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F-104 Starfighter



F-104 Starfighter

F-104 Starfighter

F-104 Starfighter
F-104 Starfighter
Nicknamed "Missile With a Man in It"
GENERAL INFORMATION


MANUFACTURER:  Lockheed Aircraft Corporation and by license to foreign countries (Military Aid Program)

PRODUCTION PERIOD:  1955 TO 1970

NUMBER PRODUCED:  737 by Lockheed and 1,799 through Military Air Program (MAP)

PRODUCTION SERIES:  USAF: F-104A/C single-seat A/C, F-104B/D two-seat A/C; MAP: F-104G/J, CF-104G, F-104S single-seat A/C, TF-104G two-seat A/C

ROLES:  Originally designed as a land-based fair-weather air superiority fighter for the US Air Force; later developed into a land-based all-weather multi-mission aircraft for the US Air Force, capable of interception and forward air control


PERFORMANCE AND SPECIFICATIONS
(Figures given are general to the F-104 series)


MAXIMUM SPEED:  1,300 mph at 40,000 feet (Mach 2+)

SERVICE CEILING:  55,000 feet above sea level

RANGE:  1,600 miles

WEAPONS:  AIM-9 Sidewinder missile, M61A1 Vulcan 20mm cannon, and a variety of air to ground weapons could be carried on the six wing and two fuselage stations

CREW:  Pilot

LENGTH:  54 feet, 9 inches

WINGSPAN:  21 feet, 11 inches

HEIGHT:  13 feet, 6 inches

MAXIMUM TAKEOFF WEIGHT:  28,779 lbs.

POWERPLANT:  General Electric J79GE-11A turbojet engine with afterburner providing 15,800 lbs. of thrust

ACHIEVEMENTS:  First operational USAF A/C to achieve Mach 2 in level flight; first aircraft to hold simultaneous official world records for speed, altitude and time-to-climb


F-104 Starfighter F-104 Starfighter F-104 Starfighter