Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter

On March 4, 1954, the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter soared into the skies for its maiden flight, marking the debut of one of the most iconic jet fighters of the Cold War. Designed as a supersonic interceptor, the Starfighter's sleek, rocket-like fuselage and short, razor-thin wings set it apart from its contemporaries.

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Austin Hancock
The F-104 with its unmistakable silhouette returning from the training mission. Photo by Moreno Aguiari
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On this day in aviation history, March 4, 1954, the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter took to the skies for the first time. Designed as a supersonic interceptor, the F-104 was extensively used as a fighter-bomber throughout the Cold War. Its distinctive shape set it apart from other single-engine jets of the era. With a long, pencil-like fuselage, short anhedral wings capped with large tip tanks, and a T-tail, the Starfighter bore a striking resemblance to the spacecraft being developed at the same time.

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A U.S. Air Force Lockheed F-104A-10-LO Starfighter (s/n 56-0761) in flight. Note that the aircraft is equipped with an inflight refueling probe. ( Image by USAF – National Museum of the U.S. Air Force photo 060928-F-1234S-011 via Wikipedia)

The F-104’s development began in the aftermath of the Korean War, following feedback from pilots who had flown in the conflict. Their consensus was clear: jet fighters had become too large and complex. Lockheed’s response was a radical departure from this trend, resulting in an aircraft that was small, lightweight, and optimized for climb performance. The XF-104 prototype was born from these principles, powered by a General Electric J79 afterburning turbojet producing 15,600 pounds of thrust. This gave the Starfighter a blistering top speed of 1,528 miles per hour. Armed with a 20mm Vulcan autocannon and seven hardpoints for missiles, bombs, or other ordnance, the F-104 was a formidable combat aircraft.

Lockheed XF 104
The first XF-104, serial number 53-7786, on a test flight near Edwards AFB. This aircraft crashed in 1957 following flutter problems which ripped the tail from the fuselage. The pilot, Bill Park, ejected safely. (image via Wikipedia)

The Starfighter first saw action during the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis. However, its early USAF service exposed reliability issues with the J79 engine, which limited its long-term role in the Air Force. Despite this, the F-104 found success with NATO and allied nations, where it took on a variety of roles beyond its original interceptor mission. West Germany, Canada, Italy, and Japan were among the primary operators of the Starfighter, with Italy keeping the type in service until 2004—a testament to the design’s longevity.

During the Vietnam War, the USAF recalled the F-104C for combat duty, where it served admirably under Tactical Air Command despite its initial shortcomings. It was employed as both a multi-role fighter and a fighter-bomber during the conflict.

Nicknamed “the missile with a man in it,” the Starfighter remains a crowd favorite at airshows today. Florida-based Starfighters Inc. operates a fleet of ex-Italian Air Force F-104s for civilian demonstrations and research flights. And for those with deep pockets, the chance to own one is within reach—Platinum Fighter Sales currently has a 1962 CF-104D model listed for sale, offering a rare opportunity to own a piece of aviation history.

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Commercial Pilot, CFI, and Museum Entrepreneur, with a subject focus on WWII Aviation. I am dedicated to building flight experience so I can fly WWII Fighters, such as the P-51 Mustang, for museums and airshows, and in the USAF Heritage Flight. I lead and run the Pennington Flight Memorial, to honor local MIA Tuskegee Airman F/O Leland “Sticky” Pennington.
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