Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-104>HA1050
Lockheed TF-104 USAF, 58th TTW, 418th TFTS, Luke AFB, 1976
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
From 1964 until 1983 the West German Air Force trained their F-104 pilots at Luke AFB
in Arizona. Originally the USAF 4510th Combat Crew Training Wing was assigned the
task before being re-designated the 58th TTW. The German pilots trained using German
F-104s with U.S. serials and markings. The 418th TFTS operated as part of the 58th
TTW from October 1969 until 15 August 1976 when it was disbanded. Early in 1976 one
F-104 was given a special paint scheme to commemorate the USA Bicentennial.
Specifications for the Lockheed F-104G / TF-104G Starfighter:
| F-104G | |
| Role: | (all-weather multi-role fighter-bomber |
| Production: | 1,122 |
| Crew: | 1 |
| TF-104G | |
| Role: | combat-capable trainer version of F-104G |
| Production: | 220 |
| Crew: | 2 |
| NORMAL PERFORMANCE | |
| Engine: | 1 x General Electric J-79 of 15,600 lbs. thrust with afterburner |
| Increased Internal Fuel Capacit | |
| Maximum speed: | 1,320 mph |
| Cruising Speed: | 575 mph |
| Combat Radius: | 420 mi |
| Ferry Range: | 1,630 mi |
| Service Ceiling: | 58,000 ft |
| Rate Of Climb: | 48,000 ft/min |
| Dimensions | |
| Span: | 21 ft. 11 in |
| Length: | 54 ft. 10 in |
| Height: | 13 ft. 6 in |
| Weight | |
| Empty: | 14,000 lbs |
| Loaded: | 20,640 lbs |
| Maximum Takeoff: | 29,027 lbs |
| Armament | |
| F-104G | 1 x M-61 20mm M61 Vulcan 6-barrel cannon |
| Hardpoints: | 7 x capable of carrying a maximum 4,000 lbs of stores |
| Located: | 2 x wing-tip launch rails for AIM-9 Sidewinder or similar missiles |
| 4 x 2 under each wing | |
| 1 x under-fuselage center-line pylon | |
| TF-104G | No cannon or centerline pylon |
| Reduced internal fuel |