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The development of the Lockheed F-104, America's first operational Mach 2 fighter, was initially motivated by the threat posed by fast and agile Soviet-built MiGs of the Korean War. By the time of its introduction to the U.S. Air Force in 1958, the Starfighter, with its short wings and powerful General Electric J79 engine, had been tailored to an interceptor role. The sleek aircraft was quickly dubbed the "missile with a man in it." By the Vietnam War, it was transitioned into a fighter-bomber role, which proved to be an awkward fit.
Although phased out of U.S. front line service by 1969, the F-104 was immensely popular overseas. Throughout its long career, 2,578 Starfighters were produced, with well over half built under license in Canada, Europe, and Japan. The high performance F-104 also set many speed and altitude records during its early years, and several F-104s had long careers with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), flying research, training, and chase missions.
The Museum's F-104C was delivered to the U.S. Air Force in 1959. It flew with the 479th Tactical Fighter Wing at George Air Force Base in California, and deployed twice to Moron Air Base in Spain. It was transferred in 1967 to the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, where it flew (presumably as a testbed) for the Air Force Systems Command. It returned briefly to George AFB before it was retired in 1974, becoming a "gate guard" for many years. The Starfighter arrived at the Museum in 1992 and is now painted to represent a NASA F-104A.
This aircraft is on loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
The development of the Lockheed F-104, America's first operational Mach 2 fighter, was initially motivated by the threat posed by fast and agile Soviet-built MiGs of the Korean War. By the time of its introduction to the U.S. Air Force in 1958, the Starfighter, with its short wings and powerful General Electric J79 engine, had been tailored to an interceptor role. The sleek aircraft was quickly dubbed the "missile with a man in it." By the Vietnam War, it was transitioned into a fighter-bomber role, which proved to be an awkward fit.
Although phased out of U.S. front line service by 1969, the F-104 was immensely popular overseas. Throughout its long career, 2,578 Starfighters were produced, with well over half built under license in Canada, Europe, and Japan. The high performance F-104 also set many speed and altitude records during its early years, and several F-104s had long careers with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), flying research, training, and chase missions.
The Museum's F-104C was delivered to the U.S. Air Force in 1959. It flew with the 479th Tactical Fighter Wing at George Air Force Base in California, and deployed twice to Moron Air Base in Spain. It was transferred in 1967 to the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, where it flew (presumably as a testbed) for the Air Force Systems Command. It returned briefly to George AFB before it was retired in 1974, becoming a "gate guard" for many years. The Starfighter arrived at the Museum in 1992 and is now painted to represent a NASA F-104A.
This aircraft is on loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
