Lockheed F-104 Starfighter Was a Pure Legend

What You Need to Know: Developed by Clarence “Kelly” Johnson’s Skunk Works, the Lockheed F-104 “Starfighter” was a Cold War marvel known for its Mach-2.0 speed and sleek, missile-like design.

Designed to meet the US Air Force’s demands for a fast, high-altitude fighter jet, the F-104 became a tactical powerhouse by breaking records with its M-61 Vulcan cannon and Sidewinder missiles.

-Despite these strengths, its thin body, limited fuel capacity and high accident rate earned it the nickname “flying coffin”.

-He retired in the 1970s and found a new life at NASA for astronaut training, which embodies both pioneering design and controversial legacy.

F-104, Announced

The Lockheed Martin F-104 may no longer be in service, but the Cold War-era airframe remains a favorite of aviation enthusiasts and military experts alike. The supersonic supremacy fighter was developed by the legendary Skunk Works division under Clarence “Kelly” Johnson. Known for its fast Mach-2.0 capabilities and stylish design, the “Starfighter” remains impressive even by today’s standards.

Starfighter Origin Story

Following World War II, Lockheed’s Clarence Johnson traveled to U.S. Air Force bases in South Korea to research potential new fighter jet concepts. As the Cold War was heating up around this time, the Soviet MiG-15 was seen as a formidable opponent. American pilots explained to Johnson that they wanted a simple airframe that could fly at high speeds and high altitudes.

Based on these requirements, Johnson presented the AI ​​Force with a new fighter jet to replace the North American F-100. After all, Lockheed outperformed other major manufacturers and secured the contract.

In 1954, the first F-104 took to the skies and four years later it officially entered Air Force service. In total, approximately 2,580 aircraft were built. Because of the starfighter short wingspan According to the New England Air Museum, the fuselage was nicknamed the “missile with man inside” because of its length and length.

Notably, the airframe was the first of its kind to achieve sustained Mach-2.0 flight while reaching an altitude of 100,000 feet. In terms of armament capacity, the Starfighter can serve as a tactical fighter. platform It was equipped with the six-barreled M-61 20-millimeter Vulcan cannon and Sidewinder missiles while operating as a day-night interceptor.

Why Was the Starfighter Retired?

while F-104 A monumental warrior in many respects, he had his shortcomings. Its particularly thin, heavy body and T-tail were created with aerodynamic issues in mind. The small fuselage prevented the aircraft from having a powerful radar and limited internal fuel capacity. All of these factors combined have disrupted the platform’s long-term growth potential.

After the fuselage’s service in the Vietnam War, it was nicknamed the “flying coffin” by some due to its accident propensity. In total, fourteen F-104s were lost in Southeast Asia, six to ground fire and three to surface-to-air missiles of the USSR. The platform suffered a similar fate on other battlefields. Like noted By Robert Farley, “More than fifty percent of F-104s in Canadian service and over thirty percent in German service were lost in accidents.”

In the late 1960s the F-104 left regular service with the Air Force and continued to fly for the Air National Guard until 1975. Several Starfighters were later purchased by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). As explained by Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum“NASA used Starfighters as chase planes and ordered three NF-104s as astronaut training planes. With a tail-mounted rocket, the NF-104 can zoom to over 100,000 feet, allowing the pilot to practice control in turning the aircraft using nose and wingtip thrusters for up to eighty seconds.

Chuck Yeager flew NF-104 to the edge of space before the ship went out of control and was forced into the stratosphere. This event is the main theme of the book “The Right Things”.

Although the Starfighter had its flaws, it had cutting-edge capabilities for its age.

About the Author: Maya Carlin

Maya CarlinHe is a National Security Writer for National Interest, an analyst at the Center for Security Policy, and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. He has signatures in many publications such as The National Interest, Jerusalem Post and Times of Israel. You can follow him on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.

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