Canadair CF-104 Starfighter

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Canadair CF-104 Starfighter (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 (RCAF) and later the Canadian Forces until it was replaced by the McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet.

Design and development

In the late 1950s, Canada redefined its role in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) with a commitment to a nuclear strike mission.[3][4] At the same time, the RCAF began to consider a replacement for the Canadair F-86 Sabre series that had been utilized as a NATO day fighter.[5] An international fighter competition involved current types in service as well as development, including the Blackburn Buccaneer, Dassault Mirage IIIC, Fiat G.91, Grumman Super Tiger, Lockheed F-104G Starfighter, Northrop N-156 and the Republic F-105 Thunderchief.[5] Although the RCAF had preferred the F-105 Thunderchief equipped with an Avro Canada Orenda Iroquois engine, eventually the choice for a strike-reconnaissance aircraft revolved around cost as well as capability.[6] [N 1]

A Canadian government requirement for a license manufacture also favoured the Lockheed proposal due to a collaboration with Canadair based in Montreal. On 14 August 1959, Canadair was selected to manufacture 200 aircraft for the RCAF under license from Lockheed. In addition, Canadair was contracted to manufacture wingsets, tail assemblies and rear fuselage sections for 66 Lockheed-built F-104Gs destined for the West German Luftwaffe.[7][N 2]

Canadair's internal designation was CL-90 while the RCAF's version was initially designated CF-111, then changed to CF-104. Although basically similar to the F-104G, the CF-104 was optimized for the nuclear strike/reconnaissance role, fitted with R-24A NASARR equipment dedicated to the air-to-ground mode only as well as having provision for a ventral reconnaissance pod equipped with four Vinten cameras. Other differences included retaining the removable refuelling probe, initial deletion of the fuselage-mounted 20 mm (.79 in) M61A1 cannon (replaced by an additional fuel cell) and the main undercarriage members being fitted with longer-stroke liquid springs and larger tires. The first flight of a Canadian-built CF-104 (s/n 12701) occurred on 26 May 1961.[8] The Canadair CF-104 production was 200 aircraft with an additional 140 F-104Gs produced for Lockheed.[1]

Operational history

417 Sqn CF-104 at CFB Moose Jaw in 1982

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. Eight CF-104 squadrons were originally stationed in Europe as part of Canada's NATO commitment. This was reduced to six in 1967, with a further reduction to three squadrons in 1970.[9] Up to 1971, this included a nuclear strike role that would see Canadian aircraft armed with US-supplied nuclear weapons in the event of a conflict with Warsaw Pact forces.

When the CF later discontinued the strike/reconnaissance role for conventional attack, the M61A1 was refitted, along with U.S. Snakeye "iron" bombs, British BL755 cluster bombs and Canadian-designed CRV-7 rocket pods. Although Canadian pilots practised air combat tactics, AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles were never carried operationally by Canadian Starfighters (however, examples provided to other air forces, such as Norway and Denmark, did carry Sidewinders on a twin-rail centreline station and the wingtip rails). The CF-104D two-seater did not normally carry any armament except for a centreline practice-bomb dispenser.

Over the course of the aircraft's lifespan in service, some 110 were lost to accidents, earning the CF-104 the nickname of "Widowmaker" or "Lawn Dart" in the air force.[10]

In the late 1970s, the New Fighter Aircraft program was launched to find a suitable replacement for the CF-104, as well as the McDonnell CF-101 Voodoo and the Canadair CF-5. The winner of the competition was the CF-18 Hornet, which began to replace the CF-104 in 1982. All of the CF-104s were retired from service by the Canadian Forces by 1987, with most of the remaining aircraft given to Turkey.

Variants

Main article: List of Lockheed F-104 Starfighter variants
CF-104
Single-seat fighter-bomber version for the RCAF.
CF-104D
Two-seat training version for the RCAF.

Operators

 Canada
 Denmark
 Norway
 Turkey

Accidents and incidents

  • On 22 May 1983, during an airshow at the Rhein-Main Air Base, a Canadian CF-104 Starfighter crashed onto a nearby road, hitting a car and killing all passengers, a vicar's family of five. The pilot was able to eject.[11]

Aircraft on display

CF-104 displayed at CFB Borden
CF-104D Starfighter 104646 at the National Air Force Museum of Canada, CFB Trenton
Bulgaria
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 63-899 on display at Krumovo.[citation needed]
Canada
Hungary
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 63-893 on display at Szolnok Aviation Museum in Szolnok.[17]
Jordan
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-743 on display at Mafrak.[citation needed]
Norway
  • CF-104D cn. 104 637. Stored in Bodø. To be restored to flight condition.[18]
  • CF-104D cn. 104 730. Displayed at the Sola Air Museum in Stavanger. [19]
  • CF-104 cn. 104 755. Well kept at Kjeller, Lillestrøm. [20]
  • CF-104D cn. 104 766. Displayed on pedestal in front of Kjeller Air Station, Lillestrøm. [20]
  • CF-104 cn. 104 800. At Bodø High School for educational purposes.[citation needed]
  • CF-104 cn. 104 801. Displayed at the Norwegian Air Museum in Bodø. [20]
  • CF-104 cn. 104 836. Givend to Bardufoss High School. Displayed outside Bardufoss Air Station. [20]
  • CF-104 cn. 104 870. Well preserved at Bodø Air Station.[citation needed]
  • CF-104 cn. 104 882. Displayed as gatekeeper at Volvo Arero Norway, Kongsberg. [20]
  • CF-104 cn. 104 886. Privately owned at Rudshøgda, Hamar.
  • CF-104 cn. 104 889. At Torp Airport, Sandefjord. [20]
Pakistan
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-862 on display at Karachi.[citation needed]
Turkey
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-711 on display at Turkish Air Force Aviation Museum, Etimesgut, Ankara.[citation needed]
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-713 on display at Diyarbakir Airbase.[citation needed]
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-716 on display at Turkish Air Force Aviation Museum, Yesilkoy, Istanbul.[citation needed]
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-739 on display at Erhac Airbase, Malatya.[citation needed]
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-760 on display at city center, Turgutlu, Manisa.[citation needed]
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-770 on display at Turkish Air Force Aviation Museum, Etimesgut, Ankara.[citation needed]
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-786 on display at city park, Gaziemir, Izmir.[citation needed]
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-808 on display on the gate at Diyarbakir Airbase.[citation needed]
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-810 on display at Turkish Air Force Air Logistic Command, Etimesgut, Ankara.[citation needed]
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-841 on display at Air Park, Kütahya.[citation needed]
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-869 on display at Ordu.[citation needed]
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-873 on display at Akinci AB, Ankara.[citation needed]
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-891 on display at gateguard Diyarbakir Airbase.[citation needed]
  • CF-104D Turkish Air Force 62-642 on display at Turkish Air Force Aviation Museum, Etimesgut, Ankara.[citation needed]

Survivors

The Florida based civilian Starfighters Demo team currently operate one CF-104D and two CF-104 aircraft under the company RLB Aviation Inc.[21][22][23]

Mark Sherman from Phoenix, Arizona owns and operates a single CF-104D under the company Fuel Fresh Inc.[24]

Specifications (CF-104)

CF-104D in front of Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

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 kn, 1,844 km/h)
  • Range: 1,630 mi (1,420 nmi, 2,630 km)
  • Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (12,000 m)
Armament

Badges

  • CF-104 Crest worn by aircrew and ground crew in the mid-1970s

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

Notes

  1. ↑ The McDonnell F-4 was never considered although many sources have listed it as a contender and the RCAF's preferred choice.
  2. ↑ Canadair eventually built a total of 600 wing, tail and fuselage sections.[1]

Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Pickler and Milberry 1990, p. 186.
  2. ↑ "Historical Listings: Turkey, (TUR)."] World Air Forces. Retrieved: 10 June 2011.
  3. ↑ Canadian Wings (2012). "Canadair CF-104 Starfighter". Retrieved 7 January 2014. 
  4. ↑ Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (2014). "Lockheed CF-104D Starfighter". Retrieved 7 January 2014. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Bashow 1990, p. 8.
  6. ↑ McIntyre 1985, p. 6.
  7. ↑ Baugher, Joe. "Canadair CF-104 Starfighter." American Military Aircraft, 6 October 2003. Retrieved: 1 May 2011.
  8. ↑ Stachiw 2007, p. 30.
  9. ↑ Greenhous and Halliday 1999, p. 152.
  10. ↑ Keefer, Michael. "The F-35A Joint Strike Fighter: "A Stealthy Price" for Canada." globalresearch.ca. Retrieved: 1 May 2011.
  11. ↑ Richadson, W. John and Tim West. "The Canadair CF-104." ejection-history.org, 2010. Retrieved: 21 March 2011.
  12. ↑ "Lockheed F-104A Starfighter." Aviation.technomuses.ca (Canada Aviation and Space Museum), 4 March 1954. Retrieved: 6 January 2013.
  13. ↑ "CF-104 Starfighter." Atlanticcanadaaviationmuseum.com (Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum), 19 December 2009. Retrieved: 6 January 2013.
  14. ↑ "Lockheed Starfighter." Comoxairforcemuseum.ca (Comox Air Force Museum). Retrieved: 6 January 2013.
  15. ↑ "Canadair CF-104 Starfighter." Warplane.com (Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum). Retrieved: 6 January 2013.
  16. ↑ "Lockheed CF-104 Starfighter." The Canadian Museum of Flight via Canadianflight.org, 20 June 2008. Retrieved: 5 August 2013.
  17. ↑ "F-104G (CF-104G), gift of the Turkish Air Force." repulomuzeum.hu. Retrieved: 17 February 2008.
  18. ↑ "Site for enthusiasts of the Norwegian F-104 Starfighters." www.starfighter.no, January 2008. Retrieved: 6 February 2008.
  19. ↑ "CF-104." (Norwegian language). Sola Museum. Retrieved: 22 October 2008.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 Oppdrag utført - Norges luftmilitære kulturarv (Glenne, Roar. 2012)
  21. ↑ "N-Number Inquiry Results Registration N104RB Serial number 104632." Federal Aviation Administration, October 2009. Retrieved: 4 October 2009.
  22. ↑ "N-Number Inquiry Results Registration N104RD & N104RN Serial numbers 104850 & 104759." Federal Aviation Administration, October 2009. Retrieved: 4 October 2009.
  23. ↑ Wang, Ben. "Picture of the Lockheed CF-104D Starfighter aircraft." airliners.net, September 2006. Retrieved: 4 October 2009.
  24. ↑ "N-Number Inquiry Results Registration N104 Serial number 104633." Federal Aviation Administration, October 2009. Retrieved: 4 October 2009.

Bibliography

  • Bashow, David L. Starfighter: A Loving Retrospective of the CF-104 Era in Canadian Fighter Aviation, 1961-1986. Stoney Creek, Ontario: Fortress Publications Inc., 1990. ISBN 0-919195-12-1.
  • Francillon, R. J. Lockheed Aircraft Since 1913. London: Putnam, 1987. ISBN 0-370-30329-6.
  • Greenhous, Brereton and Hugh A. Halliday. Canada's Air Forces, 1914–1999. Montreal: Editions Art Global and the Department of National Defence, 1999. ISBN 978-2-92071-872-2.
  • McIntyre, Robert. CF-104 Starfighter (Canadian Profile: Aircraft No. 1). Ottawa, Ontario: Sabre Model Supplies Ltd., 1985. ISBN 0-920375-00-6.
  • Pickler, Ron and Larry Milberry. Canadair: The First 50 Years. Toronto: CANAV Books, 1995. ISBN 0-921022-07-7.
  • Stachiw, Anthony L. CF-104 Starfighter (Aircraft in Canadian Service). St. Catharine's, Ontario: Vanwell Publishing Limited, 2007. ISBN 1-55125-114-0.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Canadair CF-104.
Canadair aircraft models
Unmanned
Piston-engined
Turboprops
Jets
Canadian Forces post-1968 unified aircraft designations
100–119
  • CF-100
  • CF-101
  • 102–103 skipped
  • CF-104
  • CF-105
  • CC-106
  • CP-107
  • CC-108
  • CC-109
  • CSR-110
  • CF-111
  • CH-112
  • CH-113
  • CT-114
  • CC-115
  • CF-116
  • CC-117
  • CH-118
  • CO-119
  • CO-119(2)
120–139
  • CT-120
  • CP-121
  • CP-122
  • CSR-123/CC-123
  • CH-124
  • CH-125
  • CH-126
  • CH-127
  • CT-128
  • CC-129
  • CC-130
  • CX-131
  • CC-132
  • CT-133
  • CT-134
  • CH-135
  • CH-136
  • CC-137
  • CC-138
  • CH-139
140–159
  • CP-140
  • CC-141
  • CT-142
  • CH-143
  • CC-144/CE-144
  • CT-145
  • CH-146
  • CH-147
  • CH-148
  • CH-149
  • CC-150
  • 151–154 skipped
  • CT-155
  • CT-156
  • 157–159 skipped
  • CU-160
160–      
  • CU-161
  • CU-162
  • CU-163
  • 164–166 skipped
  • CU-167
  • CU-168
  • 169 skipped
  • CU-170
  • 171–176 skipped
  • CC-177
  • CH-178
  • 179–187 skipped
  • CF-188
Lists relating to aviation
General
Military
Accidents/incidents
Records
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.