Lockheed NF-104A for SF2

Lockheed NF-104A for Strike Fighters 2

In 1963, three ex-USAF F-104As (56-756, -760, and -762) were taken out of storage at Davis Monthan AFB and modified as NF-104A aerospace training aircraft. All of the military equipment was removed and the original F-104A vertical fin was replaced by the larger fin that was used on the F-104G. The wingspan was increased by four feet (to 25.94 feet) and a set of hydrogen peroxide control thrusters were mounted at the nose, tail, and wingtips. A 6000 pound thrust Rocketdyne LR121/AR-2-NA-1 auxiliary rocket engine was mounted on the tail above the jet exhaust pipe. This rocket engine could be throttled from 3000 to 6000 pounds of thrust, and the burn time was about 105 seconds.

The first NF-104A was delivered on October 1, 1963, with the other two following a month later. They were operated by the Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards AFB, which was commanded at that time by Colonel Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager.

On December 6, 1963, the first NF-104A set an unofficial world altitude record of 118,860 feet for aircraft taking off under their own power. The official record at that time was 113,829 feet, set by the Mikoyan/Gurevich Ye-66A, an experimental version of the MiG-21 Fishbed. Later, the same NF-104A flown by Major R. W. Smith reached an altitude of 120,800 feet.

On December 10, 1963, the second NF-104A (56-762), with Chuck Yeager at the controls, went out of control at an altitude of 104,000 feet and fell in a flat spin to 11,000 feet. Yeager managed to eject successfully at that altitude, although he was badly burned on his face by the rocket motor of his ejector seat. The aircraft was destroyed in the ensuing crash. An investigation later showed that the cause of the crash was a spin that resulted from excessive angle of attack and lack of aircraft response. The excessive angle of attack was not caused by pilot input but by a gyroscopic condition set up by the J79 engine spooling after shut down for the rocket-powered zoom climb phase. So it wasn't Chuck's fault.

In June of 1971, the third NF-104A, with Capt. Howard C. Thompson at the controls, suffered an inflight explosion of its rocket motor. Although Thompson was able to land safely, the aircraft's rocket motor and half its rudder were blown away. Since the program was about to end in any case, this aircraft was retired.

The number one NF-104A is currently on display on top of a pylon in front of the USAF Test Pilot School.

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IMPORTANT!!!

You need SF2E to have the stock F-104G and SFP1 for the cockpit files.

or follow these precious instructins: http://combatace.com/topic/57393-flyable-f-104s-for-sf2

Another thing... there are some minor differences between SFP1 and SF2E models and one of these is a bit different mapping on the nose. So it will be included an optional SFP1 f-104_2.bmp file.

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Pilot Notes:

-The rocket engine is set to use "Thrust vectoring" as a throttle control to permit separate control from the jet engine. The rocket will operate only with afterburning regime and with only 2 stages, half and full power. From idle to military it will not generate thrust and so will not affect fuel consumption.

-This plane is equipped with hydrogen peroxide Reaction Control System like the real plane. To engage the system simply throttle the rocket a bit over idle.

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Installation:

Simply copy all the files in the respective directory of your game folder.

"User"\Saved Games\ThirdWire\StrikeFighters2

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Credits:

Added 3D parts: Spillone104

Textures : Spillone104 with great Bobrock templates.

Decals : JimBib

Fake pilot mod: FastCargo

INI and FM : Starfighter2 and Spillone104

Effects : Starfighter2, X-Ray and Spillone104

Sounds : Spillone104

Beta testers : X-Ray, Starfighter2 and TheTestPilot

Special thanks to the Team that created the original NF-104A mod for SFP1. (original readme included!)

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Legal stuff:

This mod is freeware. Commercial use is not allowed.

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Enjoy the ride and land safe ;-)