Canadair CF-104 Starfighter
Canada's licence-built nuclear strike and reconnaissance Starfighter, stationed with NATO in Europe for 25 years · First flight 1961 · In service 1962
Canada picked the Starfighter in 1959 to take on a NATO nuclear strike role, and Canadair built 200 under licence as the CL-90, first designated CF-111 and then CF-104. It was based on the F-104G but optimised for strike and reconnaissance, with an R-24A NASARR radar for air-to-ground work, a ventral pod with four Vinten cameras, longer-stroke main gear with bigger tyres, and an extra fuel cell where the M61 cannon would have been. The first Canadian-built aircraft, 12701, flew on 26 May 1961.
The CF-104 entered service in March 1962. Eight squadrons were stationed in Europe at first, cut to six in 1967 and three in 1970. Until 1971 they held a nuclear strike role. After that the Canadian Forces switched to conventional attack and refitted the cannon, along with Mk 82 bombs, BL755 cluster bombs and CRV7 rocket pods.
In 25 years of service there were 110 class A accidents and 37 pilots were killed. Most came early in the programme, and the record compared well with the F-86 Sabre it replaced. The 'Widowmaker' label came from the press, not the crews. The CF-18 Hornet began replacing the CF-104 in 1982, and the last ones retired in 1987, with most survivors going to Turkey.
