F-106A Delta Dart

This is part of the museum's First, Last, and Only aircraft—View the others

The Delta Dart already had some visibility in the museum through the exhibition of the F-106 flight simulator that was assigned here in the 1970’s. The museum now has an actual plane from the 95th Fighter Interceptor Squadron that was stationed here in 1972. The Dart first flew in 1956 and a squadron of the delta wing interceptors was stationed at Dover AFB with the 95th from 1963 to 1973. An all weather interceptor known for its efficiency and ability to counter bomber aircraft up to 70,000 feet, the F-106A had a maximum speed of 1,525 mph (Mach 2.3) and a range of 1,500 miles. It carried four Falcon missiles and one Genie nuclear rocket. Starting in 1972, the 106’s were transferred to the 177th Fighter Interceptor Group at Atlantic City, NJ, making the Delta Dart the last type of fighter assigned to the Dover AFB. Put out to pasture as a fighter plane in the mid-1980s, the F-106 was put to work as a Target Drone for fighter pilot training. After many were expended in that program most of the remaining handful were sunk in the Florida Gulf to form an artificial reef for fish.

Gallery

Serial Number: 59-0023
Manufacturer:
Convair
First Flight:
26 December 1956
Retired:
August 1988
Specifications
Crew: Pilot
Payload: -
Powerplant: 1x Pratt & Whitney J75-P-17 turobjet
Length:
70 ft
Wingspan:
38 ft
Height:
20 ft
Empty Weight:
23,760 lbs
Loaded Weight:
35,226 lbs
Maximum Speed:
1,525 mph
Cruise Speed:
594 mph
Range: 1,500 mi
Service Ceiling: 57,990 ft
AMC Museum Restoration Crew Chief: Bill Whited

Assignment History

The assignment history for the Air Mobility Command Museum's F-106A Delta Dart, serial number 59-0023:

Date Location
29 Jan 1960 Accepted by USAF, assigned to Air Material Command
3 Feb 1960 Delivered to USAF
4 Feb 1960 Assigned as combat aircraft, 319th Fight Interceptor Squadron, Bunker Hill AFB MA (ADC)
6 Mar 1960 Assigned for depot work to Sacramento Air Material Area, McClellan AFB CA
10 Mar 1960 Assigned as combat aircraft, 319th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Bunker Hill AFB MA (ADC)
29 Feb 1964 Assigned as combat aircraft, 32nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron, George AFB CA (ADC)
7 Dec 1964 Assigned as combat aircraft, 329th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, George AFB (ADC)
31 May 1967 Assigned as combat aircraft, 27th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Loring AFB ME (ADC)
6 Mar 1968 Temporarily assigned as combat aircraft, Air Defense Weapons Center, Tyndall AFB FL (ADC)
22 May 1968 Assigned as combat aircraft, 27th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Loring AFB ME (ADC)
17 Jul 1971 Assigned as combat aircraft, 83rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Loring AFB ME (ADC)
17 Apr 1972 Assigned as combat aircraft, 95th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Dover AFB DE (ADC)
6 Dec 1972 Assigned depot work, 4661st Material Squadron, Hamilton AFB CA (ADC)
15 Mar 1973 Assigned as combat aircraft, 119th Fighter Interceptor Squadron/177th Fighter Interceptor Group, Atlantic City ANGB NJ (Air National Guard)
11 Jul 1988 Assigned as inactive (XS), Military Aircraft Storage Center, Davis-Monthan AFB AZ, Logistics Command - #FN185
20 Oct 1992 to AEL Inc., East Alton IL for drone conversion
13 Jan 1993 to Holloman AFB NM then Tyndall AFB FL as QF-106A drone S/N AD218
20 Feb 1998 Flown in to Air Mobility Command Museum, Dover AFB, DE for display
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My dad – Major Clark (Bud) Abbott flew the “six” at Bunker Hill, then we transferred to Selfridge AFB where he was the Ops Officer for the 71st FIS. I remember several things as a kid from that time: I rarely saw my dad in anything other than an orange flight suit, the fierce competition they had w the 95 FIS, the big hanger fire there that destroyed some 106s, and my dad’s love for that aircraft. Also several funny stories from Elmendorf deployments – his wingman trying to fly over the northern lights, missile bay loaded w king salmon then getting diverted on a real Russian intercept. They lived hard and fast!

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I was stationed at Dover AFB 1965 to 1968 working as a Flight Line MA-1 Tech for the 95th FIS. I also was a ground aircraft engine run man. This was a great experience working on the F-106s electronics and the power of that great aircraft.

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Was assigned to the 95th FIS out of tech school, MA-1 technician, and would have worked on this aircraft.

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59-0023 was assigned to the 119th Fighter Squadron until at least April 1988, because I flew it on 4 April.

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Hi Alan,

Thanks for your comment. After cross-referencing some of the data we have I’ve updated the entry regarding when it went to Davis-Monthan AFB to 11 Jul 1988 (originally 22 May 1978). Thank you for your service, your eagle-eyes for catching the mistake, and being someone who has first-hand experience with our aircraft! If you have the time it’d be great to hear about some of your adventures in F-106s.

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DOVER AFB was my first active duty station after Tech School. So to see your F106 is a real honor. I was stationed with the 95TH FIS from March 1969 to August 1970. During this time the 95TH was sent TDY to Osan AB, Korea from Nov 1969 till May 1970 to fly missions over the north. I spent this time at Naha AB, Okinawa , because there was no hanger space at Osan. I left Dover in August 1970 to go to Vietnam, where I was stationed at Nha Trang AB. I spent the rest of my Air Force career working on C130s. But I will always have fond memories of my time at Dover AFB. I am a meusem member, although I have only been there once, which was a long time ago. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK…

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I was also at Dover from 1966 to 68, sent to Naha and then to Osan Korea T.D.Y. 3 times during 68 &69 . I worked on F106s as a JET ENGINE MECH. Please respond if you have more info

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HI SAL…I HAVE NOT BEEN ONLINE TO VISIT THIS SITE FOR AWHILE…I DO NOT HAVE ANY DOCUMENTATION OR COPIES OF ORDERS FROM MY TIME AT DOVER…IF YOU OR ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO WRITE ME, I WOULD WELCOME ANY LETTERS… napakirby1187@yahoo.com [Admin Comment: Home address removed and replaced with email address]
AS I SAID BEFORE, I THINK THE AMC MUSEUM IS DOING A GREAT JOB…I ALWAYS CHERISHED MY TIME AT DOVER AFB, BACK THEN, IN ADDITION TO THE F-106S, WE HAD C-141S, C-133S, AND A FEW C-124S W/ THE AF RESERVE…THANK YOU…CHUCK

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Hi , my name is Sal I was at Dover from 1966 to 68 . Went to Naha Okinawa then to Korea. I thought I was at Osan AB but I was at Suwon instead. My orders don’t show either base

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