F-104 Starfighter Ideas

[Rhodri]

Why not do a naval F-104 version?

On floats!  ;-)

[wuzak]

Why not do a naval F-104 version?

On floats!  ;-)

The floats could double as wing-tip tanks - fold up to the end of the wing tip in flight.

[Jesse220]

Why not do a naval F-104 version?

On floats!  ;-)

The floats could double as wing-tip tanks - fold up to the end of the wing tip in flight.

No floats. I prefer the naval F-104 with fold up wings

[wuzak]

Why not do a naval F-104 version?

On floats!  ;-)

The floats could double as wing-tip tanks - fold up to the end of the wing tip in flight.

No floats. I prefer the naval F-104 with fold up wings

Would an F-104 need fold up wings?

[Jesse220]

Why not do a naval F-104 version?

On floats!  ;-)

The floats could double as wing-tip tanks - fold up to the end of the wing tip in flight.

No floats. I prefer the naval F-104 with fold up wings

Would an F-104 need fold up wings?

Hmmm No I guess not

[KJ_Lesnick]

Jesse220

Why not do a naval F-104 version?

Actually, as crazy as it sounds there was a US Navy concept for an F-104 derivative for it's use on carriers

• It had different inlets
  
• It had wing-tanks that were part of the design
  
• It used different missiles of some sort
  

.
I'm not sure how good it'd be!

[wuzak]

Landing an F-104 on a carrier might be a bit, um, entertaining!

[kerick]

Giant butterfly net!

[KJ_Lesnick]

Kerick

Far as I know, the USN claimed that it met the over the nose visibility, and roll-authority requirements: I don't know how they concluded this, though I suppose the A3J came in pretty hot!

The design in question wasn't just an F-104A with a tail-hook, it had numerous problems

• I think the flaps were different
  
• It had a spoileron
  
• The wing-tank might have been like the F9F, something that was attached to the wing
  
• It had the inlets the XF-104 had -- not the half-cones
  

The missiles looked like the AAM-N-2/AIM-7A Sparrow: It wasn't though and didn't appear to be the AAM-N-3/AIM-7B Sparrow II either.

[jcf]

Terry Moore's XF5V-1

http://www.internetmodeler.com/2004/april/aviation/f-104e.php

http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbirds-news/fun-facts/lockheeds-navy-f-104-u-s-navy-markings.html

[KJ_Lesnick]

That wasn't it

[KJ_Lesnick]

Would flaperons be considered excessively complex for the F-104

[rickshaw]

Sorry to "do a Kendra" and ask a silly question but does anybody know what the combat range on an F-104A was?   I need it for a back story I am concocting.   

[sandiego89]

Sorry to "do a Kendra" and ask a silly question but does anybody know what the combat range on an F-104A was?   I need it for a back story I am concocting.   

Sources for the A vary:
1) source: Wings of Fame, The Journal of Classic Combat Aircraft.  Volume 2, page 45
"This gave the F-104B a maximum range with tip tanks of 1,091nm (1,255 miles,/2020km), compared with the 1,444nm (1,660miles/2672km) for the F-104A"
Imagine this is high level, max range.  Not low level. 

2) Aircraft of the World, Doubleday, 1965, page 259.
"tactical radius (with drop tanks) 580 miles" 

3) The Worlds Military Aircraft, Bill Gunston, 1983,
"Range: F-104 A, C: 1,100 miles

-Dave "sandiego89"

[rickshaw]

No.2 I think is the right answer - the F-104 was always said to be notoriously short on range.  That combat radius will fit in well with my backstory.