General Dynamics began development of the F-106 Delta Dart in 1955, envisioning it as a modification to the F-102 Delta Dagger. The F-102 had first flown in 1953, and with the aid of a few modifications, that aircraft became capable of supersonic flight. Although similar in overall appearance to the F-12, the 106 had a redesigned fuselage allowing incorporation of the more powerful Pratt & Whitney J75. The J75 put out a maximum thrust of 24,500 pounds giving the F-106 a top speed of 1,525 MPH – almost double that of the F-102. In December of 1957 a 106 set a world speed record. Deliveries were made to the USAF in 1959 and 1960 with some 277 single seat interceptors delivered. Many other two-seater versions were also produced. This aircraft would form the nucleus of Americas all weather defensive fighter force (The Air Defense Command) for many years. The F-106 could climb to 30,000 feet in one minute, had an operational ceiling of 57,000 feet, and a typical combat radius of about 600 .........
A pair of F-15 Eagles of 125th Fighter Wing based at Jacksonville IAP, Florida, intercept a Russian Tupolev Tu-95 Bear en route non-stop from Moscow to Havana, Cuba, at the height of the Cold War. Constantly on alert, the Eagles form part of the First Air Force, tasked with the air defense of continental United States.
Item Code : DHM2040
Eagle Intercept by Philip West. - Editions Available
No.5 Sqn and No.11 Sqn Lightnings intercept a Tu-95 Bear, supported by an essential Victor tanker. QRA, day and night, 24hrs a day, 7 days a week 52 weeks a year, 365 days a year - never a day off, always ready! Over and over again for so many years, the air defences of Britain were regularly tested by Russian Tu-95 Bears as they probed NATO airspace high above the North Sea.
Item Code : MR0070
Lightning QRA Intercept by Michael Rondot. - Editions Available
