The Starfighter Serials

d/d 25mar58, 337th FIS (mar58-jun60), 151st FIS (jun60-jun62), RoCAF (oct63-oct66), Lockheed (oct66-1967), store ALC (oct67-jun69) to RJordAF 27 July 1969

NOTE:
The F-104B 57-1296 had an interesting career. First after delivery to the USAF on 25 March 1958 it was used by 337 FiS, 151 FiS until it was transferred to Taiwan in October 1963. There it was used with serial "4105" for a number of years and returned to the US in October 1966. It was put on storage at Palmdale (AF Plant 14) until Jordan was interested. It got a full service treatment at Lockheed and Mc Clellan Air Base and went to Jordan on 27 July 1969 receiving serial "901"

Accident Reports:

It never encountered any accident (as far as we know)

	Here the F-104B can be seen while being delivered to the 151st FIS at McGhee Tyson AFB in June 1960. It came directly from 337th FiS at Westover AFB which had been deactivated by the US Air Force. The F-104B is still having downwards ejection seats and the initial canopy frame. It also still wears the markings of 337 FiS and nickname "Double Trouble" on its nose.
	After having spent some operational flying years with the Taiwanese Air Force from October 1963 till October 1966 it arrived back in the US and was subsequently delivered to the Royal Jordanian Air Force. This photo shows the aircraft likely at McClellan ready for delivery to Jordan in 1969.

d/d 17oct63, 8th TFS (oct63-oct66), USAF (19oct66)

NOTE:
This F-104B was transferred to Taiwan in October 1963 under MAP regulations. There it was used with serial "4105" for a number of years and returned to the US in October 1966.

d/d 27jul69, 9th sq (jul69-jul77), wfu 01jul77, to Civil USA 1990 as “N65354”

NOTE:
After being on storage with Lockheed, Palmdale for a while, the Jordan Air Force became interested in obtaining Starfighters. This F-104B was selected as one of the aircraft to be delivered and it got a full service treatment with Lockheed and at Mc Clellan Air Base. After that it went to Jordan on 27 July 1969 receiving serial "901" and some years later 9 squadron sub-code "B". On the first day of July 1977 the aircraft was withdrawn from use and put in storage on the airbase. It has been sleeping there for years and in March 1990 a few Americans from Northern Light Aircraft Corperation came along to inspect the aircraft since they were interested in buying aircraft for civil use in the US. The aircraft was technically still in very mint condition and was brought over to Dannely Field inside a container in October 1990.

Photos of the F-104B "901" code "B" are very rare. Here a photo a few years after it had arrived back in the US. Somehow it shows a bit "sandy" having received lots of desert sand in the Jordan storage period. This photo was taken at Deer Valley on the Thunderbird Aviation flightline around 1995.

Registered "N65354" in 1990 - Northern Light Inc (oct90-dec93), Thunderbird Aviation (apr94-sep95), The Starfighters (sep95-current) now preserved near main hangar "The Starfighters" demo team at Cape Canaveral in demo team colorscheme.

NOTE:
In July 1977 this aircraft was withdrawn from use by the Royal Jordanian AIr Force and put in storage on its homebase. It has been sleeping there for years and in March 1990 a few Americans from Northern Light Aircraft Corperation came along to inspect the aircraft since they were interested in buying aircraft for civil use in the US. The aircraft was technically still in very mint condition and was brought over to Dannely Field inside a container in October 1990. After the company stopped its operations with the F-104 also this stored F-104B was sold with its fleet to Thunderbird Aviation. After a while also this company sold its Starfighter fleet including this F-104B and the new owner became Rick Svetkoff planning to use this aircraft for his demonstration team. Sadly it never became flyworthy again and is now prepared to become a gateguard at the team hangar at Cape Canaveral. Early 2011 it was however still to be found inside the big team hangar... It is not known yet when it will be placed outside.

	Here the F-104B "901" is seen on the Thunderbird Aviation flightline being prepared for delivery to Clearwater Apt.
	In storage at Clearwater inside the big "Starfighters" demo team hangar. When this photo was taken on 19 October 1998 it was still planned to become airworthy again since the team had only 2 aircraft and were interested in making a third one flyable again. The aircraft was 100% complete.
	Lateron in 2008 the team decided to convert the F-104B into a guard at their new operations facility at Cape Canavaral. The aircraft will receive the famous STARFIGHTERS demo colorscheme. Here it is seen already in primer paint during a visit by Roger Seroo in September 2008. The most likely reasons for this decision are the fact that F-104B spareparts are hard to get, the airframe has not flown for more then 30 years and the team is expected additional aircraft in the near future. In September the team stated that this F-104B was still in a very good shape. While putting electric power on the aircraft all systems still worked perfectly!! It is interesting to know that this F-104B with serial 57-1296 has also 1296 flying hours!!!!