Lockheed Aircraft Company
Lockheed F-104G Starfighter
First flight 4 March 1954 (XF-104) Introduction 20 February 1958 (United States)

Top

Aircraft, Martin Aviation & Lockheed Corporation Short Cuts

Martin PBM-1 Mariner

Martin B-26 Marauder

Lockheed P38 Lightning

Martin P5M Marlin

Martin RB-57 NASA

Lockheed Orion

Martin JRM Mars

Martin 2.0.2/4.0.4

Lockheed L188 Electra II

Martin B-10 Model

Martin Main Page

L-1049 Constellation

Shooting Star P-80

F-35 Lightning II

C-5M Galaxy

Lockheed Main Page

General Info

Lockheed
F-104G Starfighter

Role	Air superiority fighter Fighter-bomber
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Lockheed
First flight	4 March 1954 (XF-104)
Introduction	20 February 1958 (United States)
Status	Retired from military service; in use with civilian operators as warbirds
Primary users	United States Air Force German Air Force Turkish Air Force Italian Air Force
Number built	2,578
Variants	Lockheed NF-104A Canadair CF-104 Starfighter Aeritalia F-104S Starfighter
Developed into	Lockheed CL-1200 Lancer/X-27 Lockheed CL-288

.

History Lockheed Aircraft Company
Lockheed F-104G Starfighter
First flight 4 March 1954 (XF-104) Introduction 20 February 1958 (United States)

The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is an American single-engine, supersonic air superiority fighter which was extensively deployed as a fighter-bomber during the Cold War. Created as a day fighter by Lockheed as one of the "Century Series" of fighter aircraft for the United States Air Force (USAF), it was developed into an all-weather multirole aircraft in the early 1960s and produced by several other nations, seeing widespread service outside the United States.

Four of the surviving aircraft were later converted for civilian use to firefighting water bombers. Two of the aircraft still remain based at Sproat Lake just outside of Port Alberni, British Columbia, although neither is operational..

Development

Background and early development

Main article: Lockheed XF-104

Clarence L. "Kelly" Johnson, vice president of engineering and research at Lockheed's Skunk Works, visited USAF air bases across South Korea in November 1951 to speak with fighter pilots about what they wanted and needed in a fighter aircraft. At the time, the American pilots were confronting the MiG-15 with North American F-86 Sabres, and many felt that the MiGs were superior to the larger and more complex American fighters. The pilots requested a small and simple aircraft with excellent performance, especially high-speed and high-altitude capabilities. Johnson started the design of such an aircraft upon his return to the United States. In March 1952, his team was assembled; they studied over 100 aircraft configurations, ranging from small designs at just 8,000 lb (3,600 kg), to large ones up to 50,000 lb (23,000 kg). To achieve the desired performance, Lockheed chose a small and simple aircraft, weighing in at 12,000 lb (5,400 kg) with a single powerful engine. The engine chosen was the new General Electric J79 turbojet, an engine of dramatically improved performance in comparison with contemporary designs. The small design powered by a single J79, issued Temporary Design Number L-246, remained essentially identical to the prototype Starfighter as eventually delivered. Lockheed designated the prototype Model 083 .

0

Ceiling

0

Range

0

km/h

Aircraft Speed

0

Max Crew

Gallery

Photo Gallery
Lockheed Aircraft Company
Lockheed F-104G Starfighter

Lockheed / Martin Aerospace