NF-104 Starfighter (56-0756) 20oz (590ml) Stainless Steel Tumbler

Sale price$21.99 USD

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NF-104 was a modified F-104 Starfighter with a rocket engine. During the 1960's, in order to acquaint Aerospace Research Pilot School (now the Air Force Test Pilot School) students with some of the techniques of space flight, three F-104s were fitted with 6,000-pound thrust rocket motors and with reaction controls for use beyond the atmosphere.  The NF-104 could be zoom-climbed well above 100,000 feet, where the pilots would experience up to 90 seconds of weightlessness and then be confronted with the problem of reentry.

NF-104 (56-0756) pictured here,  was accepted by the USAF on 1 October 1963. It established a new unofficial altitude record of 118,860 feet (36,230 m) and surpassed this on 6 December 1963 by achieving an altitude of 120,800 feet (36,800 m). The aircraft was damaged in flight June 1963 when a rocket oxidizer vessel exploded. It suffered an inflight rocket motor explosion in June 1971. Although the pilot was able to land safely, the damaged aircraft was retired and this marked the end of the NF-104 project. This aircraft was transferred to the National Museum of the United States Air Force. It is on display at Nevada County Air Park, Grass Valley, California. wearing the markings of "56-0751".