Developed by Lockheed as a single engine, high performance super sonic interceptor aircraft.
The ‘Starfighter’ served the US air force from 1958 until 1967, the Air National Guard phased out the last F-104 in 1975. Nasa stoped using the F-104 in 1994.
Several European air forces had the F-104 in service mainly the F-104G, they served well into the 1980’s. The final version of the ‘Starfighter’ the F-104S was
by Lockheed for the Italian air force, designed to carry AIM-7 Sparrow missiles. The Italian’s were the last operators of the Starfighter, their last F-104S retired in 2004.
Clarence “Kelly” Johnson, chief engineer from Lockheed at ‘Skunk Works’ visited US pilots in Korea in 1951 and simply asked them what sort of aircraft they think was needed to obtain air superiorety in a coflict. The pilots wanted a simple small?aircraft with high performance, Kelly returned to the States and designed just that, The L-246. That first design essentially stayed identical to the Starfighters that were first delivered.
| Developing Nation: | United States |
| Chief engineer: | Clarence “Kelly” Johnson |
| Task: | Multi-role combat aircraft |
| First Flight: | – XF-104: February 7th 1954- F-104A: February 17th 1954 (the 104A had the new and much more powerful J79 engine)- F-104G: October 5th 1960- F-104S: 1966 |
| Crew: | – 1- trainers: 2 |
| Wing Span: | 6,68 m (without tip-tanks or missiles) |
| Wing Area: | 18,21 m² |
| Length: | 16,69 m |
| Engine (s): | – F-104A: General Electric J79-3 enlarged turbojet with 6713 kg thrust- F-104G: General Electric J79-11A enlarged turbojet with 7167 kg thrust- F-104S:General Electric J79-19 enlarged turbojet with 8119 kg thrust |
| Weight: | – F104A: 5698 kg- F104G: 6387 kg- F104S: 6758 kg |
| Max.Take off weight: | – F104A: 8891 kg- F104G: 13054 kg- F104S: 14061 kg |
| Max. Speed: | (Clean)- High altitude: 2334 km/h- Low altitude: 1464 km/h |
| Max. Range: | – F-104A: 1770 km- F-104G: 3510 km- F-104S: 2920 km |
| Ejection Seat: | – Stanley C-1- Export Starfighters were retro-fitted with Martin Baker zero-zero ejection seats. |
| Radar: | – AN/ASG-14T ranging radar (initial USAF Starfighters)- Auronetics NASARR radar (Internarional fighter-bomber aircraft)- NASARR R21-G radar with moving-target indicator and continuous-wave illuminator for semi-active radar homing missiles. (Italian F-104S) |
| Weapons: | – All types: 20 mm M61A-1 Cannon, and wingtips Sidewinder missiles.- F-104C: can carry: 2x 454 Kg. Bombs- F-104G: can carry 1x 907 Kg. load under the fuselage, and two 454 Kg. bombs under its wings- F-104S: Carries 2x Sparrow or Aspide air to air missiles plus 2 or 4 Sidewinders |
The countries that use(d)the F-104 in various types: |
| Belgium Canada (CF-104) Denmark Germany Greece Italy Japan Jordan Netherlands Norway Pakistan Spain Taiwan (Republic of China) Turkey United States |
Production of the F-104:
| Type | Lockheed | Multi-national | Canadair | Fiat | Fokker | MBB | Messer-schmitt | Mitsu-bishi | SABCA | Total |
| XF-104 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| YF-104A | 17 | 17 | ||||||||
| F-104A | 153 | 153 | ||||||||
| F-104B | 26 | 26 | ||||||||
| F-104C | 77 | 77 | ||||||||
| F-104D | 21 | 21 | ||||||||
| F-104DJ | 20 | 20 | ||||||||
| CF-104 | 200 | 200 | ||||||||
| CF-104D | 38 | 38 | ||||||||
| F-104F | 30 | 30 | ||||||||
| F-104G | 139 | 140 | 164 | 231 | 50 | 210 | 188[a] | 1122 | ||
| RF-104G | 40 | 35 | 119 | 194 | ||||||
| TF-104G (583C to F) | 172 | 27 | 199 | |||||||
| TF-104G (583G and H) | 21 | 21 | ||||||||
| F-104J | 3 | 207 | 210 | |||||||
| F-104N | 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| F-104S | 245[a] | 245 | ||||||||
| Total by manufacturer | 741 | 48 | 340 | 444 | 350 | 50 | 210 | 207 | 188 | 2578 |
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