X-Nico

unusual facts about Canadair CF-104 Starfighter


Laurie Hawn

He flew the Canadair T-33 Silver Star as an instructor pilot and as a tactical fighter pilot and instructor on the Canadair CF-104 Starfighter and was among the first Canadian military pilots to fly the McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet fighters.


Air combat during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

This force was heavily committed to operations over Cyprus for the duration of the 1974 invasion, and consisted of multiple fighter squadrons equipped with F-5, RF-84F, F-100, F-102 and F-104 combat aircraft, as well as C-130, C-160 and C-47 transport planes.

Canadian Air-Sea Transportable Brigade Group

The Group was based on a mechanized infantry brigade, supported by two Rapid Reinforcement Fighter Squadrons equipped with Canadair CF-5 fighters and a variety of supporting units.

New Fighter Aircraft Project

The New Fighter Aircraft Project (NFA) was a Government of Canada defence procurement project undertaken in the late 1970s that saw the Department of National Defence (DND) select a single new fighter jet to replace the fleets of CF-101 Voodoo, CF-104 Starfighter and CF-116 Freedom Fighter aircraft in the Canadian Forces.

No. 421 Squadron RCAF

In 1962 it was equipped with CF-104 Starfighters and in 1967 the squadron moved to Zweibrücken Air Base becoming part of 1 Air Division RCAF (later renamed 1 Canadian Air Group) based at CFB Baden-Soellingen, West Germany.

Starfighters Inc

Starfighters Inc, based in Clearwater, Florida, began as a private venture to restore and fly three former Canadair CF-104 Starfighters at air shows across the United States and Canada.

The Starfighters

Lt. John Witkowski (Dornan) and his buddy, Lt. York, arrive at George Air Force Base in Southern California to train to fly the F-104 Starfighter, with special emphasis on the complicated mid-air refueling maneuver.


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