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In 1986 the B-1B flight test program was using F-4 Phantoms, F-111 Aardvarks and sometimes civilian T-38 for acceptance and test flights. Due to workload
constraints and increasing costs in using these aircraft a dedicated B-1B Chase aircraft was needed. The F-106 Delta Dart was chosen and in March 1986 the
Det 15 Contract Management Division (AFSC) was started to support the B-1B program contracted by Rockwell Inc at plant 42 at Palmdale CA. Eight F-106's
were assigned between 10 Oct 1986 and 6 July 1990. The first F-106 was "B" model 57-2513 from Kelly AFB TX arriving the Palmdale plant on 18 Oct 1986.
The last to depart was F-106A 59-0061 on 06 July 1990 to AMARC. F-106 Crew Chief Jerry Roth designed the distinctive orange and white tail flash.
Chase flights were also flown out of Tinker AFB OK, which was the B-1B depot. Check out
The B-1B F-106 Chase Program  .
F-106 Chase Program Aircraft and Crew Members
Aircraft
| Tail # |
Home |
Arrived |
To AMARC |
| 57-2513 (B) |
Kelly AFB |
10 Oct 86 |
25 June 90 |
| 58-0795 (A) |
Kelly AFB |
30 Oct 86 |
03 Mar 87 |
| 59-0008 (A) |
159th FIS |
12 Dec 86 |
18 Mar 87 |
| 59-0060 (A) |
159th FIS |
24 Jan 87 |
27 Jun 90 |
| 59-0061 (A) |
Kelly AFB |
06 Feb 87 |
06 July 90 |
| 57-2535 (B) |
159th FIS |
03 Mar 87 |
03 Apr 89 |
| 57-2509 (B) |
159th FIS |
23 Mar 87 |
24 May 90 |
| 59-0149 (B) |
119th FIS |
02 Aug 88 |
14 Jun 90 |
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Pilots
Lt. Col. Bob Chamberlain
Lt. Col.Brent Hedgpeth
Major Jim Robbins
Gary Olin (Rockwell)
Ed Ford (Rockwell)
John DaDay (Rockwell) |
Navigators
Lt. Col. Larry Harjes
Lt. Col. Jimmie Luttrell
Lt. Col. Richard Fisher
Capt. Alex Ivanchishin |
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Final fate of the 8 Chase F-106
Delta Darts
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58-0795 converted to drone S/N AD180, shot down at Tyndall
on its first pilotless drone mission by an AIM-7 missile on 11 May 94.
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59-0008
converted to drone S/N AD167, shot down at Tyndall on its
seventh pilotless drone mission by an AIM-120 missile on 05 Nov 98.
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59-0060
converted to drone S/N AD127, shot down at Holloman on its
third pilotless drone mission by an AIM-120 missile on 16 June 95.
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59-0061
converted to drone S/N AD156, shot down at Tyndall on
its first pilotless drone mission by an AIM-9 missile on 03 Sept
93.
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57-2535
converted to drone S/N AD109, shot down at Tyndall on its
third pilotless drone mission by an AIM-9 missile on 01 Sept 93.
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59-0149
converted to drone S/N AD261, shot down at Tyndall on its
second pilotless drone mission by an AIM-120 missile on 06 Nov 97.
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57-2509
converted to drone S/N AD268, written off at Tyndall as
being un-flyable after catching fire during pre-flight checks for its
first pilotless drone mission. It and five other written off QF-106s
from Tyndall were subsequently purchased by a private individual and
are being restored in El Paso TX. 57-2509 is the first bird being
restored, with the intention of making it flyable again.
Click here for further details on the private El Paso F-106 project
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57-2513
returned to DM on 25 June 90. Was never converted to a drone or at
least it never had a drone serial number painted on its nose, however it often flew in support of the drone program as seen
in this 15 Sept 92 photo
and other photos.
In the Summer of 2004 it was
put on display at the Yanks
Museum
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