102nd FIS Convair F-102A Delta Dagger 56-1211 by Wing attack Plan R Via Flickr: F-102A-65-CO. Last Unit: 102nd FIS / 106th FIG based at Suffolk County Airport, NY. Withdrawn from service to MASDC 3 April, 1975 as AA FJ0377. Departed MASDC 15 May, 1978 to Sperry Flight Systems. Converted to QF-102A. To ADWC, Tyndall AFB. Converted to PQM-102B (702). Expended 30 August, 1979. Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (Reprint). Photo is unmarked. In early 1973, Sperry received a contract to convert obsolete General Dynamics (Convair), F-102A Delta Dagger interceptors to unmanned target drones under the Pave Deuce program. The first two prototype examples had provision for manned operation, and were designated QF-102A. The "production" conversion, designated PQM-102A, could be flown only unmanned. The first flight of a PQM-102A occurred in August 1974, and the target drone became operational in October that year. The PQM-102A was a supersonic full-scale target powered by a Pratt & Whitney J57 afterburning turbojet. A new FCSS (Flight Control Stabilization System) was installed to allow autonomous flight. For remote control, the aircraft was equipped with a radio command guidance and telemetry system. In flight, the PQM-102A was tracked via an AN/FPS-16 range radar, and during runway take-off and landing it was controlled by a pilot in the ground control station. Some of the electronics occupied the cockpit, which was the reason why the PQM-102A could not fly manned. Mission equipment included sophisticated scoring camera systems to evaluate missile approach angle and miss distance. A visual augmentation (smoke) system was also provided, but IR and radar augmentation was not necessary for a full-scale target. The later PQM-102B had improved systems and added a low-altitude mode (for altitudes down to 60 m (200 ft)), for which a radar altimeter was installed. By relocating the electronics, the cockpit of the PQM-102B could reportedly be kept free for optional manned operation. When the conversions were completed in 1982, more than 200 F-102As had been converted into PQM-102A and PQM-102B targets. They were used for evaluation of and training with many operational U.S. surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles, including the AIM-7 Sparrow, AIM-9 Sidewinder, FIM-92 Stinger and MIM-104 Patriot. The last PQM-102 was expended in 1985, and the type was succeeded by the North American/Sperry QF-100.
