Lockheed F-104G Starfighter

During the Jet Fighter Exhibition, you can view the Lockheed F-104G Starfighter, an aircraft which has several records to its credit.

Specificaties

  • 1954

    First flight

  • 16.69 meters

    Length

  • 4.12 meters

    Height

  • 6.68 meters

    Span

  • 18,2 m2

    Wing area

  • 1x General Electric J79-GE-11A 7,100 kgf with afterburner

    Drive

  • 2,447 km/h

    Top speed

  • 243.8 m/sec

    Rate of climb

  • 1,740 km

    Flight range

  • 6,348 kg

    Empty weight

  • 13,166 kg

    Max. Starting weight

  • 1

    Crew

American Lockheed is secretly developing a supersonic fighter aircraft, the F-104G Starfighter. With this aircraft, speed is more important than maneuverability. In 1954, the F-104G Starfighter makes its maiden flight and subsequently sets several altitude and speed records. But it also has the dubious honor of being the most unsafe steel fighter.

The F-104G is being acquired by several air forces. The Royal Air Force has a total of 138 Starfighters in service as of 1962. Of these, 120 aircraft are operated as fighter-bombers, interceptors or photo reconnaissance aircraft. The remaining 18 serve as two-seat trainers. Dutch starfighters have never been used for combat purposes. However, on June 11, 1977, six starfighters of the Royal Air Force flew very low and, because of the impressive sound with ignited afterburners, over De Punt in the province of Drenthe to put an end to the Moluccan train hijacking.

In Europe, parts for the Starfighters are made by Fokker, Aviolanda and Philips, among others. The Starfighters are assembled at Fokker Netherlands. In 1984, the F-104G Starfighter was replaced in the Netherlands by the F-16.