| Model manufacturer: | Hobbymaster |
| Order code: | HA3117 |
| Scale: | 1:72 |
| Material: | Combined (Metal / Plastic) |
| Weight: | 0.9 kg |
| Registration number: | 541373 |
| Dimensions: | 28.9×16.2×9 cm (L×W×H) |
| Air company: | Hawaii ANG |
| Aircraft manufacturer: | Convair |
High-quality metal model of the Convair F102A Delta Dagger military aircraft in detailed design according to the real model. The package includes a chassis and a stand.
The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was a fighter aircraft designed and manufactured by the American aircraft manufacturer Convair. A member of the Century Series, the F-102 was the first operational supersonic and delta-wing fighter operated by the United States Air Force (USAF).
The F-102 was designed in response to a request, known as the 1954 Ultimate Interceptor, made by USAF officials in the late 1940s. Its main purpose was to be the backbone of American air defense and to intercept approaching fleets of Soviet strategic bombers (mainly the Tupolev Tu-95) during the Cold War. The aircraft was designed along with a sophisticated fire control system (FCS); however, due to development difficulties, a simplified unit had to be adopted. It used an internal weapons bay to carry cruise missiles and rockets. On October 23, 1953, the YF-102 prototype made its first flight; however, it was destroyed in an accident just nine days later. The second prototype allowed flight tests to resume three months later, but the results were disappointing; as originally designed, the aircraft could not achieve Mach 1 supersonic flight.
In order to improve its performance before the start of series production, the F-102 was redesigned, its fuselage was modified in accordance with the area rule, while a thinner and wider wing was also adopted. Flight tests showed enough improvement in performance to convince the USAF to authorize its production; a new production contract was signed in March 1954. After entering USAF service in 1956, the F-102 quickly replaced various types of subsonic fighters, such as the Northrop F-89 Scorpion, in the fighter role. A tactical attack model, the F-102C, was designed with several improvements, including a more powerful engine and a Gatling gun, but was ultimately not pursued. A total of 1,000 F-102s were produced for the USAF and several export customers, including the Hellenic Air Force and the Turkish Air Force.
