Lockheed F-104 Starfighter Introduced 1956

http://airboyd.tv

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-104_Starfighter

The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was an American single-engined, high-performance, supersonic interceptor aircraft that served with the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1958 until 1967. One of the Century Series of aircraft, it continued in service with Air National Guard units until it was phased out in 1975. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) flew a small mixed fleet of F-104 types in supersonic flight tests and spaceflight programs until they were retired in 1994. Several two-seat trainer versions were produced, the most numerous being the TF-104G.

USAF F-104Cs saw service during the Vietnam War, and F-104A aircraft were deployed by Pakistan briefly during the Indo-Pakistani wars. Republic of China Air Force F-104s also engaged the People's Liberation Army Air Force over the disputed island of Kinmen. A set of modifications produced the F-104G model, which won a NATO competition for a new fighter-bomber.

The ultimate production version of the F-104 was the F-104S all-weather interceptor designed by Aeritalia for the Italian Air Force, and equipped with radar-guided AIM-7 Sparrow missiles. An advanced F-104 with a high-mounted wing, known as the CL-1200 Lancer, did not proceed past the mock-up stage. A total of 2,578 Starfighters were eventually produced, mostly by NATO members. The F-104 served with the air forces of over a dozen nations The operational service of the Starfighter ended with its retirement by the Italian Air Force in May 2004, some 46 years after its introduction in 1958 by the USAF.

The poor safety record of the Starfighter brought the aircraft into the public eye, especially in Luftwaffe service. The subsequent Lockheed bribery scandals surrounding the original purchase contracts caused considerable political controversy in Europe and Japan.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Lockheed
• F-104
• Starfighter
• Introduced
• 1956
• United
• States
• Air
• Force
• Luftwaffe
• airboyd
• airboyd.tv
• #airboydtv
• yt:quality=high

[ninjarider1]

@thar777 That's because it's mission brief was NEVER dogfighting. It was designed to go after high-flying Russian bombers. It was an interceptor, NOT a fighter!

[ryanspeed]

Downward ejection? Yea that's all fine and dandy when you're flying in excess of 10,000 feet. At low altitude, you're screwed!

[classicjetsims]

Downward ejection was only in some early models due to the seats not having enough thrust to launch over the tail. Any of the production versions had standard upward-firing seats.

[82ndairborne100]

@keegan773 Really? I did not know. I also did not know we were arming the Germans in the the 60's, I thought it was to soon after the war.

Also are you German? I'd love to go to Germany someday, they seem such great people.

[keegan773]

@82ndairborne100 No I refer to the Starfighter used by the German Airforce. There were frequent reports of fatalities on the T.V. news in the late 60's when I lived over there.

[82ndairborne100]

I like this fighter more than all the other planes of its era.

[82ndairborne100]

@keegan773 i think your thinking of the P-38 from WW2

[keegan773]

Ah the Flying Coffin a.k.a. the Widow Maker, designed as an interceptor and used as an all weather fighter in Europe.

[NickEspo1000]

Such an Iconic plane.

[TheCabal]

@fidosharkone

Me too, for christmas AGAIN!

I hope I finally get this little plane under the tree!

[fidosharkone]

I WANT ONE!!  :)

[canals22]

@iowa61 USaf pilots would have run out of fuel 15 seconds after reaching the MIC 21 combat altitude. Intercepting "high flying bombers" (50 000 ft or more ?) would have to be done over the base...

This is my favourite jet ever, but as a combat weapor was nearly useless...