The RCAF received their first CF-104 in March 1962. Although originally designed as a
supersonic interceptor the Canadian Air Force used it primarily for low level strike and
reconnaissance. The Canadian version of the F-104 was capable of carrying a ventral
mounted Vinten Vicon pod with 4 cameras inside for reconnaissance picture taking. On
September 4, 1963 number 12900 was the 200th and final CF-104 produced and entered
service on January 10, 1964. The CF-104 retired from service in 1985 when it was
replaced by the CF-18 Hornet. Over the 25 years of active service 110 aircraft were lost
to accidents earning it nicknames like “Widow Maker” and “Lawn Dart”. The RCAF CF-
104 probably had the most flying time of any variant with an average of 6,000 hours per
plane over their life time compared to the Luftwaffe’s 3,000 hours.

The maiden flight for the dual-seat CF-104D took place on June 14, 1961. One of the 38
CF-104D’s built for the RCAF at Lockheed’s Palmdale facility as a model 583-04-15 was
c/n 583A-5320 and serial # 12650. #12650 was delivered to Canada on June 26, 1963. In
1968 the various branches of the Canadian Military were unified under one name,
Canadian Forces so no more RCAF. In 1970 while with the 417 Squadron at CFB Cold
Lake, Alberta the aircraft was given a new serial, 104650 to coincide with the new aircraft
numbering system of using the aircraft type as the first numbers. In July 1983 the aircraft
went to the 1st Canadian Air Group based at CFB Baden-Söllingen in West Germany. In
April, 1986 #104650 along with 5 other CF-104D’s were sold to Turkey.

Specifications for the CF-104

Manufacturer - Canadair

Designation - originally a super-sonic interceptor but adapted for low level strike and
reconnaissance

Crew: 1 x pilot - “D” variant 2 crew

Dimensions
Wingspan - 21’ 11”
Length - 54’ 9”
Height - 13’ 6”
Wing area - 196.1 sq. ft

Powerplant
1 x Orenda Engines J79-OEL-7, 10,000 lb. s.t. dry / 15,800 lb. s.t. with after burner

Performance
Maximum speed
Dash – 1,550 mph (mach 2.35) @ 40,000’
915 mph (mach 1.2) @ sea-level
Climb to 30,000’ – 1.5 minutes
Service ceiling - 50,000 ft (12,000 m)
Range - 1,630 mi (1,420 nm, 2,630 km)

Weights
Empty - 13,909 lbs.
Clean - 21,005 lbs.
Maximum take-off - 28,891 lbs

External stores
5 hard points – 1 x under the fuselage, 1 x under each wing, 1 x at each wing tip

Armament
External bombs and missiles such as:
Napalm bomb
Cluster bomb
BL755 cluster bomb
1 x 19 rocket rocket-pod
Mk. 82 bomb
MN1A practice bomb dispenser
1 x M61A1 Vulcan
1 x 20mm cannon added to later versions.

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