+starfighter2 117 Posted February 28, 2008 View File NF-104A 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 aa pylon in front of the USAF Test Pilot School. Install> 1. Copy the "NF-104A" folder to your Strike Fighters\Objects\Aircraft folder. 2. Also copy 2 files raketa7.bmp raketa.LOD to your Strike Fighters\Objects\Aircraft folder. 3. Effects goes to your > Strike Fighters\Effects folder 4. Enjoy Credits> Thanx and credits goes to all community - I love you all. Idea........................... Corktip_14/Starfighter2/Jimbib/Sparkomatic/ 3d work...................... Pasko The Great FM/ini/tweaks/mod...... Starfighter2 Skin.......................... based on excellent Bobrock work - reworked by Starfighter2 Decals...................... Jimbib Effects...................... Starfighter2 Project manager :).... Starfighter2 P.S> Special thx for friendship goes to Pasko, MoonJumper, Jimbib and USAFMTL(yes I love you Dave) BTW....Watch the fuel gauge.... you will soon be out of it if rocket engaged.... it burns over cca 97% of throtle Recce kite only - of course - I removed all unneeded stuff from "G" modell to get close to "NFA" "No weapon - no Glory" - but not here - go there - and escape from SAM's with speed and alt. - and return alive if possible (uh oh - low on fuel and no weapons, no radar, no ECM...but hey - that's NF-104A) :) Cheers !!! P.S. Probably next stuff will be MiG-21BiS (real "full" mod) - almoust complete :yes: Submitter starfighter2 Submitted 02/28/2008 Category F-104 Starfighter Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bravo2009 2 Posted February 28, 2008 Yeager-"Hey Ridley." Ridley-"Yeah" Yeager-"You got any Beeman's?" Ridley-"I might have me a stick" Yeager-"Well loan me some would you, I'll pay you back later" Ridley-"Fair enough" Yeager-"I think I see a plane over here with my name on it" Ridley-"Now you talkin" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+starfighter2 117 Posted February 28, 2008 YEAH - THE RIGHT STUFF Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Brain32 265 Posted February 29, 2008 P.S. Probably next stuff will be MiG-21BiS (real "full" mod) - almoust complete :yes: To majstore Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+X RAY 83 Posted February 29, 2008 gliding back from 101000 ft X Ray say:"thank u so much Starfighter 2!" this is one of the aircraft that I really needed ever! I was wondering about that is early week where my pc was under a virus attack,I imagine the nf-104 during the format process and now today when I'm able to jump back here I've found it!I think is destiny! Thank u from my deepest! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+starfighter2 117 Posted February 29, 2008 I'm glad that you like it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Spillone104 553 Posted March 1, 2008 That's a Super ZIPPER!!! Now only the SA-5 could shoot me down. Thanks. Alex Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anthony W. 0 Posted February 22, 2009 Wow... The first time I decided to download this and go for a moon shot, I outran an atoll from a Mig on my 6... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+76.IAP-Blackbird 3,557 Posted February 22, 2009 I think I have to test it too... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
charlielima 328 Posted February 22, 2009 From the Right Stuff. Kid: Are you a man? Moderatly burned test pilot: God Damn Right I am. :ph34r: CL Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
