F-104 Starfighter

The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter

The F-104 set numerous world records, including both airspeed and altitude records… it also flew like a brick attached to a booster.

First flight 17 February 1956 (YF-104A)
Introduction 20 February 1958
Retired 31 October 2004 (Italy!!)

General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 54 ft 8 in (16.66 m)
Wingspan: 21 ft 9 in (6.63 m)
Height: 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)
Wing area: 196.1 sq ft (18.22 m2)
Empty weight: 14,000 lb (6,350 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 29,027 lb (13,166 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × General Electric J79 afterburning turbojet, 10,000 lbf (44 kN) thrust dry, 15,600 lbf (69 kN) with afterburner

Performance
Maximum speed: 1,528 mph; 2,459 km/h (1,328 kn)
Maximum speed: Mach 2