Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-104>HA1047

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

There were three purpose-built single-seat Starfighters manufactured by Lockheed for NASA. These aircraft were designated as F-104N 011, 012 and 013 used as high-speed chase planes. On August 19, 1963 NASA011 was delivered to NASA FRC and in 1970 it was repainted in NASA’s white dark-blue light-blue. Later the colors became just white and blue and the aircraft was coded N811NA. The aircraft’s last official flight took place on October 23, 1987 having amassed 4,370 flights. The final location for N811NA is at the Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

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