US's Lightning-Proof Super Fast Interceptor

The Convair F-106 Delta Dart is often called “the Ultimate Interceptor.” Created in the 1950s as a robust response to the growing threat of attack by Soviet bombers, it soon made its mark at the heart of the United States Air Force’s interceptor fleet. Nicknamed “The Six,” its revolutionary design included a contoured “coke bottle” shape, delta wings, and highly advanced avionics, making it a fearsome opponent for enemy aircraft day and night, whatever the weather. What’s more, its potent Pratt & Whitney J75 engine boosted the F-106 to the supersonic realm, leading it to break the World Speed Record in 1959. In its later years, it still stood as a pinnacle of Cold War aerospace engineering and even went on to join the ranks of NASA. Through the 1980s and 90s, it took part in a series of cutting-edge experiments, a fitting end for the remarkable career of “The Six.”