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570239 YF-106C

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F-106A 57-0239 modified as F-106C (project F-106-w-AN/ASG-18), a production F-106A modified to test the new AN/ASG-18 radar housing with a long five-foot nose extension following the cancellation of the Model 8-28/29 project. F-106A 57-0240 was the second aircraft used for this 'C' project. They were re-designated F-106C. Only this 57-0239 actually flew, and made ten flights with this new long nose in 1959. The plane was later destroyed in fatigue tests. The other aircraft 57-0240 eventually reverted to standard F-106A configuration. These F-106C aircraft had something to do with something called the "MOPA Program", which was written on the back of the other F-106C aircraft 57-0240 but we don't know exactly what MOPA stands for yet. [Doug Peck collection]