User:Cthomas3/sandbox: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 03:23, 22 October 2017

Revision as of 19:07, 22 October 2017

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The F-104 was designed to use the General Electric J79 turbojet engine,<ref name="Complete Encyclopedia">{{cite book|author=<!--compilation of material with no listed author(s)-->|editor-last=Donald |editor-first=David |title=The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft |___location=New York |publisher=Barnes & Noble Books |year=1997 |ISBN=0-7607-0592-5}}</ref> fed by side-mounted intakes with fixed [[inlet cones]] optimized for performance at [[Mach (speed)|Mach]]&nbsp;1.7 (increased to Mach&nbsp;2 for later F-104s equipped with more powerful J79-GE-19 engines).<ref name="Davies2014p10">Davies 2014, p. 10.</ref> Unlike some supersonic aircraft, the F-104 did not have variable-geometry inlets. Its thrust-to-drag ratio was excellent, allowing a maximum speed well in excess of Mach&nbsp;2. Available thrust was actually limited by the geometry of the inlet scoop and duct; the aircraft was capable even higher Mach numbers except for the aerodynamic heating limitations of the aluminum structure.<ref name="Upton2003p24">Upton 2003, p. 24.</ref>

===Ejection seat===

Early Starfighters used a downward-firing [[ejection seat]] (the [[Stanley Aviation|Stanley]] C-1), out of concern over the ability of an upward-firing seat to clear the "T-tail" [[empennage]]. This presented obvious problems in low-altitude escapes, and 21 USAF pilots, including test pilot Capt. [[Iven Carl Kincheloe Jr.]], failed to escape from their stricken aircraft in low-level emergencies because of it. The downward-firing seat was replaced by the Lockheed C-2 upward-firing seat, which was capable of clearing the tail, but still had a minimum speed limitation of {{convert|90|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on|0}}.<ref name="Upton2003p35">Upton 2003, p. 35.</ref> Many export Starfighters were later retrofitted with [[Martin-Baker Mk.7]] "zero-zero" (zero altitude and zero airspeed) ejection seats.<ref>[http://www.ejectionsite.com/frame_sg.htm "Ejection seats of the F-104."] ''ejectionsite.com.'' Retrieved: 6 February 2008</ref>

===Avionics===

The initial USAF Starfighters had a basic RCA AN/ASG-14T1 ranging radar, [[tactical air navigation system]] (TACAN), and an AN/ARC-34 UHF radio. The AN/ASG-14 fire control system used a {{convert|24|in|adj=on}} pencil-beam radar antenna with two independent sights, one optical one infrared. Early versions of the radar had a range of approximately {{convert|20|mi}} in search mode, with later models reaching up to {{convert|40|mi}}; the scan pattern was spiral, covering a 90-degree cone. Search mode was usable only above {{convert|3000|ft}} due to ground return effects below that altitude. Track mode was usable within {{convert|10|mi}} of the target, which narrowed the scan to 20 degrees and initiated a strobe sweep between {{convert|300|and|3000|yd}} in auto-acquisition mode. The radar also had a third, receive-only mode useful for locking onto source of interference from [[electronic countermeasures]] (ECM).<ref name="Davies2014p13">Davies 2014, p. 13.</ref>

In the late 1960s, Lockheed developed a more advanced version of the Starfighter, the F-104S, for use by the Italian Air Force. Similar to the F-104G, Lockheed produced two main variants of the F-104S, a, all-weather interceptor (CI) and a strike aircraft (CB). The CI variant received a FIAR/NASARR F15G radar with AIM-7 Sparrow guidance capability; however, the new missile-guidance [[avionics]] came at the expense of the M61A1 Vulcan cannon, which was removed to make room. The CB variant was equipped with a FIAR/NASARR R21G-H radar and a radar altimeter for low-level strike missions, retaining the cannon as its only air-to-air weapon.<ref name="Dobrzyński2015p51">Dobrzyński 2015, p. 51.</ref>

As part of the ''Aggiornamento Sistema d'Arma'' (ASA), or "Weapons System Upgrade" in the mid-1980s, both variants were given an ALQ-70/72 ECM and a FIAR/NASARR R-21G/M1 radar with [[frequency hopping]] and [[look-down/shoot-down]] capability. The new radar and guidance systems enabled the aircraft to carry both the new AIM-9L Sidewinder infrared-guided missile (replacing the older AIM-9B) as well as the AIM-7 Sparrow and the [[Selenia Aspide]] radar-guided missiles.<ref name="Dobrzyński2015p52">Dobrzyński 2015, p. 52.</ref>

===Armament===

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Early Starfighters were also capable of carrying and launching a single [[MB-1]] (AIR-2A Genie) rocket-powered nuclear missile using an extending trapeze launcher. This configuration was tested on a single aircraft but was not adopted for service use; however, NASA later used it for launching test rockets.<ref name="Davies2014p15">Davies 2014, p. 15.</ref>

===Avionics===

The initial USAF Starfighters had a basic RCA AN/ASG-14T1 ranging radar, [[tactical air navigation system]] (TACAN), and an AN/ARC-34 UHF radio. The AN/ASG-14 fire control system used a {{convert|24|in|adj=on}} pencil-beam radar antenna with two independent sights, one optical one infrared. Early versions of the radar had a range of approximately {{convert|20|mi}} in search mode, with later models reaching up to {{convert|40|mi}}; the scan pattern was spiral, covering a 90-degree cone. Search mode was usable only above {{convert|3000|ft}} due to ground return effects below that altitude. Track mode was usable within {{convert|10|mi}} of the target, which narrowed the scan to 20 degrees and initiated a strobe sweep between {{convert|300|and|3000|yd}} in auto-acquisition mode. The radar also had a third, receive-only mode useful for locking onto source of interference from [[electronic countermeasures]] (ECM).<ref name="Davies2014p13">Davies 2014, p. 13.</ref>

In the late 1960s, Lockheed developed a more advanced version of the Starfighter, the F-104S, for use by the Italian Air Force. Similar to the F-104G, Lockheed produced two main variants of the F-104S, a, all-weather interceptor (CI) and a strike aircraft (CB). The CI variant received a FIAR/NASARR F15G radar with AIM-7 Sparrow guidance capability; however, the new missile-guidance [[avionics]] came at the expense of the M61A1 Vulcan cannon, which was removed to make room. The CB variant was equipped with a FIAR/NASARR R21G-H radar and a radar altimeter for low-level strike missions, retaining the cannon as its only air-to-air weapon.<ref name="Dobrzyński2015p51">Dobrzyński 2015, p. 51.</ref>

As part of the ''Aggiornamento Sistema d'Arma'' (ASA), or "Weapons System Upgrade" in the mid-1980s, both variants were given an ALQ-70/72 ECM and a FIAR/NASARR R-21G/M1 radar with [[frequency hopping]] and [[look-down/shoot-down]] capability. The new radar and guidance systems enabled the aircraft to carry both the new AIM-9L Sidewinder infrared-guided missile (replacing the older AIM-9B) as well as the AIM-7 Sparrow and the [[Selenia Aspide]] radar-guided missiles.<ref name="Dobrzyński2015p52">Dobrzyński 2015, p. 52.</ref>

===Ejection seat===

Early Starfighters used a downward-firing [[ejection seat]] (the [[Stanley Aviation|Stanley]] C-1), out of concern over the ability of an upward-firing seat to clear the "T-tail" [[empennage]]. This presented obvious problems in low-altitude escapes, and 21 USAF pilots, including test pilot Capt. [[Iven Carl Kincheloe Jr.]], failed to escape from their stricken aircraft in low-level emergencies because of it. The downward-firing seat was replaced by the Lockheed C-2 upward-firing seat, which was capable of clearing the tail, but still had a minimum speed limitation of {{convert|90|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on|0}}.<ref name="Upton2003p35">Upton 2003, p. 35.</ref> Many export Starfighters were later retrofitted with [[Martin-Baker Mk.7]] "zero-zero" (zero altitude and zero airspeed) ejection seats.<ref>[http://www.ejectionsite.com/frame_sg.htm "Ejection seats of the F-104."] ''ejectionsite.com.'' Retrieved: 6 February 2008</ref>

===Production assembly===