Canadair CF-104 Starfighter

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CF-104 Starfighter
CF-104D Starfighter 104646 at RCAF Museum, CFB Trenton
Role Interceptor aircraft, Fighter-bomber
Manufacturer Canadair
Designer Lockheed Corporation
First flight 26 May 1961
Introduction March 1962
Retired 1995 Turkish Air Force[1]
Primary users Royal Canadian Air Force
Canadian Forces
Number built 200
Developed from Lockheed F-104 Starfighter

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.

Contents

[edit] 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. 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.[2] 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.[2] 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.[3] [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.[4][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.[6] The Canadair CF-104 production was 200 aircraft with an additional 140 F-104Gs produced for Lockheed.[5]

[edit] 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.[7] 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.[8]

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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Operators

Main article: List of F-104 Starfighter operators
 Canada
 Denmark
 Norway
 Turkey

[edit] 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.[9]

[edit] Aircraft on display

CF-104 displayed at CFB Borden
Bulgaria
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 63-899 on display at Krumovo.
Canada
Hungary
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 63-893 on display at Szolnok Aviation Museum in Szolnok.[10]
Jordan
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-743 on display at Mafrak.
Norway
  • CF-104, Norwegian Air Force 730 on display at Sola Aviation Museum, Stavanger, Norway.[11]
  • CF-104D Norwegian Air Force 637 was under restoration in 2008 to airworthy condition by a team of volunteers in Norway.[12]
Pakistan
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-862 on display at Karachi.
Turkey
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-711 on display at Turkish Air Force Aviation Museum, Etimesgut, Ankara.
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-713 on display at Diyarbakir Airbase.
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-716 on display at Turkish Air Force Aviation Museum, Yesilkoy, Istanbul.
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-739 on display at Erhac Airbase, Malatya.
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-760 on display at city center, Turgutlu, Manisa.
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-770 on display at Turkish Air Force Aviation Museum, Etimesgut, Ankara.
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-786 on display at city park, Gaziemir, Izmir.
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-808 on display on the gate at Diyarbakir Airbase.
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-810 on display at Turkish Air Force Air Logistic Command, Etimesgut, Ankara.
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-841 on display at Air Park, Kütahya.
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-869 on display at Ordu.
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-873 on display at Akinci AB, Ankara.
  • CF-104 Turkish Air Force 62-891 on display at gateguard Diyarbakir Airbase.
  • CF-104D Turkish Air Force 62-642 on display at Turkish Air Force Aviation Museum, Etimesgut, Ankara.

[edit] Survivors

The Florida based civilian Starfighters Demo team currently operate one CF-104D and two CF-104 aircraft under the company RLB Aviation Inc.[13][14][15]

Mark Sherman from Phoenix, Arizona owns and operates a single CF-104D under the company Fuel Fresh Inc.[16]

[edit] Specifications (CF-104)

CF-104D in front of Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

[edit] Badges

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

[edit] See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

[edit] 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.[5]
Citations
  1. ^ "Historical Listings: Turkey, (TUR)."] World Air Forces. Retrieved: 10 June 2011.
  2. ^ a b Bashow 1990, p. 8.
  3. ^ McIntyre 1985, p. 6.
  4. ^ Baugher, Joe. "Canadair CF-104 Starfighter." American Military Aircraft, 6 October 2003. Retrieved: 1 May 2011.
  5. ^ a b Pickler and Milberry 1990, p. 186.
  6. ^ Stachiw 2007, p. 30.
  7. ^ Greenhous and Halliday 1999, p. 152.
  8. ^ Keefer, Michael. "The F-35A Joint Strike Fighter: "A Stealthy Price" for Canada." globalresearch.ca. Retrieved: 1 May 2011.
  9. ^ Richadson, W. John and Tim West. "The Canadair CF-104." ejection-history.org, 2010. Retrieved: 21 March 2011.
  10. ^ "F-104G (CF-104G), gift of the Turkish Air Force." repulomuzeum.hu. Retrieved: 17 February 2008.
  11. ^ "CF-104." (Norwegian language). Sola Museum.Retrieved: 22 October 2008
  12. ^ "Site for enthusiasts of the Norwegian F-104 Starfighters." www.starfighter.no, January 2008. Retrieved: 6 February 2008.
  13. ^ "N-Number Inquiry Results Registration N104RB Serial number 104632." Federal Aviation Administration, October 2009. Retrieved: 4 October 2009.
  14. ^ "N-Number Inquiry Results Registration N104RD & N104RN Serial numbers 104850 & 104759." Federal Aviation Administration, October 2009. Retrieved: 4 October 2009.
  15. ^ Wang, Ben. "Picture of the Lockheed CF-104D Starfighter aircraft." airliners.net, September 2006. Retrieved: 4 October 2009.
  16. ^ "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. CF-104 Starfighter (Aircraft in Canadian Service). St. Catharine's, Ontario: Vanwell Publishing Limited, 2007. ISBN 1-55125-114-0.

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