Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-104>HA1065
CF-104 Starfighter 104733, 1 Canada Air Group, Canadian Armed Forces, West Germany, 1974




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
Built as a CF-104 by Canadair with a s/n 12733 and given the RCAF serial 12733, it joined the Canadian Armed Force at Baden-Solingen Germany in a nuclear role. In 1971 the CF-104 became a ground attack aircraft. In 1986 the CF-104 was being replaced by the CF-18 Hornet so some aircraft were scrapped or placed in storage until they were sold to other countries. In 1986 CF-104 104733 was sent to Turkey where it became 62-733 and flew until 1996 when it was preserved at Askeri Muzesi, Harbiye, Istanbul.
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. |