RAF fighter pilot Tom Hammond swapped his Harrier cockpit for that of the sleek CF-104 Starfighter. We met Tom to find out more.
Describe the CF-104 Starfighter in three words…
Legendary fast interceptor.
How did you get to fly it?
I went on Exchange with the Canadian Air Force at CFB Baden–Soellingen (in what was West Germany) 1982-85 after two RAF Harrier tours. The conversion course was completed in Canada at CFB Cold Lake in northern Alberta.
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What’s the best thing about it?
Pure speed and a smooth ride at low level with the small wings.
..and the worst?
Not enough fuel as with most aircraft meant the flight was over all too soon sometimes.
What was its biggest achievement?
Time to height and pure altitude records in the 60s.
How would you rate it in the following:
Instantaneous turn
Not great unless flaps were down and without tip tanks then good.
Sustained turn
Again without tips sustained 7 g with some flap. Also good when supersonic.
Climb rate
Excellent, 20000ft within 4 miles of the runway.
Ride at low-level
Very smooth all the way up to supersonic even on turbulent days.
Crew comfort
Nice big cockpit and the comfortable absence of G suits (CF104)
What are the biggest myths about the aircraft?
That it was the “widowmakerâ€, a term hated by all who operated it. Some other aircraft were just as dangerous, and some more so although to be fair they were also single-seaters: Harrier (which I also flew) and Lightning.
Tell me something I don’t know about the CF-104
We used to carry envelopes full of cut-up foil as one-shot “chaff†stuck inside the speedbrakes, placed there by a brave technician after start. If not used in flight they were latterly discharged on landing as we always landed with the speedbrake out.
What was your most notable mission or flight?
No actual war missions. The ones I remember most were the Mach 2 run on the conversion, having the engine nozzle stick closed one day and not being able to get the speed below 300kts clean. Any range trip firing the awesome CRV7 rocket.
What would enemy aircraft types would it likely face in war and how would it fare against them?
In my time were up against MiG-21s, -23s primarily. We had, on 441Sqn, a secondary air defence role within the Canadian Air Group, so had the all-aspect sidewinder missiles which would have helped but ultimately running away at ultra-low level was the last resort.
What systems or weapons did it lack?
With Mk 82 bombs, BL755 cluster weapon, CRV7 rockets, and the 20-mm Gatling gun it was well-armed but lacked the capacity to carry a significant amount of firepower. The LW33 nav system was very good.
Great stuff! I flew the bird late 1963 to 1970 in Canada in the training roll and in Germany in the nuclear strike roll. Yes, it was a real pilots’ airplane.
[…] Unconvincing defense of the F-104… […]
Accurate description above.
I had the pleasure of logging 1,700 flying hours on this wonderful airplane. Fit like a glove and accelerated like a Formula One with an afterburner.
From my flying experience on many different types (total of 18 logged), I would say the Primary Cause Factor of 95% of all military, commercial, business and private aircraft accidents are “human factors” – NOT mechanical.
If you think about the Starfighter for just a moment, if the airplane truly was a “Widow Maker”, who in their right mind would fly it? It was a great airplane and treated me and our fighter community very well indeed.
This to say the label is a nonsense created by media.
As Ernest Hemingway said (paraphrased), your first true love will always your first fighter. For me, of some 3,500 hours flying time, mostly on CF5, CF104 and CF18, the CF104 certainly was mine.
DJ
Good to hear real pilots talk and asses an airplane !