The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was an American single-engined, high-performance, supersonic interceptor aircraft that served with the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1958 until 1967. One of the Century Series of aircraft, it continued in service with Air National Guard units until it was phased out in 1975. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) flew a small mixed fleet of F-104 types in supersonic flight tests and spaceflight programs until they were retired in 1994. Several two-seat trainer versions were produced, the most numerous being the TF-104G.

USAF F-104Cs saw service during the Vietnam War, and F-104A aircraft were deployed by Pakistan briefly during the Indo-Pakistani wars. Republic of China Air Force F-104s also engaged the People's Liberation Army Air Force over the disputed island of Kinmen. A set of modifications produced the F-104G model, which won a NATO competition for a new fighter-bomber.

The ultimate F-104 version was the F-104S all-weather interceptor equipped with radar-guided AIM-7 Sparrow missiles, designed for the Italian Air Force. An advanced F-104 with a high-mounted wing, known as the CL-1200 Lancer, did not proceed. The project was cancelled at the mock-up stage in favor of other lightweight fighters such as the F-16. A total of 2,535 Starfighters were eventually produced. The F-104 served with the air forces of over a dozen nations until the summer of 2004, some 46 years after its introduction in 1958 by the USAF.

The poor safety record of the Starfighter brought the aircraft into the public eye, especially in Luftwaffe service. The subsequent Lockheed bribery scandals surrounding the original purchase contracts caused considerable political controversy in Europe and Japan.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a F-104G Starfighter interceptor that was employed at the Waffenschule Der Luftwaffe 10 (German Air Force School 10) in 1961. Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 4-inches
Length: 9-inches

Release Date: August 2022

Historical Account: "Learning to Fly" - The Luftwaffe weapons school is a training facility for the Bundeswehr Air Force at the Laage site . It was set up on October 1st, 2019. In the period of the Cold War there were already three weapons schools of the Air Force 10, 30 and 50, who carried out the tactical training of military pilots on use patterns. They were later reclassified to fighter-bomber squadrons.

During a WIC, course participants are referred to as WUGs (Weapons Undergraduate). They are already fully trained in their respective weapon systems and have qualified for participation in the WIC through excellent performance. The course is divided into three phases, "Academics", "Tactical Phases" and "Mission Employment":

- During the Academics, specialists and experts from all military aviation sectors train course participants on the latest findings and developments.
- The "Tactical Phase" is the phase in which the course is trained both in the simulator and in flying and as the course progresses, the course participants are confronted with increasingly complex scenarios
- During the "Mission Employment", the German WIC takes part in the final exercise "Cobra Warrior" of the British "QWIC" (Qualified Weapons Instructor Course) of the Royal Air Force, in which the WUGs together with the RAF and the Italian Aeronautica Militare to apply what has been learned in a "Large Forces Employment" on the international stage.

By completing the weapons instructor course, the course participants acquire the highest level of ability to lead, plan, carry out and then evaluate air-to-air and air-to-surface missions. Your skills include human factors, large forces mission planning, tactical leadership responsibility, but above all the analysis of so-called "base line threats" and the development of tactical solutions.

The weapons instructors have "Combat Ready" status in their respective departments and are experts in weapon system integration and training concepts. These experts guarantee a high level of professionalism and standardization and serve as multipliers in their respective associations. You are the contact person for all tactical issues such as skills and weapon system development in the command authorities.