas and bailing out was part of the plan)... and the track update time was four to eight seconds (on a good day) when only one of the consoles was active. If all four consoles were active and it was a bad day, it was more like 20-30 seconds. After Canada he spent time in SEA controlling tankers (squadron motto: "We pass gas"). He told me a story of a 105 that asked for some gas on his way back south... every package and track was on a tight schedule, so butting in was frowned upon... "Are you declaring an emergency?" "Well, I'd rather not, but I could use the gas..." Dad squeezed him into the lineup, the 105 hooks up, and the boom operator keys up and says, "Uh, we got a problem here -- this guy is spewing gas about as fast as I can pump it in." Needless to say, an emergency was declared... decks were cleared, schedules were slipped, and the 105 stayed hooked to the tanker all the way home... disconnected, landed, and flamed out on rollout. Story was he took a 57mm right through the engine; no idea why it kept running, or didn't just explode. The squadron got a case of scotch from the pilot.

[@i-..--..--..-i6985]

I remember reading about that tanker towing flight. Didn’t the tanker pilot get awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor?

[@steveperreira5850]

That is a good story and they solved the problem with good reasoning

[@andreperrault5393]

Yes, both a Thud (105) and Phantom had this happen. Your dad did a great job as part of the KC-135 aircrew. He flew the refueling probe with the 2 pilots flying their planes, keeping the Thud in the air and not damaging the 135.

[@Idahoguy10157]

Great job. The Scotch is the least he can do!

[@DaveSCameron]

You're using an Ai narration prog. here aren't you.. 👈

[@mschaffner2270]

You used several of my father's (Lt. Bill Schaffner) shots while he was assigned to the 509th FIS (1965-67). Thank you! This makes me very happy.

[@Jakecloudsuck]

I have about 1000 hours in the deuce. I flew in the National Guard and had tours in Da Nang and Anchorage. That was a very balanced review of the airplane. However, all the automatic data link features, and the automatic landing features never worked. We never trusted them. We would turn them on every now and then, just for the heck of it and watch it jerk around. GCI would vector us to the intercept until we called a Judy, which meant that we had contact and we’re taking control from there. We would lock on and get a steering dot in a circle . We kept the dot within the circle and squeezed the trigger . When we got the X it meant that the missile had fired. Many fun stories about this wonderful plane. My first and best love even after flying the F-4 and F-16.

[@Thenonsocial]

That's awesome! When was this?

[@Jakecloudsuck]

@@Thenonsocial I checked out in them after pilot training in 1966 and flew them with the Air National guard until 71. I think . that included my tours to Danang and Alaska. It’s quite an airplane. And the people that think that they heard the sonic booms from the airplanes flying those were the afterburners. They were very hard light so you’d throw the throttle forward and count two potatoes and then there'd be a giant boom and the after burner would kick in. It was lotta fun. Fun, scaring cows.

[@guaporeturns9472]

Tell us some stories

[@papadopp3870]

Thanks for giving the 102 a fair go! Your releases are heavily anticipated!

[@frankpienkosky5688]

remember seeing 102's flying over my house well before 1960...and this with an air guard unit protecting Pittsburgh...they replaced the F-86D's ....little did I know that these birds likely had a nuclear weapon on board!.......years later I discovered a pair of Air Force bunkers hidden deep in the woods while out hunting...and a sign on the wall saying "capacity 24 missiles"...but it never said what kind.....factor that in with the Nike Hercules sites surrounding the city...which were also nuclear capable....and it created a nightmare scenario......people sleeping soundly without ever realizing what was all-around them....

[@jonathanhudak2059]

@frankpienkosky5688 very cool story!👍

[@VikingTeddy]

For those interested, Bruce Gordon has more about the 102 and 106 on his channel. He used to fly them back in the day and has some interesting stories.

[@anthonyhayes1267]

The deuce walked so the six could dominate

[@lancerevell5979]

Having been an avionics tech on the F-106, I agree! 😎👍

[@jameson1239]

Ever since I learned about it I always thought the dart was underrated if only it had better missiles

[@garyhand5104]

So cool to me that it had internal weapon bays

[@hertzair1186]

Like how you use model kit box art for your thumbnails. Plus your narration is excellent in tone and content. You definitely are up there with Rex’s hangar and Ed Nash.

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

He is one of the easier narrators to listen to.

[@mikepette4422]

@@rudolphguarnacci197 a little slower but not bad at all and gives good explanations of the procedures which arent always so clear even reading them

[@Luso308]

A Revell kit that i still have!

[@billballbuster7186]

I love the Convair F-102 since my boyhood hobby of aircraft modeling back in the early 1960s. I saw my first F-102A at Thessaloniki airport belonging to the Greek AF in 1971. When I married I found out my wife's father worked on the F-102 production at the San Diego factory at what was then Lindberg Field. We have an F-102A (56-1268) at the El Cajon Gillespie Field, annex of San Diego Air & Space Museum, just across the freeway from our home, its got faded paint but its pure magic. It is a wonderful classic jet interceptor of the 1950s and as a child I always loved the delta layout.

[@F1fan56]

I spent almost 4 years in Goose Bay Labrador as a young lad in the 1960s. F-102s were stationed at the US airbase there and we could hear them going supersonic on a regular basis. That glorious noise was the sound of freedom, and I loved it! Things seemed dreadfully quiet when we moved back to west coast BC...

[@billwellford376]

My father was a pilot in the USAF from '56-'84. His first assignment after completing Advanced Pilot Training was flying the F-102 in the 48th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Langley AFB.

[@davidherbst]

"There is always something just around the corner. That still leaves the problem of today and tomorrow." This is at once the most clinical and poetic summation of the perpetual arms race I have ever heard.

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

A severely underrated and forgotten aircraft thanks for telling it's story which sounds like the same "trap" the F-22 fell into despite both frames successfully deterred WW3.

[@raygay4580]

Thanks for this great production covering all the roles of the old Deuce. I was a MG-10 mechanic for 3 years in USAFE.. It was an exciting time with constant alerts and exercises as we were 5 minutes from East Germany. Long hours were a given and a policy change was made to keep us from working over 12 hours per shift on some busy weeks - we liked to finish our birds and not turn them over to another shift. I spent a lot of time reading the TRs, especially the intercept theory parts which I couldn't understand completely. It was the same curiosity that took me through an advanced degree in Aerospace Engineering. I finished out at the F-102 training base (Perrin AFB) and headed off to college in 1967🏁. I still remember black box numbers and a lot of the test procedures from those days in Germany, as well as the engineering principles picked up in my everyday job, maintaining the MG-10 systems. To this day, if I am timing something without a watch, I imagine the 1-second timer dial on the 049 unit as it ran the intercept steering self diagnostic. It was always rewarding when a pilot would come hang out with us to learn more about their bird and watch us do our thing. If I could go back and do it over, I would!🏁

[@thomasbell7033]

Thank you for giving the old Deuce her due. It's always overshadowed by the more capable and glamorous F-106 Delta Dart. I am an aviation writer, and have long considered Convair's gorgeous Deltas to be my favorite jets. (I'm including the B-58 Hustler and the Sea Dart here as well. I'd love to see you take on these ltwo aircraft.) About the Deuce, I'd only add a couple of things: It was flown by both the Greek and Turkish Air forces, the only foreign operators. The side-by-side two-seat trainer version retained the missile bay, but with its wide forward cross-section was subsonic. And, according to two of my friends who flew the Deuce as young ANG pilots, so was the single-seater unless it was new and in perfect nick. Including the two-seaters, exactly 1,000 F-102's were delivered.

[@stevesloan7132]

It was one of the most beautiful aircraft ever produce for the US. Especially in polished aluminum with those cool USAF markings!

[@frankpienkosky5688]

red tails were pretty common....

[@Redhand1949]

Thank you for this. I was an Air Force kid living on Long Island, New York, during the 1950s when my father was stationed as an ROTC instructor at NYU in Manhattan. He was also a pilot (KB-29s and other multi-engine A/C). We weren't too far from Suffolk County Air Force Base and visited there every year on "Air Force Day," when there was an open house. I can remember being allowed to sit in the cockpit of an F-102 one time and my amazement at how complicated the interior looked. But my biggest surprise was the lack of real visibility looking forward into that V-shaped windscreen! Incredibly, there was a black divider (you can see it in some of the video footage) that ran straight down the middle of the windscreen from top to bottom. I think the only way you could "look forward" was by positioning your nose in line with the divider so that one eye looked down each side of it! It always struck me as exceedingly strange, and to this day, I don't know why that divider existed. Was the pilot supposed to have any real visibility out of the forward cockpit at all, or was this always a "look sideways, if at all" airplane? Because all the firing was done by radar? Does anyone know? Anyway, thanks for an informative trip down memory lane explaining what I was looking at as a boy some sixty-plus years ago!

[@frankpienkosky5688]

plane was an interceptor...not a dogfighter.....

[@romainnelseng3264]

Here’s my try at explaining the Deuce sight-divider. Seated centered in the cockpit and peering forward as in landing, the device began at the sides of the metal forefront holding the heated plexiglass triangular slabs. Moving aft, those two narrowed to no more than 3/8” or less, creating an optical illusion, tricking my “mind’s eye” to see no more than a narrow slice, rather than the width of what was there. Thus the seriously substantial impediment to landing while looking at piece of metal smack-dab center to the runway’s view was reduced by sending the sight of each eye along the sides of the eye divider, in line with the well-developed premise that air defense was and remains an easy mark for pitches to take the buyer around any plane. Please excuse me; I know better, but couldn’t help myself. Ro

[@shadovanish7435]

I suspect the F-102's windshield center divider was used due to the windshield's aerodynamic design, & the divider was a required strength component to withstand the aerodynamic loads on the windshield's frame structure; the aerodynamic loads would be considerable, & would increase with higher airspeeds.

[@markskaggs5493]

Thank you for this labor of love, The Deuce is eternal iconic with modern day day flight,(imo). I was a 13 year old boy from Indiana enjoying my 1st family trip to Treasure Island, Florida, on or about the 3rd da, my father and I were on the beach when suddenly 2 F-102s' flew over our heads toward the Gulf and making a wide 180 degree turn around, giving us our own private Air Show. A beautiful piece of art.

[@JohnHill-qo3hb]

Excellent video, thank you. I served in 409 AWF, Canadian Armed Forces, CFB Comox on the CF-101B (F-101B) part of my career. I remember the 102 at Tyndall AFB, targets along with the Firebees (I think) on two William Tell compititions. There were the ANG guys in their 106's at that time. Your video has taught me a great deal about the Deuce, thanks again.

[@apocalypsesioux]

A great counterfoil to the deuce being an expensive, ineffective white elephant doing little except getting destroyed in Viet-nam, which comprises most F-102 summary narratives. An eye opener on it's extensive service in Viet-nam. Thanks for this.

[@xray86delta]

My father was air force during the height of the Cold War, usually working with Air Defense command, or NORAD, as his specialty was Communications. Growing up on several airbases, the interceptors were always my favorite as a child! The delta wing, supersonic fighters of that era became the symbol of U.S. airpower to me. An excellent video! 😉

[@frankpienkosky5688]

remember touring the local air-defense command center as an ROTC cadet back in '64...looked just like some you see in the movies....no windows, lead-lined bricks near the doors, totally self-contained with its own fuel and water supply, several radar consoles, blue lights and officers up in a glass-fronted room overseeing the whole thing...this was just outside Pittsburgh...but the regional center was up in Syracuse...one of the operators let me pick out a target which he then zeroed in on requesting transponder data telling me if he didn't get it they would go on alert and jets would be scrambled...pretty attention-getting...but I did manage to get on their nerves during the after-tour briefing when I asked about the nukes.....didn't seem to want to talk about that......who knew then that years later I would wind-up as part of the security force guarding that very same base.....

[@markcoveryourassets]

I guess they were concerned about youth kooks with loose nukes. Great story. Thank you for sharing.

[@corkydziadosz5898]

Yes ! '56 - '57 Wheelus A.F. base in Tripoli !

[@wheel6243]

another great video. pleasant narration voice. No annoying music. Subbed.

[@prentissmandrews2948]

Good episode. I would point out that from 1966 to about 1970, F-102's of the 82nd FIW were based at Naha Air Base, Okinawa. In addition to continuous availability for scramble, they worked daily with the GCI sites of the 623rd AC&W squadron on intercept training, several times on large flights launched from passing U.S. or (at least once) British aircraft carriers. Aircraft from both the FIW and personnel from both that unit and the 623rd AC&W Squadron were sent in Operation Combat Fox response to the USS Pueblo seizure to Suwon Air Base, South Korea. Portions of the FIW were continually on rotation from Okinawa to South Korea until relieved around 1970. I was a part of the 623rd AC&W Squadron participation. I completed my active duty tour in July, 1969 and separated from the service at that time, so my dates after that are approximate. One other thing regarding the F-102 activity from Okinawa: On at least two occasions during my tour of duty, we controlled aircraft from the 82nd FIW to intercept Soviet Bison or Bear reconnaissance aircraft flights. They were usually intercepted from Japan over the Sea of Japan and escorted to within radar range of the Ryukyu's, where the 82nd FIR scrambled and we controlled them to intercept and escort. The Soviet aircraft then turned back north and were handed off again to control from interceptors based in Japan proper.

[@frankpienkosky5688]

the Bison never really panned-out for the Soviets...but they did manage to fool us by flying the same planes over and over again during a May Day parade...making us think their numbers were greater than they actually were......

[@christopherneufelt8971]

It was a Running Technology Demonstrator and Development Plattform on Active Duty. Honestly, as an aircraft it fulfilled its role in every aspect, from Lean Engineering Techniques in Production to Access Points in Maintenance Design to active deployment to hazardous environment. The only people that will claim that this was not a good aircraft are people (traditionally called Idiots, at least in my village) that do not have knowledge of aerospace technologies and deployment of defence systems. For me it was an iconic aircraft as well as legend of its time.

[@davekisor1486]

During the early 1960s, my Dad was stationed at Fort Shafted (Shafter, but for his MOS, it sucked) just outside of Honolulu. During my 7th grade English class, a pair of 102s began their daily patrol, drowning out our teacher. I waited for that moment.

[@klsc8510]

I knew a Major at Griffiss AFB, NY. He told me about flying the "Deuce" in Alaska. One mission was supposed to be a high altitude navigation run. That was boring so he dropped down to very low altitude figuring no one would notice. He was buzzing along the ground happily when suddenly he noticed a town ahead. He pulled up and climbed as fast as possible hoping no one on the ground would see him well enough to catch his "buzz number". When he landed, his squadron commander met him at the ramp. BUSTED! He got his butt chewed on the spot. No other action was taken. He enjoyed his time with the "Deuce".

[@zeroelus]

I've not seen such a thorough and nuanced take on the deuce before. Wonderful work!! Happy to see your channel is 10K+ subscribers and climbing, with this type of work I'm sure it will be much larger in no time. While I love the "102B" it's pretty amazing how radical the changes where from the initial prototype to the final production spec on the F-102A. I absolutely get why there was a need to give the 102B a different designation, but it would have been a fair name up to a point considering how much it evolved, matching how quickly things where evolving in aerospace technology at the time, going from a plane that could barely go supersonic to the fastest single engined plane built. Considering how you have us spoiled, please please please do a follow on of this quality for the 106.

[@frankpienkosky5688]

apparently "coke-bottle" made all the difference for the 102....

[@geraldhaas277]

I was on the ground crew for the 509th FIS at Clark Air Base in the Philippines 1959 - 1961. The F-102's replaced the F-86D and were a beautiful plane to maintain. The engine was started by a small Jet Rocket engine which used compressed air to spin the rotor and start the main engine. Thus, the 102 was capable of starting very quickly without connecting and disconnecting (APU) auxiliary power units. Once I was TDY to Kun Kwan Taiwan and the F-102's flew missions with the Nationalist China Air Force F-101's. What a thrill as the (F-101's) buzzed the control tower with both its Afterburners screaming. Very exciting stuff for a 19-year-old airman. Your video brought back a lot of wonderful memories.

[@raygay4580]

I can still feel the rumble that shook the bed at night from Deuces on the trim pad. It felt like they were right in the back yard! Could sleep through it after a while.

[@pastorrich7436]

I remember watching the Deuces of the Oregon Air National Guard Redhawks from a roadside viewpoint at Portland International Airport in the late 60s. A cherished memory. Years later, I was the Operations Manager of a flight school in Atlanta, where the Chief Pilot had been with the Redhawks and had a photo in his office taken with his old plane, then on display at the Warner-Robbins AFB Museum. They were like heroes to me and still are to a great extent. Thank you for such great reporting and storytelling. Once the F-102s were retired the 123rd FIS flew the F-101B. Go Redhawks!

[@frankpienkosky5688]

didn't ol' "W" fly one of these to stay out of Vietnam?

[@pastorrich7436]

@@frankpienkosky5688 Yes, he was with the Texas ANG.

[@eskieman3948]

@@frankpienkosky5688 He was a 102 driver for the Texas ANG, BUT, unlike the BS story you just stated, he DID volunteer to go to Vietnam (documented) to fly 102s over there. They denied his request. Sorry!

[@mpetersen6]

The only fighters I remember seeing as a kid were F-86s at Truax Field outside of Madison WI. Deeper inside North America there was more SAM based point defense around major urban areas. In the 50s the Air Force started building Bong Air Force Base about 15 miles west of us. Cancelled before they even started pouring concrete for the runways. Now the site of a state recreation area and county golf course.

[@pyronuke4768]

I've been loving this series on 1950's interceptors! My great uncle worked with F-101 Voodoo pilots in Vietnam, and I would love to know more about them since like many others of this era they're mostly brushed aside.

[@toomanyhobbies400]

I was eight when my folks bought a home under the downwind leg of Paine Field, Everett, WA. I soaked up hundreds of approaching Scorpions and later the F-102s. They usually came in pairs. However, sometimes a single Deuce would approach at 15k feet and then spiral down in a tight turn, leveling out at the last moment to approach into the wind. My Dad also took me many times to air shows at Paine, where I could see those cold war warriors up close (including an F-101 with wing tanks)!

[@old_guard2431]

Excellent. A lot of work here, developing the script, getting background footage and graphics. An impressive and under appreciated fighter.

[@notapound]

Thanks for the kind comment. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@user-en9zo2ol4z]

The development of the Convair f-102, culminating in the perfection of the F-106 was a remarkable event in aeronautical history.

[@steveperreira5850]

I was an avionics technician on the F106 Delta Dart, so I worked on all the radio communications, including data link and as well that very interesting tactical situation display, projector screen, round, right between the knees of the pilot, showing the map of the terrain below, and super imposed on that, a little F106 (looked like a big Fly) and as well the target aircraft. It was super easy to follow, even the dumbest pilot could do it. All the data was coming from ground control. Truly a remarkable aircraft. I’m not sure the missiles were worth a damn, but the ballistic nuclear rocket, that was the ace in the hole…. Everything was computer controlled, absolutely no need for a pilot on interceptor missions… this was more than 60 years ago from the year 2023. Pilots were obsolete then and should be now. I am a pilot, I know what I’m talking about, I’m also an engineer, electrical engineer and I know about controls …. Pilots are the weakest link

[@user-en9zo2ol4z]

@@steveperreira5850 As brilliant as the F-106 was, and you know far better than me, the weakest link has always been the pilot, which pilots will work their damnedest to delay for as long as possible. The missiles of the day were fairly ordinary to be fair, and they still needed 30 mm canons, and I agree on the Genie missile. A single one of those could easily take out a vast array of bombers, and there was no defence against it. No jamming or electronic countermeasures, just a god all mighty BOOM. Cheers

[@frankpienkosky5688]

do you really think we would have been attacked by bombers flying in formation?@@user-en9zo2ol4z

[@hydra8845]

@@steveperreira5850you always need a human element to make the decision.

[@brettbuck7362]

@@steveperreira5850 OK, that last bit proves you know "controls" just enough to be dangerous. True full autonomy sufficient to avoid the occasional massive screw-up is FAR FAR beyond the current state of the art, it has hardly gotten any better in the last 40 years.

[@petesheppard1709]

Thanks for a great overview! For the youngsters, the 'valves' mentioned in the radar were called 'vacuum tubes' by older Americans. They looked like little bulbs that contained an electrical circuit; they were both fragile and easily replaced. Many of us can tell tales about trying to find and replace failed tubes/valves in TVs and other electronic devices, back in the day. Will there be a followup featuring the TF-102 and service with Greece and Turkiye? Besides training, the TF made important contributions to flight research.

[@MScotty90]

I got some General Electric vacuum tubes a few years back to put into an amplifier, and they turned out to be USAF surplus. The manufacture year stamped on them was 1983. I can say they certainly knew how to store them properly, these things had been in storage for over 30 years and were absolutely pristine.

[@petesheppard1709]

@@MScotty90 I'm a bit surprised they were still making tubes in the '80s!

[@Vostok7789]

Only in the past couple months or so did the USAF switch over from using 8 inch floppy disks (yup, not even 5 1/2) in their ICBM systems.

[@johnmoore8599]

The Russians found that vacuum tubes were EMP resistant unlike modern electronics. This means that the F-102's control systems could survive the EMP from their nuclear weapons.

[@tonkerdog1]

Excellent work and narration.

[@marcusott2973]

Much awaited, much appreciated looking forward to excellent insights from you, as always.

[@jacksemporiumofstuff]

As a kid in the late 70s and early 80s (born in 72) I used to build a lot of plastic model kits. I always loved WW2 warbirds, but cold war jets were my favorite at that age. I loved how the design and shape of early supersonic aircraft varied wildly. I was too young to care about international politics, so it didn't matter what the nationality of the plane was. I must have built over 100 kits back then. I didn't say the finished products looked great😂! But I sure had fun.

[@frankpienkosky5688]

I did the same...have you been to Dayton where you can see...[and touch]... the real thing?....to me that place was nirvana!

[@jacksemporiumofstuff]

@frankpienkosky5688 no but it's for sure high up on my bucket list. I really want to see the B-36 they have. They look so enormous in pictures. I bet it would really take a couple of days at least to see everything there.

[@Lafly84]

I worked in one of the former SAGE buildings in the late 80s when I was stationed at the former Fort Lee in Virginia. By then it had long since been relegated to administrative offices, but there were still intact areas not being used that housed old school map boards with hundreds of little incandescent bulbs. I knew it was an old NORAD installation, now I know the details - thanks!

[@terrygardner3031]

I had a good friend who was a MD after getting out of the Air Force. When he told me that he flew102's in Viet Nam I at first didn't believe him. I did some research and found that they were Mig cap. This episode brings to light much more information of their usefulness. Thank you so much for enlightening us on a hidden gem of a plane.

[@keithstudly6071]

Did he tell you the Mig's always won? The F-102 never successfully attacked a NV Mig. They lost about 5 of them before they gave up and tried attacking trucks on the Ho Chi Min trail with air-to-air Falcon Missiles. You can't make this stuff up!

[@terrygardner3031]

@@keithstudly6071 What he did tell me was that shortly after they switched to F100's and flew air to ground. It was 40 years ago I remember that he said they didn't fit what they were supposed to do.

[@disabldfirefiter]

The Deuce was, and remains one of my favorite aircraft in the late 50s to the seventies. I got to see the F-102 and F-106 up close and personal when I was a U.S. Air Force firefighter in the 70s. Thanks for this video!

[@vvvci]

Quire a contribution the Deuce made to early USAF supersonic fighter development and deployment, but now we have to hear the story of the 106!

[@johnwhitley2898]

Great info 👍. I learned a lot more than I thought about the 102's. I do remember that they were In service with the AZANG here at TIA in Tucson.... Saw many alert take offs with them and they had their own sound. The AZANG had a serious reputation for getting ready, up, and out to the intercept area pretty quickly. They did not mess around! Thanks again!!👍

[@donparker1823]

Very well done. I have a friend who flew the follow on F106. His description of how to employ the AIR-2 Genie [1.5Kt nuke] made me think that it would have worked pretty well.

[@Stealth639]

Just discovered your channel last week and watched all you videos already, some twice 😅. Incredibly interesting content. I've always been fascinated by post-WWII design, development, history and use of early Cold War era jet fighters and interceptors, during the late 1940s, 1950s , 1960s and 1970s.

[@moistmike4150]

The level of technological advancement in just a little more than a decade after WW2 to the mid-/late '50s is almost miraculous.

[@frankpienkosky5688]

the military....especially the Air Force....had a practically unlimited budget back then....amazing what a little russian push can do!

[@micodyerski1621]

U.S. planes stopped carrying IR detectors bc they just used the SideWinders' seeker.😮

[@romainnelseng3264]

A broad historical sweep around and about the Deuce, reflective to me to take in again, a pilot who enjoyed flying her for some nine years. Your production took me back to then, evoking smiles and a few tears too. Well done. Thank you again, RO Nelsen

[@sergeipohkerova7211]

I always wished there was a movie about a fictional, all-out Soviet massed bomber raid on the USA, say 1958, and it's literally 500 Tu95s and the American interceptors are the f100 and f102, and we see the nuclear Genie in action. And the Soviets get Mig 19 escorts that got in flight refuelled. What a movie! I can picture William Holden and Gregory Peck in it, with like Humphrey Bogart ad a general and maybe Henry Fonda in there somewhere.

[@frankpienkosky5688]

my view of all that....considering all the nukes around us without factoring in the bad guys....was to take a lawn chair out on the porch, sit down....and enjoy the show!....it was likely to be my last......by the way, Henry Fonda played the president in "Fail-Safe"......

[@JGCR59]

As far as I recall they were exported and one was lost in an "incident" in the usual Greco-Turkish spats though sources differ on wether it crashed on landing or was shot down by a greek F-5. Excellent video btw, labour of love really showed :)

[@melgillham462]

My dad was AF stationed in Thailand. He was ordinance tech on buffs. My brother however was 173rd AAR his AO was 2 corps central highlands and they did a lot of time on NDPs on the trail with listening posts. There were blanket drop missions of microphones that they would monitor and advise on activity. I have very fond memories of my dad when stateside. We would load up in the truck on the weekends and go get fries and a shake from Mc D's and go out to then active Lowry AFB in Denver Co. And spend the afternoon talking, laughing, and watching aircraft. Very good times. I was very blessed to get both my father and brother back from that war.

[@PumaTwoU]

12:49 - In the commentary about the guidance system, the narrator uses the word 'valves' which is the British term for vacuum tubes.

[@daviddedick14]

An obvious labor of love! Richly detailed, incredibly informative.

[@callenclarke371]

Can I just say that the opening paragraph of this script is perfect? Perfectly written. Current, focused, insightful, and terse. Ok. I'm gonna watch the rest now. But kudos for that.

[@AdurianJ]

The Swedish Draken and F102/106 are somewhat similar as the armament system and datalinks where delivered by Hughes on both aircraft. The Draken also used the Falcon air to air missile. The aircraft had a similar role as air defence interceptors.

[@BillyJ244]

Back in the day you could go to your local drugstore. They had a machine there it was a tube tester. If your vacuum tubes were bad it would tell you. We had vacuum tubes in TVs and radios. It was back when you fixed your TV when it was not working. These days everything is disposable and you buy another one. They had vacuum tubes and everything. So our early computers had them as well. So when they put these computers on airplanes like the f-102 it was considered high tech for the time.

[@raygay4580]

Tech school at Lowry was where I got my first electronics education. We barely touched on transistors! Our birds in Germany eventually all got upgraded with IR equipment which was solid-state.

[@thevoxofreason8468]

Well done. The 102 always fascinated me. As a child in the 80's and 90's, it was extremely hard to find information on this aircraft.

[@neilturner6749]

True - ADC and it’s aircraft always seem to go “under the radar” so to speak when it comes to published histories. I think the Schiffer book written by Mutza in the ‘90s remains the only in-depth analysis of the Deuce, and even it’s still quite lightweight considering the big production run and 20yr service career of the type.

[@michaelsnyder3871]

The "missile" being loaded in the F-102A was not an AIM-26 Super Falcon, it is an AIR-2 Genie nuclear armed rocket. It was fired on a ballistic path directed by the fire control system and a timer/proximity fuze would fire the nuclear warhead.

[@phantomkea2]

I believe there was a live test firing as well

[@GrimReaper-wz9me]

@@phantomkea2Yes. In fact the author has included a 'still' from that famous F-89 Genie live launch.

[@Fderfler]

Yes AIR-2A Genie for sure. And yes, the F-89 shot it!

[@jimmclaughlin1065]

In fact, Genies were never operationally used on F-102s. We did a test fit but the program was never adopted on the deuce. By late 68 they carried only Aim-4A and D Falcons and 2.75 rockets. Aim-26 A and Bs were available but generally never loaded at most U.S. ADC bases. We regularly test fired missiles at Tyndall against BQM-34A Firebee drones with good success. The missiles themselves worked well; their main limiting factors in tactical combat being poor aircraft fire control systems, lack of a proximity fuse, small blast frag warhead. and lack of extended IR detector cooling. Aim4D guidance unit IR detection ability was very good; better than the Aim-9 Sidewinders up to the L series. They were the first missile to use an Indium antimonide Argon cooled detector.

[@raygay4580]

We loaded them in Germany, taxied out, came back to the ramp and downloaded them. There was also a H.E. version. Only senior MG-10 troops present on the ramp. The rest of us guarded with unloaded carbines.@@jimmclaughlin1065

[@mattharcla]

Outstanding as always. Terrific voice-over tone for this type of material.

[@mpetersen6]

One should never forget that in the 50s and 60s the US and Canada also deployed SAM batteries for point defense of major urban areas. The Nike and Nike Zues were housed in concrete bunkers that covered logical approach vectors. Part of this SAM reliance resulted in the cancellation of the CF-106 Arrow.

[@sergioleone3583]

Your labor of love was WELL worth your effort, as usual. Thank you for this informative an interesting video on a plane that doesn't often get this kind of analysis and spotlight. Looking forward to your next one!

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

Informative, well-modulated narrator covering an interesting period of transition following the immediate post-war era. I never lost interest during this entire treatise.

[@michaeldenesyk3195]

There are segments showing a Genie being loaded into a F-106.

[@johnmoore8599]

Thanks for that historical summary! Nice presentation and collection of F-102 footage. I knew little of that aircraft except that it was an air defense interceptor, and it was one of the first to benefit from the area rule.

[@pablofalcao1700]

Amazing history. Thanks for your dedication.

[@frankgulla2335]

Thank you for a detailed and illustrious video on the Delta Dagger.

[@daveskinner5131]

My Dad flew 86Ds then transitioned to 102s along with the rest of the 431st; went to Perrin as an IP in the Tub, then finally Darts. So thank you.

[@joshkamp7499]

Another incredible video, perhaps the best yet. The information alone is simply top notch, but your script writing and delivery could make a cake recipe completely fascinating. Keep up the amazing work.

[@andrewdickens9697]

I loved the video! Man I just discovered your channel a few weeks ago and binge watched every video! And now I'm watching every new video the day it comes out! I absolutely love your channel! Keep up the amazing work! F106 next!!! Or even a voodoo video ;) haha

[@jeffjames1743]

Great commentary on a under-appreciated aircraft. I wish there was even 1 of them flying today!

[@Fderfler]

SAGE weapons controller. Excellent episode! I believe you will find there was one Genie Nuke test fired from an F-89. The ANG in Great Falls MT did a great job with their deuces. They had a better O/R rate than the active duty F-106 squadrons. Of course, the grey haired line chiefs helped!

[@PhantomLover007]

One thing that is definite is the pilot workload when trying to do an intercept. Having to guide the radar to the target with the control sticks and then trying to fly the aircraft itself, seems to be a hell of a lot of work.

[@sped17373]

@ 14:16 it briefly shows the USAF radar station of Hofn, on the east coast of Iceland...I have a few old 35mm slides of Hofn taken from the air by my dad on an inspection of the site. Rockville radar station was similar, with two of those white spheres housing the radar itself. Fun fact--those big white spheres were actually made of a very thin--as in less than 1/4" thick--rubber kind of material. I don't recall any kind of framework inside, it was all held up by air pressure if I remember right. While we were there the whole "rubber" sphere was dismantled and replaced with a geodesic panel sphere...I have some old slides of this major work project.

[@somebloke4027]

That was great, thank you. Fascinating, insightful and eye-opening.

[@chrisbflory]

Even the narration editing errors where he mispeaks pleasantly hums are so unexpected and charming as to make the whole serious documentary all the more endearing. Keep it up. Binging your content for the first time now. Love it.

[@daszieher]

Thank you for this one! It is clear from listening to you that it is a labour of love! 😊

[@AV-sl9wg]

Great video. You covered many interesting things that usually get overlooked by more popular aircraft. Thanks for such detailed research. Learned new insights not covered by others.

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

Fuel tanks shaped like wings. It is baffling at first seeing, you ask yourself, when do they put all that fuel into these tiny sharp things.

[@SirEpifire]

To be perfectly honest, those are extremely good retention rates for this bird's service in Nam. Especially given the fact it was being pressed into roles it was largely not built for accommodating; I'd say it did very well for operating that far out of it's designed role.

[@skyedog24]

Your documentary is comprehensive as well as inclusive a video treasure trove of the highest level. Thank you.

[@glenn4412]

Your coverage of these aircraft is one of the best on the tube, so I hope you are able to make many more!

[@davidherbst]

26:45 "1960's operations had such amazing names." When I was in Junior High School, I learned about operation "Rolling Thunder." I decided then and there that my dream job would be naming US military operations. My calls have yet to be returned.

[@raygay4580]

AFCS is always hiring!

[@gilbertponder5307]

This is a great channel, my new favorite! I have been silently wishing that you might one day do a deep-dive video about the SAGE system (development, deployment, etc.) because it seems right up your ally, but a retrospective on the Deuce is a fine substitute until that day arrives. As jet fighter history nerd, I've always been more enamored of the F-106 because it was a "better" aircraft in every way (not surprisingly, since it was the perfection of the 102), but I have recently come to appreciate the Deuce more because, of the two, it was by far the more important aircraft. The F-102 was deployed in far greater numbers and constituted the backbone of ADC at a time when the bomber threat was the paramount concern for homeland defense. By the time the F-106 went into service, the entire concept of large-scale bomber interception was being shelved due to the advent of the Soviet ballistic missile threat, and the Ultimate Interceptor came along essentially too late to fit into the overall strategic plan. Deterrence/mutually assured destruction became the answer to the threat of nuclear attack, and multirole fighters like the F-4 were a better use of resources than dedicated interceptors, expensive and limited as they were. Thanks for another enjoyable and informative video.

[@frankpienkosky5688]

the 106 was featured in the film "Fail Safe"....where the idea of a one-way mission was affirmed.......

[@user-ym2ve7be8l]

What always comes across in these evaluation type videos is the same thing: how new, revolutionary and wonderful the avionics system was in the Deuce and the Six. For the Fifties and these things being 2nd Gen aircraft, yeah, they were a big deal. However, no one ever discusses what a maintenance NIGHTMARE these systems were. They were first gen of their type and they behaved like it. I worked on the Six where the MA-1 system would break if you looked at it sideways. Their FMC (fully mission capable) rate was abysmal -- like in the 30s, IIRC -- and that was primarily because of the avionics. I can't even imagine how awful the Deuce's rate was because the Six's MA-1 (technically) "digital" avionics system was regarded as a huge leap forward from what the -102 had. Well, here's how bad it was: one of my supervisors cut his teeth on the Deuce in the early Sixties and said during the Cuban Missile Crisis, they ONLY loaded the AIM-26s in the aircraft. They weren't even bothering with missiles; just the nukes because that's all that they could rely on. Thank GOD we never had to go to war with these aircraft and that if ours were this bad, the Russkie's rides were even worse. Beautiful looking, flew wonderfully and, minus the avionics, rather reliable (esp. the Six) but utterly outclassed by the time the 3rd Gen arrived (think F-4 Phantoms) in service. Should've been phased out a lot earlier like the B-58.

[@maxsmodels]

You really love Revell box art....so do I 😁.

[@kenjones2973]

Excellent in-depth review with very good visual content and presented in context with both the friend and foe types it would be sharing the sky with during its service life. Well done, I am now subscribed.

[@ATrainGames]

Fantastic presentation... And the self-edit at @31:06 is greatness... :D Thanks for sharing!

[@soggycracker5934]

Not the prettiest jet to ever take to the skies, but she was swift and graceful.

[@davidb6576]

I appreciate your videos, always room for additional quality aircraft content.

[@alantoon5708]

The box top art of the Revell off-scale F-102 from the '70's.

[@lhkraut]

I am so happy to have found your channel. You obviously put a lot of time into making your videos, and I thank you for that! Prost!

[@marktuffield6519]

I wonder who the lady was trying to christen the aircraft towards the end of the video. Such lovely footage from a more glamorous age 🙂

[@lelandcarlson1668]

Wow! What a great video! Thank you for all the work you invested. I learned an amazing amount about the F-102 that I had not known before. Truly an amazing accomplishment for its time. Pilot training must have been intense given the work load.

[@ronaldbyrne3320]

Your work is greatly appreciated.

[@socaljarhead7670]

The 106 justified all the trouble of the 102. The J75 made both the 105 and 106 fantastic performing aircraft.

[@genericdave8420]

For the area rule i use the analogy of squeezing a foot into an elasticated sock. If your foot had the same cross section all along (rather than going in and out ) it would be much easier.

[@B1900pilot]

My Dad worked on the ALRI system installed on the EC-121H that was a part of the SAGE system. It reached maturity with the F-106. Your videos are very well researched with excellent photos and period footage. Looking forward to more of them!

[@bladder1010]

On this theme, you'd like the Canadian Avro Arrow.

[@ericmiddleton8367]

Great video. The brief musical interlude was interesting.

[@jonathanhudak2059]

Excellent presentation and video! Loved learning about the F-102!

[@johnmoran8805]

Thank you! I am currently researching this bird for my centrury series.

[@davehutchins2820]

Excellent presentation. Thank you.

[@glennarmstrong5234]

Really enjoyed this. Thank you. Keep up the good work.

[@Cavediver762]

Glad to see this. My dad worked on 102’s out of Clark and Udorn during Vietnam. Never saw much about this airframe but always wanted to know more. Thank you for this.