916 Starfighter

CF-104D N104RB "Starfighters" showing top view 2015

CF-104D, construction number 5302, serial number 104632, built by Canadair
CF-104 "N104RB"
Build for the Canadian Armed Forces this Starfighter was received on May 1, 1962 and flew with the Canadians until May 23, 1973.
Sold to Norway April 14, 1973 it was taken into service by the Norwegian Air Force as CF-104D 4632 on September 14, 1973. Withdrawn from service on November 19, 1982 and stored at Flesland AB, Norway.
The aircraft was sold to the company Northern Light in the USA in 1988. In 1988 it was seen in the USA still wearing the green Norwegian colors but already wearing the new civil registration "N104NL" (Northern Light).
The aircraft was polished to bare metal and made its first civil flight on May 16, 1989 at Mojave Apt. Soon after the aircraft received its famous light blue-overall Northern Light colors. In June 1993 it was grounded (FAA) and put for sale.
In 1994 it was sold to Thunderbird Aviation, Deer Valley which used the aircraft later on for specific contract work (US Navy included). The aircraft received a new registration "N166TB" (Thunder Bird) and was painted blue grey/white.
After a while Thunderbird Aviation was willing to sell the aircraft and by that time it was bought by Rick Svetkoff (January 1996) for his planned Starfighter demonstration team.
At that moment the aircraft was not fly worthy and was brought over to St Petersburg where it arrived in February 1996. In October 1996 the first taxi-runs were executed and soon after the aircraft was flown again.
The first flight was made from Montgomery Alabama. Late 1997/early 1998 the aircraft received its bright blue-white STARFIGHTERS color scheme.
The N166TB registration was changed into "N104RB" in November 1997, not to remember the famous "Red Baron" Starfighter but just to have 104 again in the registration together with the initials of Rick and his wife Brenda.
Rick Svetkoff was flying this two-seater during the demonstrations. Grounded due to missing parts; latest status unknown.