The Convair F-106 Delta Dart was a Mach 2.3+ all-weather interceptor used by the USAF (1959–1988), designed for high-altitude interception. The complete history of the F-106 Delta Dart can be found on our history page. Technical Data can be found on our Tech Orders and Manuals page.
F-106A
F-106B
TYPE
Supersonic All-Weather Interceptor
Supersonic All-Weather Interceptor Combat Capable Trainer
MFG MODEL
MK No. 8-24
Same as 'A'
POWERPLANT
One (1) Pratt & Whitney J75-P-17 twin-spool turbojet.
Thrust Rating:
@ 76.5 kN (17,200 lb)
@ 109.0 kN (24,500 lb) w/afterburner
One (1) Pratt & Whitney J75-P-17 twin-spool turbojet.
Thrust Rating:
@ 75.6 kN (17,000 lb)
@ 106.7 kN (24,000 lb) w/afterburner
CREW
One (1)
Two (2)
ARMAMENT
One (1) Douglas Genie air-to-air nuclear tipped rocket
Four (4) AIM-4 Falcon air-to-air missiles
One (1) M61A1 Vulcan 20MM Cannon
Configured as:
One (1) Douglas AIR-1A or AIR-2G Genie nuclear rocket,
or
Two (2) Hughes AIM-4E or -4F Super Falcon SARH missiles,
or
Two (2) Hughes AIM-4G Super Falcon IR-seeking missiles,
or
One (1) internal General Electric 20mm M61 multi-barrel cannon instead of the Genie.
Same as 'A'
FIRST FLIGHT
6 December 1956
9 April 1958
NUMBER BUILT (Total 340)
277
63
USAF S/Ns
1956
F-106A-1-CO 17 built 56-451 thru 56-467
1957
F-106A-1-CO 18 built 57-229 thru 57-246
F-106A-65-CO 3 built 57-2453 thru 57-2455
F-106A-70-CO 5 built 57-2456 thru 57-2460
F-106A-75-CO 5 built 57-2461 thru 57-2465
F-106A-80-CO 12 built 57-2466 thru 57-2477
F-106A-85-CO 8 built 57-2478 thru 57-2485
F-106A-90-CO 21 built 57-2486 thru 57-2506
1958
F-106A-95-CO 13 built 58-759 thru 58-771
F-106A-100-CO 27 built 58-772 thru 58-798
1959
F-106A-105-CO 30 built 59-001 thru 59-030
F-106A-110-CO 29 built 59-031 thru 59-059
F-106A-120-CO 27 built 59-060 thru 59-086
F-106A-125-CO 25 built 59-087 thru 59-111
F-106A-130-CO 24 built 59-112 thru 59-135
F-106A-135-CO 13 built 59-136 thru 59-148
1957
F-106B-1-CO 41 built 57-2507 thru 57-2547
1958
F-106B-1-CO 5 built 58-900 thru 58-904
1959
F-106B-1-CO 17 built 59-149 thru 59-165
MAX SPEED
Mach 2.31 (2455 km/h)
Same as 'A'
MAX MANEUVERING SPEED
Mach 1.9
Same as 'A'
RANGE
4347 km
2737 km
COMBAT RADIUS
926 km
Same as 'A'
SERVICE CEILING
17,380 m
Same as 'A'
WEIGHT EMPTY
10,735 kg
11,414 kg
MTOW
18,975 kg
18,195 kg
DIMENSIONS
Wingspan: 11.68 m
Length: 21.57 m
Height: 6.18 m
Same as 'A'
COST
$3,305,435
Same as 'A'
The fuselage used "area rule" principles, giving it a distinctive shape for optimized supersonic performance.
Equipped with the MA-1 Integrated Weapons Control System for automatic radar searching, tracking, and firing. Read more on our MA-1 System page.
Known as the "Ultimate Interceptor," its primary goal was to destroy incoming Soviet bombers.
The F-106 Delta Dart featured a Variable Inlet Ramp ("vari-ramp") System designed to modulate airflow to the Pratt & Whitney J75-P-17 turbojet engine, allowing for optimal performance across a wide speed range. These ramps managed the engine's intake to avoid supersonic air, which a jet engine cannot digest. The vari-ramp system was a key differentiator in performance for the "ultimate interceptor," enabling it to efficiently operate at high altitudes and speeds that surpassed the F-102 and in top-end speed, the F-4. Read more on our P&W Engine page.
There were 2 different Case Type Wingtips on the F-106: Case 14 and Case 29. The Case 14 and Case 29 wings both incorporate the strake-free wing fence - the notch in the leading edge that replaced the wing fences. The difference between Case 14 and Case 29 wings was in leading edge camber and in the wing tips where the Case 14 wings had an almost imperceptible (from a distance) upward flare at the rear of the wing tips and were end tipped slightly differently. The early 1956 models had these Case 14 wings. All subsequent aircraft had Case 29 wings where you could see the upward flare at the rear of the wing tips.