F-104 Starfighter

==Lockheed F-104 Starfighter==
The Lockheed F-104 'Starfighter' is a single-engine, high-performance, supersonic interceptor aircraft originally developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) by Lockheed. One of the Century Series of aircraft, it served with the USAF from 1958 until 1969, and continued with Air National Guard units until it was phased out in 1975. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) flew a small mixed fleet of F-104 types in supersonic flight tests and spaceflight programs until they were retired in 1994.[2]
USAF F-104Cs saw service during the Vietnam War, and F-104A aircraft were deployed by Pakistan briefly during the Indo-Pakistani wars. Republic of China Air Force (Taiwan) F-104s also engaged the People's Liberation Army Air Force (mainland China) over the disputed island of Kinmen.
===Lockheed F-104A Starfighter===
The F-104A was in USAF service from 1958 through 1960, then transferred to ANG until 1963 when they were recalled by the USAF Air Defense Command for the 319th and 331st Fighter Interceptor Squadrons. Some were released for export to Jordan, Pakistan, and Taiwan, each of whom used it in combat.
===Lockheed F-104G Starfighter===
1,122 aircraft of the main version produced as multi-role fighter-bombers. Manufactured by Lockheed, and under license by Canadair and a consortium of European companies which included Messerschmitt/MBB, Dornier, Fiat, Fokker and SABCA. The type featured strengthened fuselage and wing structure, increased internal fuel capacity, an enlarged vertical fin, strengthened landing gear with larger tires and revised flaps for improved combat maneuvering. Upgraded avionics included a new Autonetics NASARR F15A-41B radar with air-to-air and ground mapping modes, the Litton LN-3 Inertial Navigation System (the first on a production fighter) and an infrared sight.
*Tech Level: 4
*Damage Base: 14
*Min./Max. Airspeed: 3/27
*Maneuver (Loaded): 4 (5)
*Aerobatic (Loaded): -1 (-2)
*Defence (Loaded): 14 (13)
*Climb Rate (Loaded): 1 (2)
*Shallow/Steep/Power/Vertical Dives: 2/4/6/8
*Operational Ceiling: 11
*Stores External/Pylon/Internal: 2/2/0
*Guns: 1x20mm M61A1 Cannon (6 Barrel)
*Cost: 440
*Maintenance Cost: 53
==Voodoo Scuttlebutt ==
"So what if the plane had a horrible safety record? Or if Chuck Yeager nearly died in a crash with one? Who cares if the Germans called it Witwenmacher? Or if the top ace in history quit over the Starfighter? Odds seem grim, but if you are merc, do you expect anything else?" - Henry "Guv" Dravot, Musketeers - asked how he felt about flying the Starfighter
"I would rather walk." - Giovanni "Plow" Pattarozzi
Category:Firestorm Aircraft
Category:US Aircraft