1/4 SCALE AIRWORLD RC LOCKHEED F-104 STARFIGHTER WIDOW MAKER KINGTECH 260 BMFA NATIONALS # 2 - 2019

(PART TWO OF TWO)

Role - Interceptor aircraft, fighter-bomber
National origin - United States
Manufacturer - Lockheed
First flight - 17 February 1956 (YF-104A)
Introduction - 20 February 1958
Retired - 31 October 2004 (Italy)
Status - Retired from military service; in use with civilian operators as warbirds
Primary users - United States Air Force
German Air Force
Japan Air Self-Defence Force
Turkish Air Force
Number built - 2,578
Unit cost - US$1.42 million (F-104G)[1]
Developed from - Lockheed XF-104 Starfighter
Variants -
Lockheed NF-104A
Canadair CF-104
Aeritalia F-104S
Developed into - Lockheed CL-1200/X-27
Lockheed CL-288

The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is a single-engine, supersonic interceptor aircraft which later became widely used as an attack aircraft. Initially a day fighter, it was developed into an all-weather fighter in the late 1960s. It was originally developed by Lockheed for the United States Air Force (USAF), but was later produced by several other nations, seeing widespread service outside the United States. One of the Century Series of fighter aircraft, it was operated by the air forces of more than a dozen nations from 1958 to 2004.

Its design team was led by Kelly Johnson, who contributed to the development of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, Lockheed U-2, Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, and other Lockheed aircraft.
The F-104 set numerous world records, including both airspeed and altitude records. Its success was marred by the Lockheed bribery scandals, in which Lockheed had given bribes to a considerable number of political and military figures in various nations to influence their judgment and secure several purchase contracts; this caused considerable political controversy in Europe and Japan.

The poor safety record of the Starfighter also brought the aircraft into the public eye, especially in German Air Force (Luftwaffe) service. Fighter ace Erich Hartmann was put into early retirement from the Luftwaffe due to his outspoken opposition to the selection of the F-104.

The final production version of the fighter model was the F-104S, an all-weather interceptor designed by Aeritalia for the Italian Air Force, and equipped with radar-guided AIM-7 Sparrow missiles. An advanced F-104 with a high-mounted wing, known as the CL-1200 Lancer, was considered, but did not proceed past the mock-up stage.

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FILMED AT THE BMFA NATIONALS RC MODEL AIRCRAFT SHOW AT RAF BARKSTON HEATH - GRANTHAM - LINCOLNSHIRE UK - NG32 2DQ,
FILMED ON AUGUST 24 - 25 - 2019,
THIS EVENT WAS SUPPORTED BY THE BMFA,