Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-104>HA1031

General Background

The F-104 Starfighter was a revolutionary design with short razor-sharp wings. It was the first aircraft to be able to maintain Mach 2 not just in short bursts. The Starfighter shattered speed and rate of climb records that still are impressive today. 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

The German Air Force purchased about 1/3 of all F-104s produced, 915. The first operational unit to receive the Starfighter was Jagdbombergeschwader 31 "Boelcke"(JBG31), in 1961. This is the oldest flying unit in the present day Luftwaffe and named in memory of Hauptmann Boelcke who was a WWI ace many times over. He also helped develop many of the fighter tactics still used today. April 1982 Luftwaffe F-104Gs surpassed 200,00 flight-hours. Because the F-104 was such a difficult aircraft to fly JGB 31 lost 18 planes killing 14 pilots.

Specifications :

Manufacturer:	Lockheed
Designation:	F-104G Starfighter
Crew:	1 (pilot)
Length:	16.66 M.
Height:	4.09 M
Wingspan:	6.63 M
Wing Area:	18.22 Sq. M
Empty weight:	6345 Kg.
Gross weight:	9362 Kg.
Max. weight:	13171 Kg
Range:	1754 Km
Cruise Speed:	821 km/h
Max. Speed:	1844 km/h
Climb:	14,630 M/min
Ceiling:	15240 M.
Wing loading:	563kg/m2
Powerplant:	1General Electric J-79-GE-11A (A/B 7,067 Kg.)
Thrust:	4356 Kg