F-104 Starfighter was the first aircraft to fly faster than Mach 2. The prototype XF-104 made its maiden flight in februari 1954, and the aircraft was soon dubed '' the manned missile '' due to its elongated, pointed fuselage and stubby wings. An upgraded engine allowed YF-104 experimental craft to fly at 2,259km/h in May 1958 to set a new world recored, firmly establishing the type as the world`s fastest fighter plane. The Starfighter was equipped with specially designed ultra-thin wings intended to minimize aerodynamic drag, a feature clearly revealing the orginal design goal for the type emphasizing pure speed above all other performance factors. The distinctively shaped wings of the craft, with their short, blunt lines, flat surfaces and slighty dropped angle resembled the fins of a missle more than than the wings of an aircraft, thus leading to be obvious metaphors and nicknamed of '' manned missile ''. etc., wich were to follow the type throughout its service career. The unusual T-shaped tail structure arrangement only helped to accentuate the '' missile-like '' or '' space-ship '' appearance of the craft.
Twee uitvoeringen mogelijk:
- Canadian Armed Forces, 439SQ '' Tiger Meet '' 1981.
- Canadian Armed Forces, 439SQ '' Tiger Meet '' 1982.
