The Best LONG RANGE All weather intercepor.

[102first_hussars]

Ok Im going for another one of my usual aircraft polls, but Im going for a subject that has not been covered (as far as I know) it is about the Best (not greatest) Long range interceptors.

 

[lesofprimus]

This is not a poll hussars....

 

[syscom3]

What about the F106?

 

[102first_hussars]

Why cant I edit the poll yet?

 

[pbfoot]

not many long range interceptors on the poll
su 15 450nm
mig 21 400 nm
saab 35 800nm
mig 31 380 nm
f 14 530nm
f101 1550nm
f102 1350nm
cf100 2000nm
f104 1000nm
so that leaves the 101 or 102 but I'll opt for the f106

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Where's the 106?

 

[FLYBOYJ]

In its day this guy was a monster - I believe the Lightning was better short range and had a better time to climb performance, but this guy would of ate hordes of Soviet bombers with little problem. This airplane was also very maneuverable and had plenty of fight left in it up to the 1980s.....

Specifications (F-106A)

General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 70.7 ft (21.55 m)
Wingspan: 38.25 ft (11.67 m)
Height: 20.28 ft (6.18 m)
Wing area: 661.5 ft² (61.52 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 0004-65 mod root and tip
Empty weight: 24,420 lb (11,077 kg)
Loaded weight: 34,510 lb (15,668 kg)
Powerplant: 1× Pratt Whitney J75-17 afterburning turbojet, 24,500 lbf (109 kN)
Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0083
Drag area: 5.8 ft² (0.54 m²)
Aspect ratio: 2.10
Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 2.3, 1,525 mph (2,455 km/h)
Range: 1,800 mi combat, 2,700 mi ferry (2,897 km / 4,345 km)
Service ceiling: 57,000 ft (17,374 m)
Rate of climb: 29,000 ft/min (8,839 m/min)
Wing loading: 52 lb/ft² (255 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 0.71
Lift-to-drag ratio: 12.1
Time to altitude: 6.9 min to 52,700 ft (16,065 m)
Armament
One 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon
Four AIM-4 Falcon, usually two AIM-4F and two AIM-4G, plus one AIR-2A Genie nuclear rocket

Dude - you messed up! This should of been on the list!!! Becuase its not I had to pick the F-14!

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

You can still count the F-14 as a long range interceptor because its weapons systems reach out a great distance besides the F-14 did not need long range with aerial refueling.

I go for the F-14.

 

[lesofprimus]

I have to agree with Joe on this, the -106A was by far the best, and I too also voted for the F-14....

 

[plan_D]

I have to say, this is a pretty poor poll. Only the F-101, F-102, CF-100 and F-104 have a longer range than the English Electric Lightning (Combat Radius: 450 NM) yet the Lightning is not included. I would have voted for the F-106A as the best long-range interceptor.

Despite the fact the F-14 was in no way a long-range interceptor, I also voted for it.

 

[Gnomey]

Agreed on the F-106 but of the rest I have voted for the F-14.

 

[davparlr]

At first thought, the F-14 with Phoenix missiles can certainly reach out and touch someone very effectively. And since arm length is a measure of a boxer's range, the Phoenix range must be added to the F-14 combat range. A good number. Then I thought, well, I don't know, an F-106 with genies could certain clear the skies of ... everything. Its gotta be the best. Only it is not on the list so, F-14 it is.

 

[plan_D]

The AIM-54 has a range of 125 NM if fired at 44,000 feet. It then requires the F-14 to continue tracking the enemy target until it's within ten miles of the target. So the F-14 has to still be flying around in the air for some time, if it's fired the 'Phoenix' from the extent of the range. So, let's not add the Phoenix range to the F-14s combat radius. Or at least, not all of it.

 

[lesofprimus]

It then requires the F-14 to continue tracking the enemy target until it's within ten miles of the target.

And the Tomcat will still be out of firing range of most enemy aircraft it would run into...

 

[102first_hussars]

I have obviously made mistakes in my selections, I call for a lock on this thread, and ill make a better one.

 

[Glider]

Dare I throw a doubt into the F106 debate. Clearly it had a first class weapons system and an excellent performance. The question is how well would it handle a fighter combat.
The weapons sytem was built around the need to intercept bombers and I worry about such a delta wing. The Mirage III bled energy in a turn faster than a lot of other aircraft and the F106 is a big heavy aircraft.

For this reason my vote would go for the F14 even if the F106 is included into the debate.

 

[syscom3]

The F106 was designed to engage Russian bombers, not dogfight Mig 21's.

 

[lesofprimus]

Very true sys...

 

[FLYBOYJ]

I've post this before, my father-in-law flew 106s as chase planes for the B-1 production program. His 6 aircraft were last operational 106s. A few times he was asked to participate in dissimilar aircraft combat with F-15 and F-16 squadrons. He told me he and his guys (all very experienced high time pilots) gave some of the 15s and 16s a run for their money, and several times caught these guys in their pipper, but also many a time they also brought back their 106s with popped rivets and screwheads on the wing panels

 

[Twitch]

Hell the F-14 radar will see beyond any other plane's radar and launch before its opponent can even see it.