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

From: [email-masked]
Date: 19 Jan 94 15:42:49 GMT

>From [email-masked]

The CL-1200-2 Lancer was a late 1960s company-funded proposal for a new 
and improved Starfighter.  It was intended for the export market and 
was in direct competition with the Northrop F-5E Tiger II.  

The CL-1200-2 retained the basic F-104 fuselage but was fitted with a 
shoulder-mounted wing of larger area.  The tailplane was moved from 
the tip of the vertical fin to the base of the rear fuselage.  The 
forward fuselage was virtually identical to that of the F-104G, but 
the rear fuselage was to be redesigned to accommodate a turbofan 
engine rather than the J79 turbojet.  This turbofan engine was to be 
either the Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-100 or the F100-P-100.  These engine 
offered an increase of 60 percent in thrust at maximum power.  The air 
intakes were located in the same place as on the F-104, but they 
incorporated translating shock cones with four-inch movement in place 
of the F-104's fixed cones.  

The Lancer retained the 20-mm General Electric M-61A1 cannon as its 
primary built-in armament, although a 30-mm DEFA gun could be fitted 
as an alternative if the customer so desired.  Nine weapons stations 
were provided, one under the fuselage, three under each wing, and one 
at each wingtip.  Up to 12,000 pounds of ordinance could be carried.  

The estimated gross weight was 35,000 pounds and a top speed of 1700 
mph at 35,000 feet was envisaged.  The takeoff run was 1450 feet in 
the intercept configuration, only 52 percent of that required for the 
F-104G.  Kelly Johnson projected that the CL-1200-2 would be superior 
in air-to-air combat to any known fighter.  

At one time, the USAF had considered acquiring one or more examples of 
the Lancer.  The USAF planned to buy at least one experimental Lancer 
under the experimental designation X-27.  The X-27 was to be similar 
in overall configuration to the Lancer but was to feature modified 
engine air intakes having a rectangular shape.  However, the X-27 
program was terminated due to lack of funds before anything could be 
built.  

In November 1970 the primary market for the Lancer was lost to the 
Northrop F-5E Tiger II and the project was shelved.  

Another stillborn Starfighter derivative was the CL-704 VTOL strike 
and reconnaissance aircraft originally proposed in 1962.  For VTOL 
operations, it was to have had seven vertically-mounted Rolls Royce 
RB.181s in each of the enlarged wingtip pods.  The main forward 
propulsion was to have been provided by a fuselage-mounted Rolls Royce 
RB.168.  

A larger-winged F-104 derivative was proposed as an alternative to the 
MRCA (Multi-Role Combat Aircraft) then being designed as a 
multi-national European project.  Nothing ever emerged, and the MRCA 
eventually emerged as the Panavia Tornado.  

Specification of the CL-1200-2 Lancer: 

One Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-100 turbofan, rated at 15,000 lb.s.t. dry 
and 25,000 lb.s.t. with afterburner.  Maximum speed 1700 mph at 
35,000 feet (Mach 2.57), 920 mph (Mach 1.21) at sea level.  Initial 
climb rate 60,000+ feet per minute.  420 miles combat radius with 
4000-pound bombload.  Takeoff run was 1450 feet to liftoff, landing 
run was 2060 feet.  Dimensions: length 57 feet 3 inches, wingspan 29 
feet 2 inches, height 17 feet 2 inches, wing area 300 square feet.  
Weights: 16,640 pounds empty, 24,385 pounds normal loaded, 35,000 
pounds maximum takeoff.  One 20-mm General Electric M61A1 cannon with 
725 rounds.  An external offensive load of up to 12,000 pounds could 
be carried on nine external weapons hardpoints.  

Sources:

    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.

    Lancer, Air Enthusiast, September 1971.

Joe Baugher		AT&T Bell Laboratories   	
2000 North Naperville Road      Naperville, Illinois 60566-7033