Mon, Jun 03, 2013
Iconic Lockheed F-104A Starfighter Was First To Complete Sustained Mach 2 Flight
The iconic Lockheed F-104A Starfighter, Serial No. 56-817 made its final landing at Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor on May 9, 2013, bringing the Museum's ever-expanding iconic aircraft collection to 43 warbirds, helicopters and jets. The Starfighter is on long-term loan from Museum of Aviation Robins Air Force Base, Warner Robins, Georgia. It will be on display for visitors in the Museum's 87,000 sq. ft. battle-scarred Hangar 79.
"This record-breaking aircraft has quite the history and we're honored to give it a home. It was the first aircraft to do sustained Mach 2 flight, the first to hold speed and altitude records simultaneously, and the first to reach 100,000 feet. Plus it had some amazing pilots. We'll be telling all these stories at the Museum," said Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor Executive Director Kenneth DeHoff, who is himself a decorated helicopter pilot.
The Starfighter went into production in 1956 and was the first combat aircraft capable of easily sustaining twice the speed of sound. It held simultaneous world records for speed, altitude, and rate of climb. Due to its length of 54' 9" and wingspan of only 21' 11," it was dubbed the "Missile with a Man in It." The Starfighter served in the USAF from 1958 through 1975, as well as with several allied air forces around the world, including Japan. Brigadier General Chuck Yeager famously displayed "the right stuff" during a high-altitude, record-breaking ascent in a rocket-assisted F-104, climbing to the edge of space at more than 118,000 feet. After its operational years with the Air Force the F-104 was used extensively by NASA in advanced research projects.
The Museum invites donations of historic aircraft and aviation memorabilia. Donated artifacts are professionally cared for and enjoyed by millions of visitors from all over the world. Opened in 2006, the Museum saw its 1,000,000th visitor in March 2013.
(Images provided by the Pacific Aviation Museum)
More News
Runway Lead-in Light System Runway Lead-in Light System Consists of one or more series of flashing lights installed at or near ground level that provides positive visual guidance a>[...]
Aero Linx: Aviation Without Borders Aviation Without Borders uses its aviation expertise, contacts and partnerships to enable support for children and their families – at hom>[...]
Dave Juwel's Aviation Marketing Stories ITBOA BNITBOB ... what does that mean? It's not gibberish, it's a lengthy acronym for "In The Business Of Aviation ... But Not In The Busine>[...]
From 2010 (YouTube Version): Yeah.... This IS A Really Cool Job When ANN's Nathan Cremisino took over the lead of our Aero-TV teams, he knew he was in for some extra work and a lot>[...]
Also: Junkers A50 Heritage, Montaer Grows, Dynon-Advance Flight Systems, Vans' Latest Officially, the Carbon Cub UL and Rotax 916 iS is now in its 'market survey development phase'>[...]
ANN's Daily Aero-Term (04.24.24): Runway Lead-in Light System
See All