Ex Taiwanese F-104 under restoration in Oregon...

[Warbirdnerd]

Apologies if this has been posted before...

Hillsboro, Oregon, Sept. 16 (CNA) It will take at least another year for a decomissioned Lockheed F-104G Starfighter from Taiwan sent to the United States Classic Aircraft Aviation Museum in Oregon in 2006 to take to the skies again.

Unlike most museums that display aircraft models, the nonprofit museum is dedicated to repairing classic military aircraft and emphasizes "dynamic preservation," which includes restoration.

The museum has successfully restored a MiG-17 fighter jet, and when the F-104 Starfighter that Taiwan acquired in 1987 was transported to the U.S. amid great fanfare in 2006, the hope was it would be ready to take off in 2008.

But despite investing more than 1,500 hours to fix the plane, the museum will need another 12-18 months before it can fly again, said museum director Doug Donkel, and it will also have to get permission from the Federal Aviation Association (FAA) before resuming flights.

Repairs on the plane are around 90-95 percent completed, said museum founder Roger Kelsay. The aircraft's hydraulic system, electric power system, and landing gear were all overhauled.

Still, the plane's restoration has been hindered due to the lack of certain critical components. The museum has not been able to acquire afterburners from Taiwan's Air Force and is having difficulty finding experienced maintenance people.

"Our (hope is) that maybe President Ma can support us on this project too to help us get the remaining components that we need to get this thing flying," Kelsay said, referring to Taiwan's president, Ma Ying-jeou.

"It is hard to find knowledgeable people that know a lot about the F-104," added Donkel. "We have a gentleman from Taiwan that's come over and helped us several times, and we're hoping to get him back again."

A retired sergeant major from Taiwan's Air Force has been assisting with the museum's F-104G Starfighter repairs over the past few years, often spending two to six months in Oregon at a time.

Rebuilding planes does not come cheaply. The museum has had to procure components for aircrafts from around the world and between the US$15,000 that a generator can cost and high freight expenses, the bills add up.

So how much has been spent on the F-104G project? "More than I want to tell," Kelsay answered with a laugh.

Although restoring planes is an expensive hobby, Kelsay, a retired U.S. Air Force pilot with a special affinity for Starfighters, says preserving aircraft is his passion.

"It's a passion, so passion doesn't always make economic sense," he said.

The F-104G Starfighter in Oregon was designed by the U.S. firm Lockheed and produced by Canadair. It was sold to Denmark and then obtained by Taiwan in 1987 in exchange for an F-5A fighter.

After being decommissioned by Taiwan's Air Force, it was handed over to Feng Chia University in Taichung in 1997. The university then turned it over to the Oregon museum in 2006.

Found it here:
http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_ ... 1109170015

[EDMJ]

Very interesting and best of luck with the project!

The aircraft in question (USAF serial 63-12699, RDanAF serial R-699) was handed over to the Danish AF under a military aid programme on 23.11.1964 and remained US property. After its last flight in Denmark on 30.04.1986 it was passed on by the USAF to Taiwan along with several others. So no sale to Denmark, and no exchange with an F-5

[Chappie]

Wow, I'd had never seen this news before. This terrific. Another airworthy "Missile With A Man In It"!

Chappie

Sounds like they have their work cut out for them with this F-104. Hope they are able to get it back in the air.

[robkamm]

thanks for posting, any more pictures? Love the 104. isnt there a guy in maine that has/had stuff? saw it on barn stormers a while back.

[pikas]

Here are some photos in 2006.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevenweng ... 770398861/


Now

[robkamm]

thanks for more photos. that bird looks complex!! hats off to the restoration effort.

[Rob Mears]

Don't they also have an ex-Luftwaffe TF-104?

[mrhenniger]

Here is a question... The "Classic Aircraft Aviation Museum" is in Hillsboro. Another organization "Premier Jets" is also located in Hillsboro. I have reason to suspect the two organizations are one and the same. Am I correct with this suspicion?

Mike

[Chappie]

Interesting to see the MiG-17 in the background. Anyone know if it's airworthy?


Chappie

[svengi]

Wow! What an ambitious project! A great looking bird, right there! I don't think I've ever seen such good views of an F-104 before. My father in law flew a few 104's back in the day.

[Rob Mears]

The MiG-17 is in fact airworthy and was operrated by Premier Jets Inc., thus tieing in with Mike Henniger's question above. I'm thinking this organization is a new iteration of 'Premier Jets'.

[pikas]

F-104 4412(62-12342) was taken by me in a school .
Still in good condition!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BfzGa1QTck

[Rob Mears]

I respect any man who has the guts and skill to step into that machine.

I was wondering about F-104 stall characteristics and found the video below. I wonder if what I'm seeing in this video is an example of a pure stall or if there was a contributing mechanical failure. I imagine this is not a plane you should intend to stall under any circumstances. For those with tender feelings, the pilot successfully ejects before the plane hits the ground.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJtTYzUIwBQ&feature=related