The Starfighter Serials

d/d 29aug57, General Electric (aug57-mar58), AFFTC (mar58-mar62), General Electric (mar62-oct63) AFFTC (may64-jul69), MASDC (feb70-oct71), North America Eagle speedcar project Ed Shadle and Keith Zanghi.

Detailed history :
The initial assembly of 56-763 was finished on July 18th, 1957 and accepted by the US Air Force on August 26th, 1957. Three days later (August 29th) it was delivered directly to the General Electric test-site at Edwards Air Force Base. With this testgroup it was used for testing the J79-7 engine until March 1958 when it was given to the AFFTC at Edwards. In March 1962 it returned back with General Electric for accelerated service tests on the J79-3B engine version. The aircraft got dayglow areas painted and also nickname "Queenie II" replacing the former General Electric Starfighter 55-2969.
This testperiod ended in October 1963. After (likely) Lockheed IRAN or maintenance activities the aircraft was assigned to the AFFTC at Edwards AB on May 1st, 1964. It became one of the main chase aircraft within the X-15 rocket aircraft program and was flown between June 1964 and September 1968 on various chaseflights. Testpilots flying the aircraft in that period included the wellknown X-15 pilot Scott Crossfield and Bill Dana.
After the X-15 program the aircraft stayed with the AFFTC until January 1970 when it was destined to be put in storage at Davis Monthan AB. At this MASDC storage center it arrived February 2nd receiving code “FB039”. The aircraft was dropped from the inventory list on October 22nd, 1971 and sold to the Davis Monthan located salvation company DELCON.
They got the aircraft in January 1974 and did not scrap the fuselage but sold it to Consolidated Aircraft in California (lateron the company renamed to United Aerospace). This company used the fuselage for their fabrication of NATO Starfighter spare-parts when they needed a reference body. It was seen at the companies junk yard in May 1992 and eventually sold to Jet Tech systems in Bangor, Maine in September 1996. It arrived in Bangor on October 13th,1997.
In 1998 the fuselage was sold to Ed Shadle who was looking for an F-104 for his North American Eagle race-car project. The fuselage was brought over to the state Washington and was modified into the racing car with lots of high tech changes and equipment. It also got a J79 engine which was tuned to rate about 20 percent more thrust then the original version. The main goal of the team is to reach the 800 Miles per hour. More information about the team, their Starfighter “car” and their status can be found on their wonderful website “www.landspeed.com”.

Accident Reports:

This aircraft never encountered any accident during its entire operational career.

This photo shows General Electric J79 testteam in front of F-104A 56-763 taken at Edwards Air Force Base on October 19th, 1963. The aircraft had a dayglow-orange tail and an dayglow orange painted door behind the cockpit. People on the photo are: On top from left to right: Jack Oslund, unknown, Bob Smith, Charlie Jackals, Dale McGeehe, unknown, Jerry Sterk. And bottom from left to right : Craig Markley, Russ Larson, Ned Colman, Hollis Spears, Ray Barth, Troy Taylor, Ray Billings. (Photo David Markley collection).

This photo shows F-104A 56-763 in flight during a test mission in 1963. (Photo David Markley collection).

A wonderful photo taken at the Edwards AB platform. It shows that testing also went on, even during snowy circumstances. This shows a scenery with original General Electic Flight Test trucks. (Photo David Markley collection).

The 56-763 received nickname "Queenie II" after it replaced the 55-2969 which was named "Queenie". Also the three playing cards on the nose of 55-2969 had been repainted on this Starfighter. (Jason Chapman, General Electric)

This photo shows F-104A 56-763 in color, while taking off from Edwards Air Force Base. The colorscheme was eye catching, even the dayglow orange was applied on the forward parts of the tiptanks. (Photo David Markley collection).

Between June 1964 and September 1968 the F-104A 56-763 was used as chaseplane for the X-15 program. Here it is seen while chasing the X-15 while landing on the Edwards dry lake. (Photo NASA)

After the X-15 test period the F-104A 56-763 was used at Edwards for various test flights. Here it is seen taxying at Edwards Air Force Base in 1969. The "0" in front of its tail applied serial "60763" means that the aircraft is more then 10 years in service after it was manufactured (Photo International F-104 Society).

This photo was taken in March 1970 when the aircraft was stored at Davis Monthan Air Base. On the nose the storage code "FB039" can be seen. (Photo: International F-104 Society)

This photo was taken at the United Aerospace junk yard in California where it was found in May 1992. (Photo Steve Alex).

Two photos showing F-104A 56-763 in Bangor, Maine after it had arrived in Autumn 1997. The fuselage had been suffering a lot since its storage time at Davis Monthan Air Base 18 years earlier. (Photo : Steve Alex).

Now the 56-763 looks awsome!!! It became an ultimate race car named "North American Eagle". (click on the photo for a bigger picture. (Photo COE and thanks to the North American Eagle team - www.landspeed.com).

Footnote: We want to thank David Markley for sharing all the General Electric related material which he got from his late father Craig Markley. Craig Markley worked for General Electric between September 1957 and November 1963. He was Aircraft Crew Chief, Director of work performed on Flight Test Aircraft. He was nterface with test engineering for scheduling of modification on the instrumentation, engine, aircraft and flight envelope. Testing of the engine in both the test cell and airframe. Assist the project engineer and instrumentation engineer with the design and fabrication of instrumentation components and wiring for data acquisition. He did the necessary paperwork to conform with GE and USAF requirements. Order and supervise the replacement of parts to maintain the aircraft in a flying status. To brief USAF pilots in the emergency procedures and problem symptoms of the J-79-GE-3 jet engine.
We also thank Jason Chapman (historian at GE's Flight Test Center) for providing valuable historical information and also the North American Eagle race team for their help..