The high-performance single-engine supersonic interceptor aircraft, Lockheed F-104 or also known as "Starfighter" was basically developed by Lockheed for the United States Air Force (USAF). Starfighter is one of the Century Series aircrafts.
This aircraft served with Air National Guard units until it was phased out in 1975 after serving the USAF from 1958 until 1969. A small mixed fleet of F-104 types were flew by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in supersonic flight tests and spaceflight programs until their retirement from the programs in 1994.
Armament: Guns: One 20 mm (0.787 in) T171 Vulcan 6-barreled Gatling cannon, 725 rounds | Hard-points: Seven with a capacity of 4,000 lb (1,814 kg) | Missiles : Four AIM-9 Sidewinder | Others : Bombs, rockets, or other stores
Engine: One General Electric J79-GE-11A afterburning turbojet | Dry thrust: 10,000 lbf (48 kN) | Thrust with afterburner: 15,600 lbf (69 kN)
Maximum speed: 1,328 mphRange: 1,630 miles
Service ceiling: 50,000 ft.
Span: 21 ft. 9 in.
Length: 54 ft. 8 in.
Height: 13 ft. 6 in.
Weight: 20,640 lbs. loaded Crew: One
The F-104S all-weather interceptor equipped with radar-guided AIM-7 Sparrow missiles which was designed for the Italian Air Force by Aeritalia, was the ultimate production version of the basic fighter model F-104. The CL-1200 Lancer, an advanced F-104 with a high-mounted wing, however, did not proceed past the mock-up stage.
A NATO competition for a new fighter-bomber, was won by the F-104G model which was the product after a set of modifications had been done to the original F-104 model. The F-104 Starfighter served with the air forces of over a dozen nations. With its retirement in May 2004 by the Italian Air Force, the operational service of the Starfighter ended after its introduction in 1958 by the USAF.
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