This Deceased Air Force Profile is not currently maintained by any Member.
If you would like to take responsibility for researching and maintaining this Deceased profile please click
HERE
Colonel Joseph W. Rogers, USAF set a new official world absolute speed record at Edwards AFB in 1959 when he piloted a Convair F-106A Delta Dart to a speed of 1,525 mph. After 45 years, this was still the record for single engine airplanes.
Flying over Korea and Viet Nam, Rogers flew 300 combat missions in P-51 Mustangs, P-80 Shooting Stars and F-4 Phantoms. He attended the USAF Experimental Test Pilot School in 1956 and the Air War College in 1964.
He flew early development test flights of the F-86D Sabre and performed early testing on the F-102/F-106 weapons systems before joining the SR-71/YF-12 Test Force, where he flew the first Blackbird mission of the USAF/NASA YF-12/SR-71 USAF research program. He eventually became Test Director of the world’s highest and fastest airplane, the SR-71 at Edwards Air Force Base. In 1971, Rogers was already evaluating advanced fighter design concepts that wouldn’t appear until the 1990s.
Colonel Rogers was awarded the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Legion of Merit and the Air Medal with 16 Oak Leaf Clusters. A Fellow in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Rogers received the Thompson Trophy and the Federation Aeronautique Internationale De La Vaulx medal. During his career as a test pilot, Rogers logged 13,000 hours in more than 50 aircraft, including the F-86D, F-102, F-104, F-106, YF-12, SR-71 and F-4.
Established in 1990 by the Lancaster City Council, the Aerospace Walk of Honor celebrates test pilots who were associated with Edwards Air Force Base. Recognition is awarded for distinguished aviation careers marked by significant and obvious achievements beyond one specific accomplishment.
On November 8, 1950, the then Capt. Rogers achieved a rare MiG-15 jet kill while flying in his piston-engine F-51D Mustang named Buckeye Blitz VI. "This was unusual because of the speed differences between the two planes, " said Jim Cook, master crew chief at the Pacific Coast Air Museum in Santa Rosa and an old friend of Col. Rogers. "He was doing around 350 mph, and the jet was doing 450. There were four MiGs, and they were so much faster. They came over the top of Joe, and he took a lucky shot at them."
1959-1959, F-106 Delta Dart
From Year 1959
To Year 1959
Personal Memories
After the Air Forces selection of the F-106 Delta Dart to make the Services latest attempt at the Absolute Speed Record, there was no question who would pilot the aircraft in this joint USAF / Convair project, Maj. Joe Rogers. On December 15, 1959, the Major became the fastest Jet Pilot in the World after flying F-106A # 56-0467 to an average speed of 1525.95 mph. F-106 # -0467 flew the record flight after F-106A # 56-0459 experienced technical problems throughout the project. On its last flight in Firewall # -0459 became uncontrollable, fortunately Rogers was able to â??settle her downâ?? and land the aircraft. In honor of his skillful airmanship demonstrated during the "Firewall Project
Image
F-106 Delta Dart Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
Model Convair F-106A Delta Dart Length 70.70 ft | 21.55 m Width 38.29 ft | 11.67 m Height 20.28 ft | 6.18 m Engine(s) 1 x Pratt & Whitney J75-P-17 turbojet engine generating 24,500lbs thrust with afterburner. Empty Weight 24,859 lbs | 11,276 kg MTOW 41,831 lbs | 18,974 kg Max Speed 1,487 mph | 2,393 km/h | 1,292 kts Max Range 1,950 miles | 3,138 km Ceiling 58,005 ft | 17,680 m | 11.0 miles Climb Rate 30,000 ft/min (9,144 m/min) Hardpoints 4 Armament 1 x 20mm cannon
Mission specific armament may include:
2 x AIR-2A Genie Nuclear Rockets 4 x AIM-4 Falcon Air-to-Air Missiles Accommodations 1
Major Variants
* YF-102 - Single Delta Dagger prototype * YF-102A - Redesigned airframe * F-102A - Single seat interceptor * TF-102A - Two-seat trainer * F-102B - Redesignated to F-106 * YF-106A - Two prototypes produced * F-106A - Single seat interceptor * F-106B - Two-seat trainer variant
