Lockheed F-104 Starfighter

Lockheed F-104G Starfighter D-8030 ex Royal Netherlands Air ForceLockheed F-104G Starfighter D-8030 ex Royal Netherlands Air Force

The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is a single-engine, supersonic interceptor aircraft originally developed by Lockheed for the United States Air Force (USAF).

  • Role: Interceptor aircraft, fighter-bomber
  • National origin: United States
  • Manufacturer: Lockheed
  • First flight: 17 February 1956
  • Introduction: 20 February 1958
  • Status: Retired 2004 Italy
  • Number built: 2,578
  • Developed from: Lockheed XF-104
  • Variants: Lockheed NF-104A, Canadair CF-104, Aeritalia F-104S

Operators

  • Belgium Air Force
  • Canadian Air Force
  • Danish Air Force
  • German Air Force
  • Hellenic Air Force (Greece)
  • Italian Air Force
  • Japan Self Defence Air Force
  • Jordanian Air Force
  • Royal Netherlands Air Force
  • Royal Norwegian Air Force
  • Pakistan Air Force
  • Republic of China Air Force (Taiwan)
  • Spanish Air Force
  • Turkish Air Force
  • United States Air Force

Specifications (F-104G)

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 54 ft 8 in (16.66 m)
  • Wingspan: 21 ft 9 in (6.36 m)
  • Height: 13 ft 6 in (4.09 m)
  • Wing area: 196.1 sq ft (18.22 m²)
  • Airfoil: Biconvex 3.36% root and tip
  • Empty weight: 14,000 lb (6,350 kg)
  • Loaded weight: 20,640 lb (9,365 kg)
  • Max. takeoff weight: 29,027 lb (13,170 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × General Electric J79-GE-11A afterburning turbojet
    • Dry thrust: 10,000 lbf (48 kN)
    • Thrust with afterburner: 15,600 lbf (69 kN)
  • Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0172
  • Drag area: 3.37 sq ft (0.31 m²)
  • Aspect ratio: 2.45

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 1,328 mph (Mach 2.01, 1,154 kn, 2,137 km/h)
  • Combat radius: 420 mi (365 nmi, 670 km)
  • Ferry range: 1,630 mi (1,420 nm, 2,623 km)
  • Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m)
  • Rate of climb: 48,000 ft/min (244 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 105 lb/(sq ft) (514 kg/m²)
  • Thrust/weight: 0.54 with max. takeoff weight (0.76 loaded)
  • Lift-to-drag ratio: 9.2

Armament

  • Guns: 1 × 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A1 Vulcan 6-barreled Gatling cannon, 725 rounds
  • Hardpoints: 7 with a capacity of 4,000 lb (1,814 kg) and provisions to carry combinations of:
    • Missiles: 4 × AIM-9 Sidewinder
    • Other: Bombs, rockets, or other stores