The Lockheed XF-104 Starfighter was a single-engine, supersonic interceptor prototype for a United States Air Force series of lightweight, simple fighters, and only two were built. After the Korean War, when American pilots felt outclassed by MiG-15s, Kelly Johnson of Lockheed's Skunk Works designed a sleek aircraft with thin wings, a missile-shaped fuselage and a novel pilot ejection system. Because the General Electric J79 engine was not yet ready, both prototypes were designed around the Wright J65, and only a year passed between the contract and first flight in March 1954. One aircraft was used for aerodynamic research and the other as an armament testbed, and both were destroyed in accidents, but the Air Force ordered 17 pre-production YF-104A aircraft and over 2,500 production F-104 Starfighters followed.
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Body StyleAircraft (no road body style) 1 Connections
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Source Lockheed XF-104 Starfighter (Wikipedia)
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Source Lockheed XF-104 Starfighter (Wikipedia)
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Source Lockheed XF-104 Starfighter (Wikipedia)ManufacturerQuote, Manufacturer
Lockheed engineers, led by Kelly Johnson, designed and submitted a novel design to the Air Force
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The Lockheed XF-104 Starfighter was a single-engine, high-performance, supersonic interceptor prototype for a United States Air Force (USAF) series of lightweight and simple fighters.
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1. Lockheed XF-104 Starfighter (Wikipedia)
Lead, body style
The Lockheed XF-104 Starfighter was a single-engine, high-performance, supersonic interceptor prototype for a United States Air Force (USAF) series of lightweight and simple fighters.
Lead, first flight
Flight testing of the XF-104s began with the first flight in March 1954
Lead, fate
both aircraft being destroyed in accidents during testing
Manufacturer
Lockheed engineers, led by Kelly Johnson, designed and submitted a novel design to the Air Force
Lead, programme
The Lockheed XF-104 Starfighter was a single-engine, high-performance, supersonic interceptor prototype for a United States Air Force (USAF) series of lightweight and simple fighters.
Exemplifies: Aviation, Lead, mode
The Lockheed XF-104 Starfighter was a single-engine, high-performance, supersonic interceptor prototype for a United States Air Force (USAF) series of lightweight and simple fighters.
Of Make: Lockheed Corporation, Lead, make
The Lockheed XF-104 Starfighter was a single-engine, high-performance, supersonic interceptor prototype for a United States Air Force (USAF) series of lightweight and simple fighters.
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