JF-104A NASA "52961"

YF-104A, construction number 1007, US serial number 55-2961, built by Lockheed
ready for delivery April 12, 1956, acceptance by USAF July 31, 1956, delivery date August 21, 1956
NASA 961 arrived on loan at NACA High Speed Flight Station (HSFS) on August 23, 1956
It was re-designated to JF-104A. Used as reaction control system (RCS) test aircraft.
NASA 818 was officially transferred to the NASA somewhere in the 60s when it also received its official NASA registration N818NA.
Put in storage on December 7, 1973. On November 18, 1975 it was officially withdrawn from use.
Pilot Don Mallik delivered the aircraft on November 18, 1975 to Andrews AFB for the Smithsonian Institution National Air & Space Museum in
(Washington DC) for permanent display, 2004 noted; NASA 818 "N818NA" display National Air & Space Museum (NASM), Washington DC; August 2024 noted.

YF-104A specification
Powerplant:
One General Electric J79-GE-3/3A/3B turbojet, 9600 lb.s.t. dry and 14,800 lb.s.t. with afterburning
Performance:
Maximum speed 1037 mph (Mach 2.2) at 50,000 feet
Stalling speed 198 Mph
Initial climb rate 60,395 feet per minute
Service ceiling 64,795 feet
Normal range 730 miles
Maximum range with external drop tanks 1400 miles
Fuel:
Internal fuel capacity was US gallons
maximum fuel capacity with two wingtip tanks and two underwing tanks was 1.638 US gallons
Dimensions:
Wingspan 21 feet 9 inches, length 54 feet 8 inches, height 13 feet 5 inches, wing area 196.1 square feet
Weights:
13,184 pounds empty, 22,614 pounds gross, 25,840 pounds maximum takeoff.
Armament:
Armament consisted of a single 20-mm M61A1 cannon in the fuselage with 725 rounds,
plus a pair of wingtip-mounted AIM-9B Sidewinder infrared homing Air-to-Air missiles.

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