Lockheed F-104 Starfighter

The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was an interceptor aircraft in service with the US Air Force during the Cold War. It was known as the 'Zipper' to pilots as it was the fastest combat aircraft of the 1950s. It was also the first airplane capable of sustaining Mach 2 speeds. Although it had a brief military career in the United States, it would play an important role in Europe as a fighter-bomber. A total of 2,578 Starfighters were produced, with the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) being the main user. It was also employed by the Italians, the Dutch, and Turkish.

Designed by Clarence L. "Kelly" Johnson, the prototype, the XF-104, performed its first flight on March 4, 1954. After three years of flight tests, with accidents, it was introduced into service with the US Air Force on February 28, 1958, as the F-104A version. The F-104B, F-104C, F-104F, and F-104G would be the main variants. The F-104B was a tactical fighter and trainer, equipped with two seats in tandem. Meanwhile, the F-104G was the most massively built, with a total of 1,127 aircraft, having a stronger fuselage and improved avionics.

The Lockheed F-104C was a fighter-bomber variant, which was fitted with an upgraded fire-control radar (AN/ASG-14T). It was powered by one General Electric J79-GE-7 afterburning turbojet engine. It was capable to carry one Mk-28 nuclear bomb. This version would be operated by the US Tactical Air Command in the 1960s; during the Vietnam War, it took part in Operation Rolling Thunder in the air support role, providing a protective umbrella for other US Air Force aircraft. It would be retired from active service in the US Air force in 1974, along with the other versions.

Below, photograph of the prototype XF-104, s/n 53-7783, in flight in the skies over California.

Technical Description

The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was a single-seat, single-engine supersonic monoplane. It had a long, rocket-like, all-metal fuselage, with a long tapered nose. It featured trapezoidal mid-wing, with a 10-degree anhedral angle (downward inclination). It was fitted with a T-tail, with trapezoidal horizontal stabilizer mounted on top of the vertical fin. It had two 170-gal. wingtip fuel tanks. It was equipped with narrow-tracked retractable landing gear.

The location of the horizontal stabilizer on top of the vertical fin raised the center of pressure on the tail, thus increasing induced roll effect during sideslip (downward sharp bank). To offset this increased roll, the wing was designed with a 10-degree negative dihedral (anhedral). The narrow, 6-m wing span was optimized for Mach-2 high speeds performance. The leading edge of wing was so thin and sharp, it was said that it was sharp enough to cut meat with.

Specifications (F-104G)

Type: Interceptro/Fighter Aircraft

Length: 16.69 m (54 feet, 9 inches)

Wing Span: 6.68 m (21 feet, 11 inches)

Wing Area: 18.22 m2 (196 square feet)

Height: 4.11 m (13 feet, 6 inches)

Power Plant: one14,806-lb-thrust, General Electric J79-GE-11A turbojet, with afterburner.

Maximum Speed: 2,330 km/h (1,450 mph)/Mach-2.2

Combat Radius: 800 km (497 miles)

Service Ceiling: 16,764 m (55,000 feet)

Armament: one 20-mm M-61 Vulcan, six-barrel, rotary cannon in fuselage; one centerline rack capable of carrying one 907-kg (2,000-lb) bomb; two underwing pylons each capable of carrying one 454-kg (1,000-lb) bomb. Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.

Below, three Starfighters in flight in the 1960s.

The prototype with chief engineering test pilot Herman R. "Fish" Salmon standing beside the aircraft at a military base.

Below, the F-104A, s/n 56-736 flying over Arizona in 1959.

The M-61 Vulcan gattling-gun type cannon.