| CF-104 Starfighter | |
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| Starfighter 704 from No. 417 Squadron at the Aerospace Engineering and Test Establishment (AETE), CFB Cold Lake | |
| Role | Interceptor aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Canadair |
| Designed by | Lockheed Corporation |
| First flight | 26 May 1961 |
| Introduced | March 1962 |
| Retired | 1987 |
| Primary user | Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Number built | 200 |
| Developed from | F-104 Starfighter |
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 (RCAF) and later the Canadian Forces until it was replaced by the CF-18 Hornet.
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Design and development
In the late 1950s, Canada redefined her role in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) with a commitment to a nuclear strike mission. 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."[1] 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.[1] Although the RCAF had preferred the F-105 equipped with an Avro Canada Orenda Iroquois engine, eventually the choice for a strike-reconnaissance aircraft revolved around cost as well as capability.[2]
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.[3]
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.[4] The Canadair CF-104 production was 200 aircraft with an additional 140 F-104Gs produced for Lockheed.[5]
Operational history
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. [6] 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 RCAF/CF Starfighters (however, examples provided to other air forces, such as Norway and Denmark, did carry Sidewinders in a twin-rail centreline station and wingtip rails). The CF-104D two-seater did not normally carry any armament, with the exception of 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.
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 given to Turkey.
Variants
- CF-104
- Single-seat fighter-bomber version for the RCAF.
- CF-104D
- Two-seat training version for the RCAF.
Operators
- Royal Canadian Air Force
- Canadian 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
- Royal Danish Air Force
- The Royal Danish Air Force operated 15 surplus CF-104 aircraft and 7 CF-104D aircraft.
- Royal Norwegian Air Force
- The Royal Norwegian Air Force operated 22 surplus CF-104 aircraft and 3 CF-104D aircraft.
- Turkish Air Force
- The Turkish Air Force operated 44 surplus CF-104 aircraft and 6 CF-104D aircraft.
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 5. The pilot was able to eject.[citation needed]
Aircraft on display
- CF-104, ex RCAF 104783 - Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum
- CF-104, ex RCAF 104730 - Sola Aviation Museum, Stavanger, Norway.[7]
- CF-104D Starfighter, 104637 is currently (2008) under restoration to airworthy condition by a team of volunteers in Norway.[8]
- CF-104, ex RCAF 104893, ex Turkish AF 8-893 - Szolnok Aviation Museum in Szolnok, Hungary, in Turkish AF markings.[9]
- Toronto/Markham Airport[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.[10][11][12]
Mark Sherman from Phoenix, Arizona owns and operates a single CF-104D under the company Fuel Fresh Inc.[13]
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 kn, 1,844 km/h)
- Range: 1,630 mi (1,420 nmi, 2,630 km)
- Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (12,000 m)
Armament
- Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.79 in) M61A1 Vulcan cannon
- Other: External bombs and missiles
Badges
 CF-104 Crest worn by aircrew and ground crew in the mid-1970s |
See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
References
- Notes
- ^ a b Bashow 1990, p. 8.
- ^ McIntyre 1985, p. 6. Note: The McDonnell F-4 was never considered although many sources have listed it as a contender and the RCAF's preferred choice.
- ^ Canadair CF-104 Starfighter Note: Canadair eventually built a total of 600 wing, tail and fuselage sections.
- ^ Stachiw and Tattersall 2007, p. 30.
- ^ Pickler and Milberry 1990, p. 186.
- ^ Greenhous and Halliday 1999, p.152.
- ^ Sola Museum website - see CF-104 page (Norwegian language) Retrieved: 22 October 2008
- ^ "Site for enthusiasts of the Norwegian F-104 Starfighters." www.starfighter.no, January 2008. Retrieved: 6 February 2008.
- ^ "Page on the Turkish CF-104 at Szolnok." repulomuzeum.hu. Retrieved: 17 February 2008.
- ^ "N-Number Inquiry Results Registration N104RB Serial number 104632." Federal Aviation Administration, October 2009. Retrieved: 4 October 2009.
- ^ "N-Number Inquiry Results Registration N104RD & N104RN Serial numbers 104850 & 104759." Federal Aviation Administration, October 2009. Retrieved: 4 October 2009.
- ^ Wang, Ben. "Picture of the Lockheed CF-104D Starfighter aircraft." airliners.net, September 2006. Retrieved: 4 October 2009.
- ^ "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 0-91919-512-1.
- 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 2-920718-72-X.
- McIntyre, Robert. CF-104 Starfighter (Canadian Profile: Aircraft No. 1). Ottawa, Ontario: Sabre Model Supplies Ltd., 1985. ISBN 0-920375-99-6.
- Pickler, Ron and Larry Milberry. Canadair: The First 50 Years. Toronto: CANAV Books, 1995. ISBN 0-921022-07-7.
- Stachiw, Anthony L. and Andrew Tattersall. CF104 Starfighter (Aircraft in Canadian Service). St. Catharine's, Ontario: Vanwell Publishing Limited, 2007. ISBN 1-55125-114-0.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Canadair CF-104 |
- The International F-104 Society
- Canadian Forces Historical Aircraft - CF-104
- CF-104 at RCAF.com
- Starfighters F-104 Demo team
- Norwegian site with CF-104D restoration for flight
- Canadair CF-104 Starfighter
- Lockheed CF-104D Starfighter
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