Lockheed F-104B Starfighter - AMC, McClellan, CA - Static Aircraft Displays on Waymarking.com

Built by Lockheed as a Mach 2+ interceptor and air superiority fighter, the F-104 was unique in several respects. With its exceptionally thin and small wing span of only 21 feet, low speed lift was generated by blowing air from the engine over the upper wing surface. The F-105B is a two seat trainer and combat aircraft. NASA used this aircraft as a test flight chase aircraft. A variety of models of the aircraft were built under license as part of the Military Assistance Program and flew with air forces in Canada, Belgium, Germany, Pakistan and Japan. In total, 2,578 F-104 series aircraft were built. Later models were equipped with a retractable probe for inflight refueling, improving the range that was otherwise limited as all fuel had to be carried either in the fuselage or in external drop tanks.

The GE J79 afterburning turbojet engine powers the F-104, with air entering by the side-mounted fixed intakes. These are non-variable and optimized for speeds in excess of Mach 2. High temperatures created by air friction on the aluminum airframe, not engine thrust or airframe drag, limit the top speed of the Starfighter.

USAF s/n 57-1303 is an F-104-10-LO, one of only 26 built by Lockheed Aircraft in Burbank, CA. It was delivered to the Air Force on 2 October 1958 and handed over to NASA in December 1959. Based at Edwards AFB, CA, it was the only F-104B that NASA operated, and it carried the registration N819NA. It was used to train pilots on how to land the X-15 and Space Shuttle, along with use as a chase aircraft. It was flown to the museum in a C-130 on 13 July 1983.

Specifications:
Crew: 2
Power Plant: 1× 10,000 lbf GE J79-GE-11A turbojet engine 15,600 lbf w/afterburner
Dimensions:
- Span: 21' 11" w/o tip tanks
- Length: 54' 9"
- Height: 13' 6"
Weight:
- Empty: 14,000 lb
- Maximum: 23,590 lb
Performance:
- Speed:
- - Max: 1,328 mph @ 35,000 ft
- - Cruise: mph
- Range: 900 miles
- Ceiling: 50,000 ft
- Climb: 48,000 fpm
Armament:
- Guns: 1× 20mm T-171 Vulcan cannon
- Internal:
- External: 2× AIM-9M sidewinder missiles

Source: aircraft placard
For more info: (visit link)

Type of Aircraft: (make/model): Lockheed F-104B Starfighter Tail Number: (S/N): s/n 57-1303 Construction:: original aircraft Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): Located at Aerospace Museum of California, McClellan, CA inside / outside: outside Other Information:: Aerospace Museum of California 3200 Freedom Park Drive McClellan, CA 95652 Phone: 916.643.3192 Tuesday-Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm Sunday 10:00am to 5:00pm excluding Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday. $8.00 Adults $6.00 Senior (65+) $6.00 Youth/Student (13-17) $5.00 Child (6-12) Free Active Military w/ID Free Child 5 & under Free Museum Members Access restrictions: None

Visit Instructions:
Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored)
Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)

Tell why you are visiting this waymark along with any other interesting facts or personal experiences about the aircraft not already mentioned.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   02/22/2015 FolsomNatural visited it