What You Need to Know: The Lockheed F-104 “Starfighter,” developed by Clarence “Kelly” Johnson's Skunk Works, was a Cold War marvel known for its Mach-2.0 speed and sleek, missile-like design.

-Created to meet U.S. Air Force demands for a fast, high-altitude fighter, the F-104 set records and became a tactical powerhouse with its M-61 Vulcan cannon and Sidewinder missiles.

-Despite these strengths, its thin fuselage, limited fuel capacity, and high accident rate earned it the moniker “flying coffin.”

-Retired in the 1970s, it found new life with NASA for astronaut training, embodying both pioneering design and controversial legacy.

F-104, Explained 

The Lockheed Martin F-104 may no longer be in service, but the Cold War-era airframe remains a favorite among aviation buffs and military experts alike. The supersonic superiority fighter was developed by the legendary Skunk Works division under Clarence “Kelly” Johnson. Recognized for its speedy Mach-2.0 capabilities and sleek design, the “Starfighter” remains impressive even by today’s standards.

The Starfighter’s Origin Story

Following the Second World War, Lockheed’s Clarence Johnson traveled to U.S. Air Force bases across South Korea to research potential new fighter concepts. As the Cold War was beginning to heat up around this time, the Soviet’s MiG-15 was considered a tough opponent. American pilots disclosed to Johnson that they desired a simple airframe that could fly at fast speeds and high altitudes. 

Based on these requirements, Johnson presented a new fighter to the AI Force to replace the North American F-100. Ultimately, Lockheed beat out other big-name manufacturers and secured the contract.

By 1954, the first F-104 took to the skies and four years later officially entered service with the Air Force. Overall, nearly 2,580 planes were constructed. Due to the Starfighter's short wingspan and length, the airframe was nicknamed “a missile with a man in it,” according to the New England Air Museum.  

Notably, the airframe was the first of its kind to do a sustained Mach-2.0 flight while achieving an altitude of 100,000 feet. In terms of armament capability, the Starfighter could serve as a tactical fighter. The platform was equipped with a six-barrel M-61 20 millimeter Vulcan cannon and Sidewinder missiles when functioning as a day-night interceptor.

Why was the Starfighter Relegated to Retirement?

While the F-104 was a monumental fighter in many ways, it had its shortcomings. Specifically, its thin, heavy fuselage and a T-tail were created concerning aerodynamic issues. The small fuselage prevented the plane from featuring a powerful radar and limited internal fuel capacity. All of these factors combined stunted the platform’s long-term growth potential. 

Following the airframe’s service in the Vietnam War, it was nicknamed by some as a “flying coffin” due to its mishap tendency. In all, fourteen F-104s were lost in Southeast Asia, including six to ground fire and three to the USSR’s surface-to-air missiles. The platform suffered a similar fate in other combat arenas. As noted by Robert Farley, “Over fifty percent of F-104s in Canadian service were lost in crashes, over thirty percent in the German service.”

By the late 1960s, the F-104 left regular service with the Air Force and continued to fly for the Air National Guard until 1975. Later, several Starfighters were acquired by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). As explained by the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, “NASA used Starfighters as chase planes, and it ordered three NF-104s as astronaut-training planes. With a rocket mounted in its tail, an NF-104 could zoom to over 100,000 feet and give the pilot up to eighty seconds of control practice turning the aircraft using nose and wingtip thrusters.” 

Chuck Yeager famously flew to the edge of space in an NF-104 before the ship tumbled out of control and he had to bail out in the stratosphere. This incident is the central theme in the book “The Right Stuff.”

While the Starfighter had its flaws, it possessed cutting-edge capabilities for its era. 

About the Author: Maya Carlin 

Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. 

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