Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-104>HA1037
CF-104 Starfighter "Coke Bottle" 104868, 421 Squadron, CAF, 1981
General Background
The RCAF received their first CF-104 in March 1962. Although originally designed as a
supersonic interceptor the Canadian Air Force used it primarily for low level strike and
reconnaissance. The Canadian version of the F-104 was capable of carrying a ventral
mounted Vinten Vicon pod with 4 cameras inside for reconnaissance picture taking. On
September 4, 1963 number 12900 was the 200th and final CF-104 produced and entered
service on January 10, 1964. The CF-104 retired from service in 1985 when it was
replaced by the CF-18 Hornet. Over the 25 years of active service 110 aircraft were lost
to accidents earning it nicknames like "Widow Maker" and "Lawn Dart". The RCAF CF-
104 probably had the most flying time of any variant with an average of 6,000 hours per
plane over their life time compared to the Luftwaffe's 3,000 hours.
The Aircraft
CF-104 serial 12868 c/n 683A-1168 went to the RCAF on December 11, 1963. The
aircraft was assigned to 2 Wing / 1 Air Division and then 1 Wing until 1968 when it was
put into storage. CF-104s were reserialed in June 1970 so 12868 became 104868. In
1971 the aircraft was reactivated and in 1978 104868 was with 441 and then 421
Squadrons. For 1981-82 the aircraft received a red and white paint scheme nicknamed
“Flying Coke Bottle” or “Flying Coke Can”. March 2, 1984 a hangar fire destroyed the
aircraft.
Specifications:
| Manufacturer: | Canadair |
| Designation: | originally a super-sonic interceptor but adapted for low level strike and reconnaissance |
| Crew: | 1 x pilot - “D” variant 2 crew |
| Dimensions: | |
| Wingspan: | 21’ 11” |
| Length: | 54’ 9” |
| Height: | 13’ 6” |
| Wing area: | 196.1 sq. ft |
| Powerplant: | 1 x Orenda Engines J79-OEL-7, 10,000 lb. s.t. dry / 15,800 lb. s.t. with after burner |
| Performance: | |
| Maximum speed: | |
| Dash: | 1,550 mph (mach 2.35) @ 40,000’ |
| 915 mph (mach 1.2) @ sea-level | |
| Climb to 30,000’: | 1.5 minutes |
| Service ceiling: | 50,000 ft (12,000 m) |
| Range: | 1,630 mi (1,420 nm, 2,630 km) |
| Weights: | |
| Empty: | 13,909 lbs. |
| Clean: | 21,005 lbs |
| Maximum take-off: | 28,891 lbs |
| External stores: | |
| 5 hard points: | 1 x under the fuselage, 1 x under each wing, 1 x at each wing tip |
| Armament: | |
| External bombs and missiles such as: | Napalm bomb |
| Cluster bomb | |
| BL755 cluster bomb | |
| 1 x 19 rocket rocket-pod | |
| Mk. 82 bomb | |
| MN1A practice bomb dispenser | |
| 1 x M61A1 Vulcan | |
| 1 x 20mm cannon added to later versions. |