F-104 Starfighter

The F-104 Starfighter was an American single-engine, supersonic interceptor developed by Lockheed in the 1950s.

The F-104 Starfighter is a single-engine, supersonic interceptor aircraft developed by Lockheed in the 1950s. It first flew in 1954 and entered service with the United States Air Force in 1958. The aircraft later served in multiple roles, including air superiority, fighter-bomber, and reconnaissance, and was operated by many allied air forces during the Cold War.

Development

The F-104 was developed by Lockheed in the early 1950s, with the XF-104 first flying in 1954. It was intended as a lightweight, high-performance interceptor and became part of the U.S. Air Force's Century Series.

Design and performance

The Starfighter's design emphasized speed and climb performance over range or low-speed handling. Its thin, small wings and powerful J79 engine allowed it to reach Mach 2 and helped it set world records for speed and altitude.

Operational service

The F-104 entered U.S. service in 1958 and was later operated by more than a dozen countries. It served in roles including interceptor, fighter-bomber, and reconnaissance aircraft during the Cold War.

Variants and records

Production included several major variants such as the F-104A and F-104C, with later models adapted for different missions and export users. The type became the first aircraft to hold simultaneous official world records for speed, altitude, and time-to-climb.