F-104G/J ‘Belly-mounted Sidewinders’ Conversion set

Description

The F-104 Starfighter was an American jet fighter, designed by the Lockheed Aircraft Company in early 1950s. Radical in concept, it was the first operational interceptor capable of sustained speeds above Mach 2. Its prototype flew in 1954 and the first series aircraft were delivered four years later.

The F-104 was a single-seat, all-metal mid-wing monoplane powered by a GE J79 turbojet. It had two fuselage-side air intakes, small thin wings with a pronounced anhedral and a T-tail. Its nose undercarriage retracted forward. It mounted one multi-barrel gun in the nose, two Sidewinder missiles at each wingtip and optionally also another pair of AAMs beneath the fuselage or wings.

The F-104G was the most important production version, based on the previous C model, modified to serve as a multi-role, all-weather fighter. It possessed a strenghtened structure and enlarged tail surfaces. It was fitted with improved electronics and carried heavier weapons load. This Starfighter version was earmarked for production in Europe, where substantial numbers were built by Fiat, Fokker, Messerschmitt/MBB and SABCA for local air forces, but this variant was also built by Canadair and Lockheed. In total, some 1,120 F-104Gs were built, including the RF-104G reconnaissance variant.

West Germany operated a total of 749 F/RF-104Gs between 1961 and 1991. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force took delivery of a total of 210 Starfighters designated F-104J. Similar to the F-104G, 3 a/c were Lockheed-built, while the rest was supplied by Mitsubishi; production was underway in the period 1962-67. The Royal Danish Air Force received a total of 40 single-seat Starfighters (25 F-104Gs and 15 CF-104s) and flew them between 1964 and 1986.