Warbird Information Exchange

F-104s Will Fly From KSC On Pathfinder Test Missions
Sat, 14 Apr '07
Starfighters Assessing Suborbital Space Launch Trajectories
NASA's Kennedy Space Center will host the flight of a privately operated F-104 on April 17, the first in a series of "pathfinder" test missions from the space shuttle runway.
Starfighters Inc. of Clearwater, FL will perform the flights to help in assessing suborbital space launch trajectories from the Shuttle Landing Facility and possible future commercial space tourism as well as research flights from the facility.
"This is a key step toward expanding routine use of the SLF by non-NASA flight projects, including commercial suborbital and orbital space launch vehicles," said KSC Director Bill Parsons.
NASA and Starfighters Inc. have signed a cooperative Space Act Agreement to enable the company's F-104 aircraft to fly simulated suborbital flight missions from the SLF 15,000-foot runway. The purpose of the flights is to gather data to support NASA's assessment of expanding uses of the SLF, according to the KSC.
The first two flights scheduled for April 17 and both will generate test data to validate sonic boom assumptions about the potential impacts of suborbital and orbital commercial spaceflight from the SLF. NASA is assessing the environmental impact of such flights.
The first flight will take off to the north following the projected flight path for suborbital vehicles which may launch horizontally. It will then turn east and head out over the Atlantic. The altitude and distance will mirror vehicles accelerating on a suborbital parabolic trajectory will break the sound barrier.
Any discernible sonic boom noise will be recorded at several ground stations dotting the coast, to assess the noise impact of such flights.
The next test flights will investigate communications and telemetry systems, and validate operating procedures for future suborbital missions and related training flights.
The agreement between NASA and Starfighters is the latest in a series of projects that have been conducted at the SLF since late 2005 to examine other potential uses for the shuttle runway. NASA's role is limited to serving as the host site.
Any non-governmental aircraft using the SLF operate in accordance with applicable Federal Aviation Administration rules and procedures.

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http://silverplate1945.smugmug.com/AVIATION

Woo Hoo! Just goes to show the ol' Missile with a Man it It" is still useful! Congrats to the guys at Starfighters, Inc.!!

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Bob

It's neat to see the old Starfighters being put to work, but I'm curious if the 104's have some special characteristics that make them ideal for this mission or maybe NASA can't just go out and borrow any high performance aircraft they need from the Air Force or Navy.

Elwyn, NASA can get just about anything they want. They have flown the SR-71, F-106s, they have over twenty souped up T-38s here in Houston alone. They currently operate at one F-18 out at Edwards.

NASA currently flys the only two WB-57s left flying in the world, and I understand that they have done some amazing work in Afghanistan with them that might lead to the USAF funding NASA to regenerate a 3rd.

The most reasonable reason is that Rick currently has the F-104s in Florida and he can do the proper supersonsonic profile they need. NASA has also realized that they can contract Starfighters a lot cheaper than they can generate a similar aircraft in house. This is especially true if they are only talking about a few flights.

Flying coffin! werent they?

I love the F-104. I saw the NASA birds at Oshkosh a few years back. They had the F-104, F-18, and a U-2 there.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Wow, great news! When one gets down this is the type of positive thing to brighten up ones day. Can't tell you how happy I am right now. The F-104 is one of my favorite jets...ummm, rocket.

Good news - as long as they don't push these birds too hard.

My priority for the F-104 right now is to see The Starfighters team fly in their new 3-jet formation this year. Hopefully at Andrews next month??

OH! Dont get me started!

I had a chance to see the two ship team one year in Mass. and i loved it!

Why isn't there more Vietnam-era jet aircraft flying? I know about the fact that there more complicated than compared to a WWII fighter but is there another reason?

F-4D, F-84, F-8, F-100, F-102, F-106, F-4, F-104 Take to the skies once more!

The 104s are supposed to fly out of Kennedy tomorrow.