NF-104A "60756" 2 ship formation during Edwards Open House on May 26, 1965 F-104A, construction number 183-1044, model 183-93-02, US serial number 56-0756, built by Lockheedavailable July 8, 1957; accepted August 23, 1957; delivery date August 27, 1957; August 1957 to Sacramento Air Materiel Area, McClellan AFB, CA 337 FIS February 1958-May 1958; 56th FIS (Air Defense Command) Wright-Patterson AFB, OH May 1958 June 1958 to AF Special Weapons Center (Air Research and Development Command), Kirtland AFB, NM; November 1958 to Sacramento Air Materiel Area, McClellan AFB January 1959 to Lockheed Aircraft, Burbank; October 1959 to AF Proving Ground Center (ARDC), Eglin AFB, FL; September 1961 to AF Flight Test Center (AF Systems Command), Edwards AFB, CA February 1962 to Lockheed Aircraft, Burbank converted to NF-104A, as well referred to as NF-104 AST (AeroSpace Trainer). The first of three AST made its maiden flight on July 9, 1963, flown by Lockheed test pilot Jack Woodman, assigned to AFSC/TPS on October 1, 1963 suffered rocket oxidizer explosion June 18, 1965, blowing off portion of tail, pilot landed safely, the plane was repaired and flown again. Second explosion June 15, 1971 blew whole rocket motor and part of rudder off in flight at 35.000 feet and Mach 1.15, pilot "Whithey" Tompson landed safely but aircraft was written off. Aircraft was brought over to the boneyard of McClellan AFB. Portions of it used to create the composite "760" sitting on a pole at Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, California November 2024 noted. copyright © Wakana Ando
