Lockheed F-104 Starfighter model airplane

Lockheed F-104 Starfighter model airplane - usaf, airplanes, plane, us air forse, planes, model, models, jets, nato, hobby.

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Lockheed F-104 Starfighter model airplane

Sometimes referred to as a jet-propelled dart with tiny wings, the first of two prototypes of this striking-looking aircraft was first flown on March 4, 1954, but almost four years of development followed before the USAF gave clearance for squadron use of the F-104 Starfighter in January 1958. By then the USAF had lost interest in this class of fighter and accepted only 296 for its own use. However, a group of NATO countries, under the leadership of West Germany, decided to manufacture an improved version of the airplane to equip their air forces, leading to a major international production program in which the Starfighter was built in several countries. As a result, when production ended, an additional 2,282 F-104s had been built, and a large number of these airplanes remain in service.

If one wonders why the F-104 is in this "Unique" section, there are actually two reasons. First, for a plane that the US Air Force didn't want, the F-104 holds the record for the longest production run of any fighter plane ever built. Secondly, it also holds the particularly interesting distinction of being the only aircraft (that we could find out about) to ever be shot down by its OWN FORWARD-facing gun. The problem stems from the fact that no one calculated the speed of the projectiles firing from the original prototype plane and gun. If they had done so, it would have been realized that the projectile, within a short distance, was traveling slower than the plane itself at maximum speed. The F-104G, a major production version (1,127 built) used one General Electric J79-GE-11A turbojet of 15,600-lb. afterburning thrust, with a maximum speed of 1,146 mph at 50,000 feet, service ceiling of 50,000 feet, and range of 1,081 miles. Airplane armament on the late model F-104G was one 20-mm General Electric six-barrelled cannon, wingtip-mounted Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, and up to 4,000 lbs. of stores.

All airplane models are Hand Carved, Hand Painted Mahogany and come fully assembled.

Dimensions: Wingspan, 6 1/2" -Length, 15 1/2" -Scale, 1/42

F-104 1/42 Scale - Air Corps Price $129.95

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Dimensions: Wingspan, 8 7/8" -Length, 20 1/2" -Scale, 1/32

F-104 1/32 Scale - Air Corps Price $139.95

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