Editing Convair F-106 Delta Dart (section)

===NASA research and test aircraft===
Six F-106s were retained by [[NASA]] for test purposes through 1998. An F-106B two-seat trainer was operated by NASA [[Langley Research Center]] between 1979 and 1991.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Laroche|first1=Pierre|last2=Delannoy|first2=Alain|last3=Blanchet|first3=Patrice|last4=Issac|first4=François|title=Lightning Hazards to Aircraft and Launchers - Experimental Studies of Lightning Strikes to Aircraft|url=http://www.aerospacelab-journal.org/sites/www.aerospacelab-journal.org/files/AL05-06_0.pdf|website=AerospaceLab-Journal.org|publisher=Aerospace Lab Journal Issue 5 December 2012 Experimental Studies of Lightning Strikes to Aircraft Page 3|access-date=18 July 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712042126/http://www.aerospacelab-journal.org/sites/www.aerospacelab-journal.org/files/AL05-06_0.pdf|archive-date=12 July 2014}}</ref> This Delta Dart was used in research programs ranging from testing supersonic engines to improving maneuverability of fighters. Between 1980 and 1986 the aircraft was modified for the purpose of lightning strike research and became known as the ''Lightning Strike Plane'' and was struck 714 times without damage.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Saville|first1=Kirk|title=Lightning Strike Plane Gets Final Assignment Fighter Weathered 714 Lightning Bolts|url=https://www.dailypress.com/|publisher=The Daily Press Media Group, 7505 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, VA 23607 May 18, 1991|access-date=18 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Lightning and the Space Program|url=http://www.tstorm.com/images/lightning_space_program.pdf|website=tstorm.com|publisher=John F. Kennedy Space Center Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899 AC 321/867-2468 - FS-1998-08-16-KSC August 1998 Page 2|access-date=18 July 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035326/http://www.tstorm.com/images/lightning_space_program.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> On one hour-long flight at {{convert|38,000|ft|m|abbr=off}} in 1984, lightning struck the research aircraft 72 times.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Schmitt|first1=Eric|title=Jet Chases Lightning In Bid To Increase Safety|work=The New York Times |date=29 September 1985 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/09/29/us/jet-chases-lightning-in-bid-to-increase-safety.html|access-date=18 July 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726123656/http://www.nytimes.com/1985/09/29/us/jet-chases-lightning-in-bid-to-increase-safety.html|archive-date=26 July 2014}}</ref> One significant modification was the replacement of the composite nose radome by a metallic radome. Although the maximum speed of the F-106 was Mach 2.3, during the lightning experiments it was flown at subsonic speeds into clouds at {{convert|300|kn|mph km/h|abbr=off}} from {{convert|5,000|to|40,000|ft|m|abbr=off}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=NASA Lightning Strike Research - NASA Storm Hazards Research Program|url=http://www.f-106deltadart.com/nasa_lightning_research.htm|website=F-106DeltaDart.com|publisher=1998-2014 F-106DeltaDart.com|access-date=18 July 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726043438/http://www.f-106deltadart.com/nasa_lightning_research.htm|archive-date=26 July 2014}}</ref> The aircraft was equipped with optical sensors which consisted of a video camera and a light detector. Data acquisition was performed with 1980s state of the art [[Digital storage oscilloscope|digital waveform recorders]].

====Eclipse project====
NASA used six drones in its [[Eclipse Project (NASA)|Eclipse Project]] which ran from 1997 to 1998.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/pdf/88791main_Eclipse.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-12-28 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112094620/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/pdf/88791main_Eclipse.pdf |archive-date=2010-01-12 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/history/pastprojects/Eclipse/index.html |title=NASA Dryden Past Projects: Eclipse Tow Launch Demonstration &#124; NASA |publisher=Nasa.gov |date=2009-08-31 |access-date=2014-08-07 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808070632/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/history/pastprojects/Eclipse/index.html |archive-date=2014-08-08 }}</ref> The [[Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center|Dryden Flight Research Center]] supported project Eclipse which sought to demonstrate the feasibility of a reusable Aerotow-[[launch vehicle]]. The objective was to tow, inflight, a modified '''QF-106''' aircraft with a [[Lockheed C-141 Starlifter|C-141A]] transport aircraft. The test demonstrated the possibility of towing and launching a space launch vehicle from behind a tow plane.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Curry|first1=Marty|title=Eclipse EC97-44159-8: Eclipse program F-106 aircraft in flight Photo Collection|url=http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/Eclipse/HTML/EC97-44159-8.html|website=dfrc.nasa.gov|publisher=NASA Dryden Flight Research Center August 1997|access-date=18 July 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923214113/http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/Eclipse/HTML/EC97-44159-8.html|archive-date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Tucker|first1=Tom|title=The Eclipse Project|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/pdf/88791main_Eclipse.pdf|website=NASA History Division, Office of Policy and Plans|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC 20546|access-date=18 July 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112094620/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/pdf/88791main_Eclipse.pdf|archive-date=12 January 2010}}</ref>