Difference between revisions of "F-104A"

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! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
 
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
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! colspan="4" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff<br/>Weight
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! colspan="4" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff<br />Weight
 
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| 0.87 || 0.79 || 0.71 || 0.68 || 0.25
 
| 0.87 || 0.79 || 0.71 || 0.68 || 0.25
 
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|-
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| ''Optimal'' || 3,936 kgf<br/>(0 km/h) || 7,751 kgf<br/>(1,200 km/h)
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| ''Optimal'' || 3,936 kgf<br />(0 km/h) || 7,751 kgf<br />(1,200 km/h)
 
| 1.12 || 1.00 || 0.91 || 0.87 || 0.32
 
| 1.12 || 1.00 || 0.91 || 0.87 || 0.32
 
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== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
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The F-104A is a high speed, high altitude fighter-bomber / interceptor. It performs well on high altitude flights meant to intercept fighters and mainly bombers at high altitudes. When the F-104A is fighting at low altitudes with a slower plane, the pilot should consider a hit and run technique to out-speed and return to the target to avoid getting shot back.
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The F-104A is a high speed, high altitude fighter-bomber / interceptor. It performs well in high altitude flights meant to intercept fighters and mainly bombers at high altitudes. When the F-104A is fighting at low altitudes with a slower plane, the pilot should consider a hit and run technique to out-speed and return to the target to avoid getting shot back.
  
−
The F-104A has a decent stock turn time of 33 seconds which is the average or decent turn time of most supersonic jets on rank VI for Russian jets. The F-104A will have difficulties when trying to hit an enemy less than 1 or 2 kilometers away using the 20mm M61 cannon since this cannon will take some time to warm-up before shooting and turn fights will also be difficult due to high speed maneuvers causing an average 8 or more Gs rendering the pilot unconscious for most of the time.
+
The F-104A has a decent stock turn time of 33 seconds which is the average or decent turn time of most supersonic jets at rank VI for Russian jets. The F-104A will have difficulties when trying to hit an enemy less than 1 or 2 kilometers away using the 20mm M61 cannon since this cannon will take some time to warm-up before shooting and turn fights will also be difficult due to high speed maneuvers causing an average 8 or more Gs rendering the pilot unconscious for most of the time.
  
 
Using the F-104A's M61 cannon against helicopters would be very easy since they're slow and most of the time are in constant direction and speed, while you are attacking from the side or back with speeds almost or higher than mach 1, the helicopter won't notice until you strafe at them.
 
Using the F-104A's M61 cannon against helicopters would be very easy since they're slow and most of the time are in constant direction and speed, while you are attacking from the side or back with speeds almost or higher than mach 1, the helicopter won't notice until you strafe at them.
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== Media ==
 
== Media ==
 
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
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;Images
 
;Images
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[[File:F-104A Starfighter Among the Stars.jpg|alt=F104A Starfighter flying with a full afterburner on a clear starry night (in-game screenshot)|left|thumb|F-104A Starfighter Among the Stars]]
 
[[File:F-104A Starfighter Among the Stars.jpg|alt=F104A Starfighter flying with a full afterburner on a clear starry night (in-game screenshot)|left|thumb|F-104A Starfighter Among the Stars]]
 
{{Break}}
 
{{Break}}
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;Videos
 
;Videos
 
{{Youtube-gallery|QAA4S31Hbhw|'''The Shooting Range #202''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:30 discusses the F-104 Starfighter.}}
 
{{Youtube-gallery|QAA4S31Hbhw|'''The Shooting Range #202''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:30 discusses the F-104 Starfighter.}}

Revision as of 23:44, 29 June 2020

RANK 5 FRANCE
Somua SM PACK
F-104A
f-104a.png
F-104A
USA flag.png USA
VI Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
9.7 9.3 9.7
Class:
Research:160 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:450 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game
This page is about the jet fighter F-104A. For other versions, see F-104 (Family).

Description

GarageImage F-104A.jpg


The F-104A Starfighter is a rank VI American jet fighter with a battle rating of 9.7 (AB/SB) and 9.3 (RB). It was introduced in Update "Starfighters".

General info

Flight performance

F-104 Starfighter breaks the soundbarrier at sunset with its afterburner roaring
A F-104A Starfighter breaks the sound barrier at sunset

Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

Characteristics Max Speed
(km/h at 10,668 m) 		Max altitude
(metres) 		Turn time
(seconds) 		Rate of climb
(metres/second) 		Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 2,104 2,079 18900 32.4 33.0 190.9 182.9 1,180
Upgraded ___ ___ __._ __._ __._ __._

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear Drogue chute
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Limits
Wings (km/h) Gear (km/h) Flaps (km/h) Max Static G
Combat Take-off Landing + -
0 546 2,350 833 444 ~12 ~5
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 720 < 950 < 800 N/A

Engine performance

Engine Aircraft mass
Engine name Number Basic Mass Wing loading (full fuel)
General Electric J79-GE-3 1 6,182 kg 513 kg/m2
Engine characteristics Mass with fuel (no weapons load) Max Takeoff
Weight
Weight (each) Type 10m fuel 20m fuel 30m fuel 35m fuel
1,750 kg Afterburning axial-flow turbojet 6,947 kg 7,712 kg 8,477 kg 8,859 kg 24,000 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB) Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
Condition 100% WEP 10m fuel 20m fuel 30m fuel 35m fuel MTOW
Stationary 3,936 kgf 6,061 kgf 0.87 0.79 0.71 0.68 0.25
Optimal 3,936 kgf
(0 km/h) 		7,751 kgf
(1,200 km/h) 		1.12 1.00 0.91 0.87 0.32

Survivability and armour

In terms of armour, there is no armour on the F-104A. Since the F-104A relies on high speed, it wouldn't need armour as that would reduce the speed and maneuverability of the plane.

Armaments

Offensive armament

Main article: M61 (20 mm)

The F-104A is armed with:

  • 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon, chin-mounted (750 rpg)

Suspended armament

Main article: AIM-9B Sidewinder

The F-104A can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

  • Without load
  • 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles

Usage in battles

The F-104A is a high speed, high altitude fighter-bomber / interceptor. It performs well in high altitude flights meant to intercept fighters and mainly bombers at high altitudes. When the F-104A is fighting at low altitudes with a slower plane, the pilot should consider a hit and run technique to out-speed and return to the target to avoid getting shot back.

The F-104A has a decent stock turn time of 33 seconds which is the average or decent turn time of most supersonic jets at rank VI for Russian jets. The F-104A will have difficulties when trying to hit an enemy less than 1 or 2 kilometers away using the 20mm M61 cannon since this cannon will take some time to warm-up before shooting and turn fights will also be difficult due to high speed maneuvers causing an average 8 or more Gs rendering the pilot unconscious for most of the time.

Using the F-104A's M61 cannon against helicopters would be very easy since they're slow and most of the time are in constant direction and speed, while you are attacking from the side or back with speeds almost or higher than mach 1, the helicopter won't notice until you strafe at them.

Sitting at BR 9.7, it would only take a few time to be up-tiered to jets that carry both flares and more AAMs than you, since the F-104A isn't carrying any flares, you would have to rely on the planes decent maneuverability, and high speed, and maybe turn off the afterburner and maybe even the engine to reduce the incoming AAMs chance to hit the plane, always remember the insane climb rate for the plane, this means you can also face the incoming AAM at the sun even when the sun is at a steep angle, this in turn would spend more fuel since you would need to use afterburners to efficiently climb at steep angles, out-running short-range anti-air missiles are tricky since some go mach 1.7, while others go mach 2.5, do not expect all missiles to be out-runned.

Modules

Tier Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
I Fuselage repair Offensive 20 mm
II Compressor Airframe AIM-9B
III Wings repair Engine New 20 mm cannons
IV G-suit Cover

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Good top speed for its rank
  • Great rate of climb; even the F-4 Phantom may struggle to match it
  • Decent high-speed maneuverability, in spite of its tiny wings
  • 20 mm Vulcan gun can really do some serious damage
  • Has access to AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
  • Good roll rate for a jet

Cons:

  • Lousy low-speed maneuverability
  • Only one secondary weapon load
  • Can't carry bombs
  • Relatively low ammo count for the Vulcan; trigger discipline is necessary
  • M61 Vulcan doesn't shoot instantly, takes less than a second to rotate
  • No flares to counter AAMs
  • As with most jets, it tends to bleed off speed quickly in sustained turns

History

The F-104A Starfighter was the first in-service United States Air Force (USAF) fighter to fly at twice the speed of sound, and made its first flight on February 7th, 1954[1]. In this video from Lockheeed Martin's archives, the Starfighter's maiden flight can be viewed. The F-104 began being designed in November 1952, when the USAF requested a superiority day fighter[2]. The USAF chose Lockheed Martin's protype, with its unusually stubby straight wings, in a time when fighters had large, swept back, wings[2]. The first F-104A's were delivered to the 83rd Fighter-Interceptor squadron stationed at Hamilton Air Force Base on January 26, 1958, where they would break speed and altitude records[2]. One major record that was set by an F-104A was when Major Howard C. Johnson set a new altitude record by flying at 91,243 ft on May 7th, 1958[3].

Media

Images
F104A Starfighter flying with a full afterburner on a clear starry night (in-game screenshot)
F-104A Starfighter Among the Stars


Videos
The Shooting Range #202 - Metal Beasts section at 00:30 discusses the F-104 Starfighter.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the series of the aircraft;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

References

  1. ↑ https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/lockheed-f-104a-starfighter/nasm_A19761017000
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 https://www.airplanesofthepast.com/f104-starfighter.htm
  3. ↑ https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=113


Lockheed Corporation
Fighters  XP-38G · P-38E · P-38G-1 · P-38J-15 · Bong's P-38J-15 · P-38K · P-38L-5-LO · YP-38
Bombers  B-34 · PV-2D
Jet Fighters  F-80A-5 · F-80C-10
  F-104A · F-104C
Strike Aircraft  F-117
Export / License  A-29 · ▄Hudson Mk V
  ␗P-38L-1
  ␗F-104A · ▀F-104G · ␗F-104G · ▄F-104G · ▅F-104J · ▄F-104S
  The Lockheed Corporation merged with Martin Marietta Corporation in 1995 to form Lockheed Martin Corporation.
See Also  SABCA · Mitsubishi Heavy Industries · Fiat Aviation

USA jet aircraft
  Fighters
F9F  F9F-2 · F9F-5 · F9F-8
F-80  F-80A-5 · F-80C-10
F-84  F-84B-26 · F-84F · F-84G-21-RE
F-86  F-86A-5 · F-86F-25 · F-86F-2 · F-86F-35
F-89  F-89B · F-89D
F-100  F-100D
F-104  F-104A · F-104C
F-4  F-4C Phantom II · F-4E Phantom II · F-4J Phantom II · F-4S Phantom II
F-5  F-5A · F-5C · F-5E · F-20A
F-8  F8U-2 · F-8E
F-14  F-14A Early · ▄F-14A IRIAF · F-14B
F-15  F-15A · F-15C MSIP II · F-15E
F-16  F-16A · F-16A ADF · F-16C
Other  P-59A · F2H-2 · F3D-1 · F3H-2 · F4D-1 · F11F-1
  Strike Aircraft
FJ-4  FJ-4B · FJ-4B VMF-232
A-4  A-4B · A-4E Early
A-7  A-7D · A-7E · A-7K
AV-8  AV-8A · AV-8C · AV-8B Plus · AV-8B (NA)
A-10  A-10A · A-10A Late · A-10C
F-111  F-111A · F-111F
Other  A-6E TRAM · F-105D · F-117
  Bombers
B-57  B-57A · B-57B

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