F-104G
Scale: 1/72
Brand: ACADEMY
Item # 1619

The Starfighter was originally designed for the US Air Force as a
pure high speed fighter interceptor. First flight was on 4th
march 1954 at Edwards AFB. By that time most European NATO
Countries were looking for a new standard fighter/fighterbomber
to form the backbone of their Air Forces.

Early designs of the Lockheed model could not really satisfy the
European requirements, which resulted in the modified F-104G
version. The "G" was concepted as low-level capable, high-speed
fighter bomber with in- and egress speeds of up to MACH 2.5.

In 1958 Germany chose the Starfighter to replace the already
outdated F-84 and F-86 versions in use by then. For political
reasons the Marineflieger had to join this decision, though their
demands were quite different.

The German Navy was looking for a two-seat, twin-engined aircraft
to replace the old Seahawks, with the Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer
being their favorite aircraft.