Canadair CF-104 Starfighter

CF-104 Starfighter
CF-104s of 417 Squadron near Cold Lake in 1976
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 Armed 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 was primarily used as a ground attack aircraft, despite being designed as an interceptor. It served with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and later the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) until it was replaced by the McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet.

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.[2][3] 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.[4] 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.[4] 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.[5] [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.[6][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.[8] The Canadair CF-104 production was 200 aircraft with an additional 140 F-104Gs produced for Lockheed.[7]

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.[9] 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 CAF 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 Canadian Starfighters (however, examples provided to other air forces, such as Norway and Denmark, did carry Sidewinders on a twin-rail centreline station and the wingtip rails). The CF-104D two-seater did not normally carry any armament except for a centreline practice-bomb dispenser.

There were 110 class A accidents in the 25 years that Canada operated the CF-104 resulting in 37 pilot fatalities. Most of these were in the early part of the program centering on teething problems. Of the 110 class A accidents 21 were attributed to foreign object damage (14 of which were birds), 14 were in flight engine failures, 6 were faulty maintenance, 9 were mid air collisions. 32 struck the ground flying at low level in poor weather conditions. Of the 37 fatalities 4 were clearly attributable to systems failures, all of the others were attributable to some form of pilot inattention.[10]

The accident rate of the 104 compares favourably to its predecessor, the F-86 Sabre. In only 12 years of operation the F-86 had 282 class A accidents with a loss of 112 pilots. The Sabre was also a simpler aircraft and was flown at altitude.[11]

The CF-104 was nicknamed the "Widowmaker" by the press but not by the pilots and crews of the aircraft. David Bashow states on page 92 of his book "I never heard a pilot call it the Widowmaker". Sam Firth is quoted on page 93 in Bashow's book "I have never heard a single person who flew, maintained, controlled, or guarded that aircraft of any force (and that includes the Luftwaffe) call it the Widowmaker". The pilots did refer to it, in jest, as the "Aluminium Death Tube", "The Lawn Dart" and "The Flying Phallus" but generally called it the 104 (one oh four) or the Starfighter.[10]

Low level attack runs in the 104 were done visually at 100 feet AGL and at speeds up to 600Kts. Low level evasive maneuvers could increase speeds to supersonic.[12]

The 104 was very difficult to attack owing to its small size, speed, and low altitude capability. Dave Jurkowski, former CF-104 and CF-18 pilot is quoted "Because of our speed, size and lower level operations, no Canadian Zipper driver was ever 'shot down' by either air or ground threats in the three Red Flag Exercises in which we participated." [13]

The CF-104 was very successful in operational exercises held by NATO. The Canadians first took part in the AFCENT Tactical Weapons meet in 1964 and did so every year after that. This meet was a competition between squadrons from Belgium, France, Germany, USA, Britain, and the Netherlands. Scores were based on several factors. Bomb accuracy, time on target, navigation, mission planning and aircraft serviceability. Pilots were chosen at random from the various squadrons to accurately represent operational capabilities.[14]

AFCENT Tactical Weapons Meet (strike era)

AFCENT Tactical Weapons Meet (attack era)

biennial schedule.

Royal Flush

A competition for Recce squadrons. The Canadians first took part in 1966 and managed the following awards:[23]

Tiger Meet

A competition between NATO squadrons with cat mascots.[24]

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.

Variants

CF-104
Single-seat fighter-bomber version for the RCAF.
CF-104D
Two-seat training version for the RCAF.

Operators

 Canada
 Denmark
 Norway
 Turkey

Accidents and incidents

Aircraft on display

CF-104 displayed at CFB Borden
CF-104D Starfighter 104646 at the National Air Force Museum of Canada, CFB Trenton
Canada
CF-104 on display at the Air Force Museum of Alberta, located within the The Military Museums, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Hungary
Norway

Survivors

Specifications (CF-104)

CF-104D in front of Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

Badges

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

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.[7]

Citations

  1. ↑ "Historical Listings: Turkey, (TUR)."] World Air Forces. Retrieved: 10 June 2011.
  2. ↑ Canadian Wings (2012). "Canadair CF-104 Starfighter". Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  3. ↑ Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (2014). "Lockheed CF-104D Starfighter". Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  4. 1 2 Bashow 1990, p. 8.
  5. ↑ McIntyre 1985, p. 6.
  6. ↑ Baugher, Joe. "Canadair CF-104 Starfighter." American Military Aircraft, 6 October 2003. Retrieved: 1 May 2011.
  7. 1 2 Pickler and Milberry 1990, p. 186.
  8. ↑ Stachiw 2007, p. 30.
  9. ↑ Greenhous and Halliday 1999, p. 152.
  10. 1 2 Bashow, David, "Starfighter", 1990, Fortress Plubications, p 92,93
  11. ↑ Bashow, David, "Starfighter", 1990, Fortress Plubications, p. 96
  12. ↑ Bashow, David, "Starfighter", 1990, Fortress Plubications, p. 119
  13. ↑ Bashow, David, "Starfighter", 1990, Fortress Plubications, p. 138
  14. 1 2 Bashow, David, "Starfighter", 1990, Fortress Plubications, p. 47
  15. ↑ Bashow, David, "Starfighter", 1990, Fortress Plubications, p. 33
  16. ↑ Bashow, David, "Starfighter", 1990, Fortress Plubications, p. 37
  17. ↑ Bashow, David, "Starfighter", 1990, Fortress Plubications, p. 38
  18. 1 2 3 4 Bashow, David, "Starfighter", 1990, Fortress Plubications, p. 52
  19. ↑ Bashow, David, "Starfighter", 1990, Fortress Plubications, p. 58
  20. ↑ Bashow, David, "Starfighter", 1990, Fortress Plubications, p. 78
  21. ↑ Bashow, David, "Starfighter", 1990, Fortress Plubications, p. 79
  22. 1 2 3 Bashow, David, "Starfighter", 1990, Fortress Plubications, p. 81
  23. ↑ Bashow, David, "Starfighter", 1990, Fortress Plubications, p. 51
  24. 1 2 3 4 "Nato Tiger Meets". www.NatoTigers.org. Retrieved 2014-06-17.
  25. ↑ Richadson, W. John and Tim West. "The Canadair CF-104." ejection-history.org, 2010. Retrieved: 21 March 2011.
  26. ↑ "Lockheed F-104A Starfighter." Aviation.technomuses.ca (Canada Aviation and Space Museum), 4 March 1954. Retrieved: 6 January 2013.
  27. ↑ "Canadian Starfighter Museum". Canadianstarfightermuseum.ca. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
  28. ↑ "CF-104 "Starfighter" - Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Quebec". roadsideattractions.ca. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  29. ↑ "Lockheed Starfighter." Comoxairforcemuseum.ca (Comox Air Force Museum). Retrieved: 6 January 2013.
  30. ↑ "Canadair CF-104 Starfighter." Warplane.com (Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum). Retrieved: 6 January 2013.
  31. ↑ "Lockheed CF-104D Starfighter". albertaaviationmuseum.com. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  32. ↑ "Lockheed CF-104 Starfighter." The Canadian Museum of Flight via Canadianflight.org, 20 June 2008. Retrieved: 5 August 2013.
  33. ↑ "F-104G (CF-104G), gift of the Turkish Air Force." repulomuzeum.hu. Retrieved: 17 February 2008.
  34. ↑ "CF-104." (Norwegian language). Sola Museum. Retrieved: 22 October 2008.
  35. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Oppdrag utført - Norges luftmilitære kulturarv (Glenne, Roar. 2012)
  36. ↑ "N-Number Inquiry Results Registration N104RB Serial number 104632." Federal Aviation Administration, October 2009. Retrieved: 4 October 2009.
  37. ↑ "N-Number Inquiry Results Registration N104RD & N104RN Serial numbers 104850 & 104759." Federal Aviation Administration, October 2009. Retrieved: 4 October 2009.
  38. ↑ Wang, Ben. "Picture of the Lockheed CF-104D Starfighter aircraft." airliners.net, September 2006. Retrieved: 4 October 2009.
  39. ↑ "N-Number Inquiry Results Registration N104 Serial number 104633." Federal Aviation Administration, October 2009. Retrieved: 4 October 2009.
  40. ↑ NRK. "Her flyr Eskil "The Widowmaker" for første gang på 33 år". Retrieved 2016-09-29.

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 0-919195-12-1.
  • 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 978-2-92071-872-2.
  • McIntyre, Robert. CF-104 Starfighter (Canadian Profile: Aircraft No. 1). Ottawa, Ontario: Sabre Model Supplies Ltd., 1985. ISBN 0-920375-00-6.
  • 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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