Description
Farewell Old Friends, Lithographic print, 20″ x 30″, L/E 450
Signed and numbered by the artist
F-106
When the painting was created in 1986 this F-106 of the 49th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Griffiss AFB, New York had been flying for 30 years
Capable of speeds in excess of 1400 mph, two Convair F-106A “Delta Darts” and two subsonic Lockheed T-33 “T-Birds” of the 49th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Griffiss AFB, New York, meet in a 1986 training intercept high in the cloudscape above upstate New York. The 49th FIS is proud to have been the last active duty Air Force Squadron to fly “The Six”. First flown on 26 December 1956, the 106 had served three decades as one of America’s most important manned interceptors.
The 49th’s 60453, shown in this image, was the third F-106 built and had been flying for 30 years. The T-33s, which were developed from the F-80, the nation’s first operational jet fighter, served the squadron faithfully as target and support aircraft. Both of these beautiful aircraft have long since been retired. They served our country well. *
“Farewell Old Friends”, USAF Convair F-106A Delta Dart fighter, USAF Lockheed T-33 T-Bird trainer, 49th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Griffiss AFB, Rome, NY, F-106 lithographic print
