@ New Orleans, LA
September 2024
America’s first supersonic interceptor, the YF-102A Delta Dagger, on display at the Jackson Barracks in New Orleans. First flown in 1953, the YF-102 encountered severe buffeting at high sub-sonic speed. As predicted by NACA, aerodynamic drag prevented the YF-102 from reaching Mach 1 in level flight. The Museum’s YF-102A (53-1787) was one of only four prototypes produced by Convair to test their area-ruled fuselage design. The YF-102A’s new fuselage was designed to reduce drag and make the aircraft supersonic. The new YF-102A design, incorporating the Whitcomb Area Rule, enabled the YF-102A to reach Mach 1.2 with ease and significantly reduce fuel consumption during interception missions. Convair completed testing in 1955 and the aircraft remained on USAF inventory until 1958. The “Deuce” had a long service life, first fielded in 1956, remaining in service until 1976. Finding a role as target drones, the last QF-102A / PQM-102B drone was expended in 1986.
