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Canadair CF-104 Starfighter
Canadian based CF-104 Starfighter of No. 417 Squadron, CFB Cold Lake, AB (CF Photo)
Selected to replace the "Sabre" of Canada's air forces in NATO, the CF-104 "Super Starfighter" was the fastest aircraft to serve in the RCAF. It is derived from the Lockheed F-104 "Starfighter", popularly dubbed 'a missile with a man in it'.
Canada was the second NATO country to select the F-104G as its next generation combat aircraft. On July 2, 1959, plans were announced for the co-production of 200 CL-90 or CF-104 (originally CF-111) versions by Canadair Ltd, plus 38 two-seat CF-104Ds (originally CF-113) to be bought separately from Lockheed. The J79 engine would be produced under license by Orenda Engines Ltd of Malton, Ontario.
The airframe, built under licence by Canadair, is propelled by the Orenda-built J-79 turbojet engine to speeds up to 1,500 mph Nine world records have been broken by the Starfighter. It has held the speed of 1,404.09 mph and the altitude record of 91,243 feet, both made in May of 1958, and seven time-to-altitude records.
The CF-104 was a tactical-bomber assigned the double role of strike reconnaissance and tactical reconnaissance. Strike reconnaissance calls for all-weather operations at supersonic speeds and varying altitudes. In tactical reconnaissance it is equipped with a photo reconnaissance system designed specifically for low altitude and high speed, which is installed in the "Super Starfighter" in a centerline fuselage pod carried on the standard bomb-rack.
| Manufacturer: | Canadair license-built version of Lockheed design |
| Crew/Passengers: | one or two pilots in ejection seats |
| Power Plant: | one General Electric (Orenda) J-79-OEL-7 turbojet with afterburning (10,000 lbst to 15,800 lbst in afterburner) |
| Performance: | Max Speed: Mach 2.2 1,450 mph (2,334 km/h) Cruising Speed: Mach 1.2, 915 mph ( 1,473 km/h) Service Ceiling: 58,000 ft (17,660 m) Range: 2,180 miles (3,510 km) |
| Weights: | Empty: 14,082 lb ( 6,387 kg) Gross: 28,779 lbs (13,510 kg) |
| Dimensions: | Span: 21 ft 11 in (6.68 m) w/o tip tanks Length: 54 ft 9 in (16.69 m) Height: 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m) Wing area:196 sq ft (18.21 sq m) |
| Armament: | Provision for one 20 mm M61A-1 cannon, plus bombs, rockets, or tanks on underwing or fuselage pylons |
| Cost: | $1,200,000 single, $1,400,000 dual |
