F-104 Specifications Manufacturer: First Flight: Wingspan: Length: Height: Weight: Max Speed: Cruising Speed: Range: Ceiling: Power Plant: Crew: Armament:	Lockheed Aircraft Company  March 4, 1954 (XF-104 prototype)  21 ft., 9 in.  54 ft., 8 in.  13 ft., 6 in.  14,000 lbs.(Empty),  20,640 lbs.(Loaded),   29,027 lbs.(Max. Takeoff)  1,328 mph  519 mph  1,630 miles  50,000 ft.  1 × General Electric J79-GE-11A   turbojet, 10,000 lbs. thrust   15,600 lbs w/afterburner  1 - Pilot  1 × 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan 6-barreled   Gatling cannon, 725 rounds, 7 hard-   points with a capacity of 4,000 lbs. &   provisions to carry combinations of:   4 × AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, Bombs,   rockets, or other stores	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 and it was also operated by the air forces of more than a dozen nations from 1958 to 2004. The F-104 served with the USAF from 1958 until 1969, and continued with Air National Guard units until 1975. USAF F-104Cs saw service during the Vietnam War, being used both in the air-superiority role and in the air support mission; although it saw little aerial combat and scored no air-to-air kills, Starfighters were successful in deterring MiG interceptors. Starfighter squadrons made two deployments to Vietnam, the first being from April 1965 to November 1965, flying 2,937 combat sorties and the second deployment deployed from June 1966 until July 1967, in which time they flew a further 2,269 combat sorties, for a total of 5,206 sorties. The USAF was less than satisfied with the Starfighter and procured only 296 examples in single-seat and two-seat versions. At the time, USAF doctrine placed little importance on air superiority, and the Starfighter was deemed inadequate for either the interceptor or tactical fighter-bomber role, lacking both payload capability and endurance compared to other USAF aircraft. Its U.S. service was quickly wound down after 1965. The last F-104As in regular USAF service were re-engined with more powerful and more reliable J79-GE-19 engines in 1967. The last USAF Starfighters left service in Regular Air Force in 1969. The aircraft continued to be built overseas under license for various NATO countries. The specifications for the version used by the German Air Force are shown at left.   (Courtesy: Wikipedia)
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