Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-104>HA1057

General Background

The F-104 Starfighter 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”. The F-104 was operated by approximately 15 countries. The Starfighter first flew with the USAF in 1958 and the last airplane was decommissioned in Italy in 2004.

The Aircraft

In 1967 Lockheed F-104Ds and Cs were transferred to the Puerto Rico ANG at Munez ANGB. F-104D 57-1320 was assigned to the 156th TFW of the PRANG. The PRANG operated the F-104s until July 1975 when they were replaced with LTV A-7Ds. Most of these F-104s went to AMARC at Davis Monthan AFB but F-104D 57-1320 found its way to the Six Flags amusement park in Jackson New Jersey.

Specifications:

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.