How does it feel to sit in the World’s fastest single engine fighter? You can find out with a visit to the McChord Air Museums F-106 Delta Dart Simulator. Even without all the "bells and whistles" of a fully functional F-106 Aircrew Training Device (ATD), one can still imagine how to pilot the “Ultimate Interceptor” – the F-106 Delta Dart.

Built in the late 50’s, the McChord Museums ATD was one of the last of four ATD’s to serve in the active Air Force. In April of 1987, our simulator was declared surplus and later stored at Griffiss AFB, location of the last Active Air Force F-106 squadron. In August of that year the cockpit section and ATD Technician’s Control Console arrived at McChord. Unfortunately, the Control Console was missing of the large amount of parts and the Museum was later forced to dispose of that particular part of the trainer.

After four years in storage at McChord, the cockpit section was placed on display at the  in 1991, In December of 2001 the device was restored and repainted to represent the Museums F-106 (s/n 56-0459) during it’s 1959 speed record attempt in "Project Firewall" with Col Joe Rogers at the controls.  

A F-106 ATD on display at the AMC Museum, Dover AFB, DE. The ATD Technicians console can be seen sitting next to the trainers cockpit.

Red, white, and blue lightning bolt markings from one of the devices former units, the 84th FIS, Castle AFB, CA, can be seen just below the cockpit. A large 84th FIS "Panther" unit insignia can be found in the rear of the cockpit section. 

The Museums F-106 ATD cockpit section before it's recent restoration.

 

The newly restored F-106 Cockpit section was painted to represent the Museum's F-106 Jet Interceptor (s/n 56-0459) during it's attempt to establish new world speed Record in December of 1959. A display covering the F-106 Speed Record project (Project Firewall) is located next to this cockpit section.