F-104A "FG-790" Lockheed test aircraft modified for F-104G system tests 1960 with a modified U-2 nose

F-104A, construction number 183-1078, model 183-93-02, US serial number 56-0790, built by Lockheed
delivery date 1958; AFFTC/ARDC May 1958-March 1959
leased by Lockheed and modified 1959 to F-104G configuration (2nd prototype F-104G) for system tests and nuclear weapons shape trials; first flight as F-104G on June 7, 1960, AFFTC support
arrived at NASA FRC on December 27, 1966 as replacement for NASA 813, designated "NASA 820"; last flight and placed in storage at NASA FRC on June 1, 1977, NASA store (1977-October 1983)
Transferred to the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) Museum on April 29, 1985; now on display at USAF Flight Test Center Museum Airpark, Edwards AFB, California, 2003 noted
repainted coded as FG-790, Edwards Air Force Base Open House Static Display October 27, 2006 first noted, January 2007 last noted
display Century Circle coded FG-790 August 1, 2008 noted; November 2023 noted.

34°52'15.79"N 117°59'26.15"W

copyright © USAF



LOCKHEED F-104A(G) 790

F-104A US serial number 56-0790, construction number 1078

2nd prototype F-104 G from the modified F-104 A-20 LO, construction number 1078, US s/n 56-0790.
Leased by Lockheed and modified 1959 to F-104G configuration for system tests and nuclear weapons shape trials.

start of the construction work for the modifications on March 24, 1959
start of the modifications at Burbank end of May 1959
end of the construction work at about April 10, 1960
end of all modifications May 20, 1960
first flight June 07, 1960

The following quality tests were performed:

Systems:
- Hydraulic 07.06. - 05.07.60
- Electric 07.06. - 05.07.60
- Pitot static system 15.08. - 30.09.60
- Air-conditioning system 01.07. - 30.09.60
- Flight control system (AFSC) 07.06. - 05.07.60
- Autopilot 20.07. - 15.09.60

Navigation & Communication:
- PHI 05.07. - 30.09.60
- TACAN 05.07. - 30.08.60
- IFF 30.06. - 20.07.60
- UHF 15.07. - 30.07.60

Fire control system:
- NASARR 15.08. - 15.10.60
- Air Data Computer (ADC) 15.08. - 30.09.60
- Inertial Navigation 15.08. - 30.09.60
- Optical Sight 20.06. - 15.09.60
- Infrared Sight 20.06. - 15.09.60
- In-range Computer 15.08. - 30.09.60
- Bomb Timer 15.08. - 30.09.60

All test were completed October 15, 1960

More test flights until July 31, 1961 after additional modifications and several improvements for some specific systems

Sold to NASA as "NASA 820" in December 1966