Canadair CF-104

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Canadair CF-104

CF-104 displayed at CFB Borden.
Type	Interceptor aircraft
Manufacturer	Canadair
Designed by	Lockheed Corporation
Maiden flight	1961-05-26
Introduced	March 1962
Retired	1987
Primary user	Royal Canadian Air Force
Number built	340

The Canadair CF-104 (CF-111, CL-90) was a modified version of the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter supersonic fighter aircraft built in Canada by Canadair under licence. It served with the Royal Canadian Air Force and later the Canadian Armed Forces until it was replaced by the CF-18 Hornet.

Royal Canadian Air Force CF-104.

1 History
2 Variants
3 Operators
4 Specifications (CF-104)
5 References
6 External links
7 Related content

[edit] History

The version for the Royal Canadian Air Force was initially designated CF-111, then changed to CF-104. Canadair's internal designation was CL-90. Canadair also manufactured aircraft for the United States, these aircraft were F-104Gs. The first flight of a Canadian-built CF-104 occurred on 26 May 1961. The CF-104 production was 200 aircraft, while that of the F-104G was 140.

The CF-104 entered Canadian service in March 1962. Originally designed as a supersonic interceptor aircraft, it was used primarily for low level strike and reconnaissance by the RCAF. CF-104 squadrons were stationed in Europe as part of Canada's NATO commitment. Up to 1971, this included a nuclear strike role that would see Canadian aircraft armed with US Nuclear Weapons in the event of a conflict with Warsaw Pact forces.

Over the course of the aircraft's lifespan in service, some 110 were lost to accidents, earning the CF-104 the nickname of "Widowmaker" in the air force.

The CF-104 was replaced by the CF-18 Hornet and retired from service by the Canadian Forces in 1987. Most of the remaining aircraft were sold to Turkey.

[edit] Variants

CF-104 : Single-seat fighter-bomber version for the RCAF.
CF-104D : Two-seat training version for the RCAF.

[edit] Operators

CF-104D in front of Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

Canada
- Royal Canadian Air Force
- Canadian Armed Forces
  - No. 417 Squadron RCAF
  - No. 421 Squadron RCAF
  - No. 422 Squadron RCAF
  - No. 427 Squadron RCAF
  - No. 430 Squadron RCAF
  - No. 434 Squadron RCAF
  - No. 439 Squadron RCAF
  - No. 441 Squadron RCAF
  - No. 444 Squadron RCAF
Denmark
- Royal Danish Air Force
Greece
- Hellenic Air Force
Norway
- Royal Norwegian Air Force
Spain
- Spanish Air Force
Turkey
- Turkish Air Force

[edit] Specifications (CF-104)

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 54 ft 6 in (16.7 m)
Wingspan: 21 ft 9 in (6.63 m)
Height: 13 ft 5 in (4.08 m)
Empty weight: 14,000 lb (6,300 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 29,038 lb (13,171 kg)
Powerplant: 1× Orenda J79-OEL-7 afterburning turbojet
- Dry thrust: 10,000 lbf (44 kN)
- Thrust with afterburner: 15,800 lbf (66.7 kN)

Performance

Maximum speed: 1,146 mph (996 knots, 1,844 km/h)
Range: 1,630 mi (1,420 nm, 2,630 km)
Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (12,000 m)

Armament

Guns: 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A1 Vulcan cannon
Other: External bombs and missiles

[edit] References

Francillion, R. J. Lockheed Aircraft Since 1913. London: Putnam, 1987. ISBN: 0-370-30329-6.
Pickler, Ron and Milberry, Larry. Canadair: The First 50 Years. Toronto: CANAV Books, 1995. ISBN: 0-921022-07-7.

[edit] External links

[edit] Related content

Designation sequence

Canadian military sequence: CF-100 - CF-101 - CF-104 - CF-105 - CC-106 - CP-107
Canadair sequence: CL-66 - CL-84 - CL-89 - CL-90 - CL-215 - CL-217 - CL-227