Subject: Number 104 in the Series--Lockheed F-104 Starfighter (13 of 20)

From: [email-masked]
Date: 10 Jan 94 17:27:43 GMT

>From [email-masked]

On July 2, 1959, it was announced that Canada had chosen the F-104 
Starfighter as the replacement for the Sabre Mk.6 in RCAF service.  
However, since the Canadian government wanted equipment to be fitted 
that was specific to RCAF requirements, it opted to manufacture the 
aircraft under license in a Canadian factory rather than to buy the 
aircraft outright from Lockheed.  On August 14, it was announced that 
Canadair of Montreal had been selected to manufacture 200 aircraft for 
the RCAF under license from Lockheed.  In addition, Canadair was to 
manufacture wings, tail assemblies, and rear fuselage sections for 66 
Lockheed-built Starfighters that were destined for the West German 
Luftwaffe.  The license production contract was signed on September 
17, 1959.  

The Canadian-built Starfighter was initially designated CF-111 by the 
RCAF, but this was later changed to CF-104.  They were designated 
CL-90 by the Canadair factory.  

The CF-104 was basically similar to the F-104G, but was fitted with 
equipment specialized for RCAF requirements.  It differed from the 
F-104G in being optimized for the air-to-ground mode rather than being 
a multi-mission aircraft.  The F-104G was fitted with NASARR F15A-41B 
equipment which was optimized for both air-to-air and air-to-ground 
modes, but the CF-104 was fitted with R-24A NASARR equipment which was 
dedicated to the air-to-ground mode only.  The main undercarriage 
members were fitted with longer-stroke liquid springs and carried 
larger tires.  The CF-104 also differed from the F-104G in retaining 
the removable refuelling probe that was fitted to the F-104Cs and 
F-104Ds of the USAF.  Another difference from the F-104G was the 
ability of the CF-104 to carry a ventral reconnaissance pod equipped 
with four Vinten cameras.  The 20-mm M61A1 cannon and its associated 
ammunition were initially omitted from the CF-104, and an additional 
fuel cell was fitted in their place.

In parallel with the production of the Starfighter by Canadair, Orenda 
Engines, Ltd.  acquired a license to build the J-79 engine which was 
to power it.  The CF-104 was powered by a Canadian-built J79-OEL-7 
rated at 10,000 lb.s.t. dry and 15,800 lb.s.t. with afterburning.  

Lockheed sent F-104A-15-LO serial number 56-0770 to Canada to act as a 
pattern aircraft for CF-104 manufacture.  It was later fitted with 
CF-104 fire control systems and flight control equipment (but not the 
strengthened airframe of the true F-104G) and turned over to the RCAF, 
where it was assigned the serial number of 12700.  The first 
Canadair-constructed CF-104 (RCAF serial number 12701) was airlifted 
to Palmdale, California in the spring of 1961, where it made its first 
flight on May 26.  The second CF-104 (12702) also made its first 
flight at Palmdale.  The first two CF-104s to fly at Montreal were 
Nos. 12703 and 12704, which both took to the air on August 14, 1961.  

CF-104s were initially assigned Canadian serials 12701 through 12900.  
On May 18, 1970, they were reserialed as 104701 through 104900.  The 
Lockheed-built F-104A pattern aircraft was reserialed from 12700 to 
104700.  

Beginning in December of 1962, the RCAF used its CF-104s to equip 
eight European-based squadrons of its No. 1 Air Division.  Other 
CF-104s were assigned to the No. 6 OTU based at Cold Lake, Alberta.  

The 200th and last CF-104 (No. 12900) was completed on September 4, 
1963 and delivered to the RCAF on January 10, 1964.  Many early 
production aircraft were modified to the standard of the last 
production machines.  Following the delivery of the last CF-104, 
Canadair switched to the manufacture of F-104Gs for delivery to NATO 
allies under the provisions of MAP.  

A number of former Canadian Forces single-seat CF-104 fighter-bombers 
and CF-104D two-seat trainers were transferred to Denmark and Norway 
after having been brought up to F-104G/TF-104G standards.  By the end 
of 1980, these transfers along with attrition had brought 
European-based RCAF strength down to only three Starfighter squadrons.  
These were Nos. 421, 439, and 441, all based at Baden-Soellingen in 
West Germany.  At that time, No.417 Squadron at Cold Lake was still 
functioning as a CF-104 Operational Conversion Unit.  

Beginning in 1983, the CF-104 Starfighters were replaced in Canadian 
Armed Forces service by McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornets.  The last 
CF-104 was phased out by No. 441 Squadron on March 1, 1986.  

Specification of the CF-104: 

One Orenda Engines-built J79-OEL-7 rated at 10,000 lb.s.t. dry and 
15,800 lb.s.t. with afterburning.  Maximum speed (dash): 1550 mph 
(Mach 2.35) at 40,000 feet, 915 mph (Mach 1.2) at sea level.  Climb to 
30,000 feet in 1.5 minutes.  Weights were 13,909 pounds empty, 21,005 
pounds loaded (clean), 28,891 pounds maximum takeoff.  Dimensions were 
wingspan 21 feet 11 inches, length 54 feet 9 inches, height 13 feet 6 
inches, wing area 196.1 square feet.  External stores could be carried 
on five hardpoints (one underneath the fuselage, one underneath each 
wing, and one at each wingtip).  

Sources:

    The Lockheed F-104G/CF-104, Gerhard Joos, Aircraft in Profile No.
    131, Doubleday, 1969.  

    The World's Great Interceptor Aircraft, Gallery Books, 1989.

    Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, Steve Pace, Motorbooks International, 
    1992.

    Lockheed Aircraft Since 1913, Rene J. Francillon, Naval Institute
    Press, 1987.

    The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and Peter Bowers, Orion, 1987.

    The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft Armament, Bill Gunston,
    Orion Books, 1988.

    The World's Fighting Planes, William Green, Doubleday 1968.

    The Aircraft of the World, William Green and Gerald Pollinger,
    Doubleday, 1965.

    American Combat Planes, Ray Wagner, Third Enlarged Edition, Doubleday,
    1982.

Joe Baugher		AT&T Bell Laboratories   	
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