@ Sacramento, CA
July 2024
A F-102 Delta Dagger, America’s first supersonic interceptor, on display at the Aerospace Museum of California. The Deuce had a long service life, first fielded in 1956 and remaining in service until 1976. The last QF-102A / PQM-102B drone was expended in 1986. This radical aircraft was the first production aircraft with a delta wing, incorporating pioneering aerodynamics in the transonic flight realm from Mach .8 to Mach 1.2. This F-102 was delivered to the USAF in June 1957, it served with various units, the last being at Hickam AFB in Hawaii where it was retired in 1978. It was flown to the California Aerospace Museum aboard a C-5 Galaxy in October 1984. It is displayed in the colors of the 431st Fighter Interceptor Squadron “Red Devils” which was based in Sacramento for some time.
