Canadair CF-104D

Canadair · Canada · first flew 1961 · fighter

The Canadair CF-104D was the two-seat operational conversion trainer variant of the Canadian CF-104 Starfighter, built by Canadair to allow Royal Canadian Air Force pilots to transition to the high-performance Mach 2 aircraft.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	16.7 m fuselage
T — Tail	T-tail

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Spot it by:

Canadian-built two-seat Starfighter trainer
Tiny mid-mounted straight stub wings
T-tail with all-moving tailplane

Shares all Starfighter recognition features—tiny straight mid-mounted wings, needle nose, distinctive T-tail—with a slightly longer fuselage and raised rear cockpit canopy distinguishing it from the single-seat CF-104.

Specifications

The Canadair CF-104D has a length of 16.7 m (55 ft).
It has a wingspan of 6.7 m (22 ft).
Its maximum speed is 2330 km/h (1448 mph).
Typical crew: 2 (tandem).

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Canadair produced 200 CF-104 single-seat aircraft and 38 CF-104D two-seat trainers under licence from Lockheed starting in 1961. The CF-104 served the RCAF in the low-level nuclear strike role in NATO Europe, with the CF-104D used for pilot conversion and proficiency training throughout the type's service life.

Variants

The CF-104D corresponds to the Lockheed TF-104G two-seat trainer; it differs from the single-seat CF-104 in the addition of a second cockpit in place of internal fuel, with no gun and reduced radar equipment.

Where you'll see it

Served the Royal Canadian Air Force (later Canadian Armed Forces) from 1961 until the Starfighter was replaced by the CF-18 Hornet in the 1980s; several CF-104s and CF-104Ds survive in Canadian museums.

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