F-106 Delta Dart B-1B Chase

B-1B Flight Test Chase

Rockwell, Plant 42, Palmdale CA
Det 15, Contract Management Division, AF Systems Command

As the B-1B Lancer Supersonic bombers began coming off the assembly line at the Rockwell International Plant 42 in Palmdale CA, the detachment 15 of the Contract Management Division of the AF Systems Command stood up to support the acceptance test flight program.  In Mar 1986 the F-106 was selected as the photos and safety chase plane due to its endurance and high speed, and availability.  This after the F-111, F-4 and T-38 were either unavailable or deemed unworthy of the mission.  The first F-106B model, 57-2513 from Kelly AFB TX, arrived at Palmdale on 18 Oct 1986. Last to depart was F-106A 59-0061 on 06 July 1990 to AMARC.

Eight F-106's were assigned between 10 Oct 1986 and 06 July 1990, half were stationed in Palmdale and the other at Kirkland AFB NM.  Chase flights were also flown out of Tinker AFB OK, the B-1B depot.  It took two F-106's to chase one B-1 acceptance flight, even with the 360 external fuel tanks.

Several versions of tail flash markings were used throughout the duration of the program.  You can see them here in the Photo Gallery.  The last used tail flash of the silhouettes of an F-106 and a B-1 was designed by crew chief Jerry Roth, a distinctive eye catching tail flash. Chase flights were also flown out of Tinker AFB OK, the B-1B depot.

One of the last missions of the Convair F-106 Delta Dart's history

Serial No.
(click Tail #)
MDS

From

To Palmdale

57-2513

58-0795

59-0008

59-0060

59-0061

57-2535

57-2509

59-0149
F-106B

F-106A

F-106A

F-106A

F-106A

F-106B

F-106B

F-106B
Kelly

Kelly

159th

159th

Kelly

159th

159th

119th
10 Oct 1986

30 Oct 1986

12 Dec 1986

24 Jan 1987

06 Feb 1987

03 Mar 1987

23 Mar 1987

02 Aug 1988
B-1B Chase Pilots

Gary Olin, right of Rockwell International and MAJ Jimmy Robbins, USAF stand in front of F-106A 59-0061, the last F-106A Delta Dart in active service before its final flight. Robbins flew the aircraft to Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ where it was used in the QF-106 drone program.

F-106 B-1B Crews

PILOTS (6)

Bob Chamberlain, LtCol, USAF

Brent Hedgpeth, LtCol, USAF

Jim Robbins, Maj, USAF

Gary Olin, Rockwell Inc.

Ed Ford, Rockwell Inc.

John Day, Rockwell Inc.

NAVIGATORS (4)

Larry Harjes, LtCol, USAF

Jimmie Luttrell, LtCol, USAF

Richard Fisher, LtCol, USAF

Alex Ivanchishin, Capt, USAF

TAIL FLASH DESIGNS

Several versions of tail flash markings were used throughout the duration of the program.

You can see them here in the Photo Gallery

The last used tail flash was the silhouettes of an F-106 and a B-1 and was designed by crew chief Jerry Roth, a distinctive eye catching tail flash.

F-106 Delta Dart B-1B Chase Program

Interesting Note:
The two different Tail Flash arts were created by Jerry Roth for the chase planes

Final Fate of the 8 Chase F-106 Delta Darts

  • 58-0795 converted to drone S/N AD180, shot down at Tyndall on its first pilotless drone mission by an AIM-7 missile on 11 May 1994

  • 59-0008 converted to drone S/N AD167, shot down at Tyndall on its seventh pilotless drone mission by an AIM-120 missile on 05 Nov 1998

  • 59-0060 converted to drone S/N AD127, shot down at Holloman on its third pilotless drone mission by an AIM-120 missile on 16 June 1995

  • 59-0061 converted to drone S/N AD156, shot down at Tyndall on its first pilotless drone mission by an AIM-9 missile on 03 Sept 1993

  • 57-2535 converted to drone S/N AD109, shot down at Tyndall on its third pilotless drone mission by an AIM-9 missile on 01 Sept 1993

  • 59-0149 converted to drone S/N AD261, shot down at Tyndall on its second pilotless drone mission by an AIM-120 missile on 06 Nov 1997

  • 57-2509 converted to drone S/N AD268, written off at Tyndall as being un-flyable after catching fire during pre-flight checks for its first pilotless drone mission. One of five other written off QF-106's from Tyndall and privately purchased by individual in El Paso TX.

  • 57-2513 returned to DM on 25 June 1990. Never converted to a drone or at least it never had a drone serial number painted on its nose, however it often flew in support of the drone program. In the Summer of 2004 it was put on display at the Yanks Museum

References & Contributors

  • World's Fastest Single-Engine Jet Aircraft by Doug Barbier, LtCol., USAF (Ret.)
  • Marty J. Isham, CMSgt Jon May, NCOIC of Maintenance Palmdale CA

Photos