Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-104>HA1063

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

Mitsubishi built F-104J c/n 683B-3087, model 683-07-14 was given the JASDF serial 26-8587 and was delivered on April 30, 1964 to the 201st Hikotai In 1970 it was transferred to the 202nd Hikotai (Squadron) / 5th Kokudan (Wing). In November of 1980 and 1981 46-8587 (587) represented the squadron at the ACM meeting, similar to the NATO Tiger Meet. In 1982 the 202nd and 204th squadrons of the 5th Kokudan shared the aircraft. In 1982 the 202nd squadron began to convert to the F-15 so in December 587 was withdrawn from service and eventually scrapped.

Specifications:

F-104DJ is the dual-control variant
Engine:	1 x 15,600-lb thrust J79-IHI-11A Japanese-built GE J79-GE-11A afterburning turbojet.
Weight:
Empty:	13,900 lbs.
Max Takeoff:	29,303 lbs.
Dimensions:
Wing Span:	21ft 9in
Length:	54ft 8in.
Height:	13ft. 5in.
Performance:	Maximum speed at 50, 000 ft. – 1,145 mph (Mach 2.2).
Service ceiling:	50,000ft.
Rate of climb:	48,000 ft./min.
Range:	1,080 miles.
Armament:	1 x 20mm six-barrel cannon only on the later versions, early versions were without it and replaced by a fuel tank
	2 x wingtip mounted Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.
	2 x rack-mounted air-to-air Sidewinder missiles on the fuselage forward-centerline.
	Provisions for wingtip mounted fuel tanks and optional fuel drop tanks under the wings