Minot in Ward County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Convair F-106 "Delta Dart"
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 30, 2023
1. Convair F-106 "Delta Dart" Marker
The F-106 was the ultimate development of the USAF’s interceptor program of the early 1950s. The F-106 was envisaged as a specialized all-weather missile armed interceptor to shoot down bombers. The first prototype flew on 26 December 1956. The Air Force ordered 350 F-106A’s delivered to 15 fighter interceptor squadrons along with the F-106B two seat combat-capable trainer variant, starting in October 1959. On 15 December 1959, Major Joseph W. Rogers set a world speed record of 1,525.96 mph at 40,500 feet.
The “Delta Dart” served the 5th Fighter Interceptor Squadron from February 1960 to April 1985. The unit had a total of 45 F-106s assigned and experienced 9 losses.
Power Plant: One Pratt & Whitney J75-17 afterburning turbojet Thrust: 24,500 lbs.
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.3 (1,525 mph) Range: 1,800 miles
Service Ceiling: 57,000 ft. Rate of Climb: 29,000 fpm
Guns: One 20mm caliber M61A1 Vulcan 6 barreled rotary cannon
Missiles: 2 AIM-4F Falcon, 2AIM-4G Falcon, 1 AIR-2A Genie nuclear
Rocket or AIM-26 Super Falcon missile.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, Cold. A significant historical date for this entry is December 15, 1959.
Location. 48° 16.27′ N, 101°
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Lockheed T-33 "Shooting Star" (a few steps from this marker); McDonnell Douglas F-15 "Eagle" (a few steps from this marker); 5th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (a few steps from this marker); Douglas C-47 Skytrain (within shouting distance of this marker); B-17 Bomber Crash Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); A-7D Corsair II (within shouting distance of this marker); Thanks to the United States Air Force (within shouting distance of this marker); June 22, 2011 (approx. 2.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Minot.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Dakota Territory Air Museum
Also see . . .
1. Convair F-106 Delta Dart (Wikipedia).
The F-106 was designed as the so-called "Ultimate Interceptor" as a consequence of the 1954 interceptor program. It was a development of the F-102 Delta Dagger,(Submitted on February 12, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)and thus was originally designed as the F-102B prior to being redesignated by the United States Air Force (USAF). The F-106 was designed without a gun or provision for carrying bombs, instead carrying its AIM-4 Falcon air-to-air missiles within an internal weapons bay, its clean exterior was beneficial to supersonic flight.Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 30, 20232. Convair F-106 "Delta Dart" MarkerThe marker is located directly in front of the subject aircraft.In one high-profile incident over Montana on 2 February 1970, an unmanned F-106 recovered from a flat spin after its pilot had ejected, landing relatively intact in a snow-covered field; it was recovered and continued to be flown for numerous years afterwards. The F-106 was gradually withdrawn from USAF service during the 1980s as the arrival of newer air superiority fighters, particularly the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, had made the role of dedicated interceptors increasingly redundant.
2. "Cornfield Bomber" (National Museum of the Air Force - YouTube video). (Submitted on February 12, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 30, 2023
3. Convair F-106 "Delta Dart"
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 30, 2023
4. Convair F-106 "Delta Dart"
Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 9, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 50 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 12, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
