Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-104>HA1025

General Background

The F-104 Starfighter was an military aircraft with revolutionary designs. It had short razor-sharp wings and was the first aircraft to be able to maintain Mach 2 not just in short bursts. This extremely high speed earned the plane the nickname "The Missile With A Man In It". Because of financial considerations 15 or more countries purchased the F-104. The Starfighter flew with the USAF in 1958 and the last airplane was decommissioned in Italy in 2004.

The Aircraft

Lockheed F-104A coded 4201 was manufactured as c/n 183-1127 with a serial of 56-0893. In 1958 the USAF 83rd FIS deployed to Formosa (now Taiwan) in response to the second Taiwan Strait Crisis. It is believed that in 1960 and 1961 25 F-104As and 2 F-104Bs now coded 4201 - 4225 and 4101 – 4102 respectively were transferred to the ROCAF. In 1969 18 of the F-104As were transferred to Jordan including 4201 that now became 914L with 9 Squadron. The aircraft was wfu (withdrawn from use) in September 1969.

Specifications :

Crew:	1 (pilot)
Dimensions:
Length:	54 ft 8 in
Height:	13 ft 5 in
Wingspan:	21 ft 9 in
Weight:
Empty:	13,384 lb
Gross:	17,988 lb
Maximum:	25,840 lb
Performance:
Engine:	1 X General Electric J79-GE-3B (thrust 9,600 )
Range:	730 miles
Cruise Speed:	519 mph
Climb Rate:	60,395 ft/min
Service Ceiling:	64,795 ft