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Cold War Encounter by Stan Stokes. (C)
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 miles. Equipped with drop tanks, the 106 had a maximum range of about 1,700 miles. Typical armament consisted of a 20-mm M-61 multi-barrel cannon, and an internal weapon bay capable of carrying a mixture of air-to-air, or air-to-ground missiles. The life of the F-106 was extended by major rebuild programs, which added advanced avionics, improved digital systems, and advanced in-flight refueling capabilities. The F-106 was often referred to as the Cadillac of the Century Series, in reference to the series of F-100 USAF fighters dating back to the F-100. In Stan Stokes painting, appropriately entitled Cold War Encounter, a Russian Tupolev Bear Bomber tests US air defenses over Alaska. An F-106 from the Air Defense Command scrambles to intercept the unwelcome intruder. The Bear is no match for the Delta Dart, and takes a heading to leave US airspace. Designed in the early 1950s the Tupolev Tu-20 Bear bomber may have earned the distinction of being one of the loudest aircraft ever produced. With twin counter-rotating propellers on each of its four turboprop engines, the Bear could make some noise. About 300 of these large Soviet aircraft were produced and many were laden with electronics for probing Americas defensive perimeter during the peak of the Cold War years. |
