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F-104 Starfighter

Design of the F-104 began in November 1952, as a result of the U.S. Air Force's requirement for a superior day fighter plane. The Air Force chose Lockheed's solution, the Starfighter.

The aircraft was quickly nicknamed "the missile with a man in it," since its long, thin fuselage and stubby wings resembled a missile more than a conventional aircraft. The F-104 was the first interceptor in service to be able to fly at sustained speeds above Mach 2 (twice the speed of sound).

Lockheed F-104B Starfighter S/N 63719, Buzz Number FG-719, on flight deck

The Starfighter’s design was radical for its time, as it was a small, straight-wing aircraft while most contemporary designs were much larger and featured swept-back wings.

The first F-104A deliveries took place on January 26, 1958. The planes were delivered to the 83d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Hamilton Air Force Base, California. Soon afterward, pilots from this squadron set new world speed and altitude records.

On May 18, 1958, an F-104A set a world speed record of 1,404.19 mph, and on Dec. 14, 1959, an F-104C set a world altitude record of 103,395 feet. The Starfighter was the first aircraft to hold simultaneous official world records for speed, altitude and time-to-climb.

The major variants were the F-104B, a two-seat version of the F-104A, used as an operational trainer: the F-104C, modified for use by the Tactical Air Command with provision for inflight refueling: and the F-104D, a two-seat version of the F-104C.

Starfighters served in the Air Force until the early 1960s. A few saw service in Vietnam, and they were also used in Air National Guard units until 1975. F-104s were used in the air forces of Germany, Italy, Turkey and others.

Technical Specifications of the F-104 Starfighter

Lockheed XF-104 Starfighter S/N 37786, Buzz Number FG-786, in flight
Lockheed XF-104 Starfighter S/N 37786, Buzz Number FG-786, in flight

Armament: One M-61 20mm cannon, two air-to-air missiles, nuclear or conventional bombs
Engine: General Electric J79 of 15,800 lbs. thrust with afterburner

Crew: One
Maximum speed: 1,320 mph
Cruising speed: 575 mph
Range: 1,250 miles
Ceiling: 58,000 ft.
Span: 21 ft. 11 in.
Length: 54 ft. 10 in.
Height: 13 ft. 6 in.
Weight: 27,853 lbs. maximum

Production Numbers and Surviving F-104 Aircraft

The USAF procured about 300 Starfighters in one- and two-seat versions. In addition, more than 1,700 F-104s were built in the United States and abroad under the military aid program for various nations including Canada, West Germany, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Turkey, Spain, Taiwan and Japan.

A number of F-104 aircraft are displayed in countries around the world, with about 26 displayed in the United States, including those shown in the photographs below.

Original F-104 Starfighter Photos from the Airplanes Online Collection

Lockheed F-104A Starfighter S/N 56733 at HAMM in Tyler, Texas
Lockheed F-104A Starfighter S/N 56733 in Tyler, Texas
Lockheed F-104A Starfighter in the markings of the 83rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron in Tyler, Texas
Lockheed F-104A Starfighter in the markings of the 83rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter in Tyler, Texas
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter Buzz Number FG-733 in Tyler, Texas
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter Buzz Number FG-733 in Tyler, Texas
F-104 Starfighter at the Pueblo Weisbrod Aviation Museum in Colorado
F-104 Starfighter in Pueblo, Colorado
F-104 Starfighter at the Air Force Armament Museum at Eglin AFB, Florida
F-104 Starfighter at the Air Force Armament Museum at Eglin AFB, Florida
F-104A Starfighter 56-0753, Buzz Number FG-753, at the Hill Aerospace Museum in Utah
F-104A Starfighter 56-0753, Buzz Number FG-753
F-104 Starfighter, S/N 56-901, Buzz Number FG-901, restored and on display at the New England Air Museum
F-104 Starfighter restored and on display at the New England Air Museum
Lockheed F-104D Starfighter S/N 57-1323 at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona
Lockheed F-104D Starfighter S/N 57-1323

 

F-104 Starfighter Photos from Our Friends and Supporters

F-104D Starfighter, S/N 57-1314, painted as 57-1312, Castle Air Museum, Atwater, California
(photo by Michael Hoschouer)
F-104D Starfighter, S/N 57-1314, painted as 57-1312, Castle Air Museum, Atwater, California
F-104A Starfighter, S/N 56-0801, Buzz Number FG-801, Edwards AFB, California
(photo by Michael Hoschouer)
F-104A Starfighter, S/N 56-0801, Buzz Number FG-801, Edwards AFB, California
NASA F-104 Starfighter, N826NA , Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards AFB, California
(photo by Michael Hoschouer)
NASA F-104 Starfighter, N826NA , Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards AFB, California
F-104G Starfighter, NASA 813, Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum, Oregon
(photo by Michael Hoschouer)
F-104G Starfighter, NASA 813, Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum, Oregon
F-104 Starfighter, S/N 57-1303, Buzz Number FG-903, Aerospace Museum of California, at former McClennan AFB
(photo by Michael Hoschouer)
F-104 Starfighter, S/N 57-1303, Aerospace Museum of California, at former McClennan AF
F-104C Starfighter, S/N 57-0915, Joe Davies Heritage Airpark, Plant 42, Palmdale, CA
(photo by Michael Hoschouer)
F-104C Starfighter, S/N 57-0915, Joe Davies Heritage Airpark, Plant 42, Palmdale, CA
F-104 Starfighter, S/N 56-0891, Arizona ANG, Sky Harbor, Arizona
(photo by Michael Hoschouer)
F-104 Starfighter, S/N 56-0891, Arizona ANGB, Sky Harbor, Arizona



USAF F-104 Starfighter Photographs

Air Force XF-104 Starfighter S/N 37786, Buzz Number FG-786, landing
Air Force XF-104 Starfighter S/N 37786, Buzz Number FG-786, landing
USAF F-104A Starfighters FG-769 and FG-781 in flight
USAF F-104A Starfighters FG-769 and FG-781 in flight
Lockheed F-104B Starfighter S/N 63719, Buzz Number FG-719, on flight deck
Lockheed F-104B Starfighter S/N 63719, Buzz Number FG-719, on flight deck
Lockheed F-104C Starfighter S/N 60914, Buzz Number FG-914
Lockheed F-104C Starfighter S/N 60914, Buzz Number FG-914
U.S. Air Force F-104G Starfighter S/N 13240 in flight
U.S. Air Force F-104G Starfighter S/N 13240 in flight