F-104C "FG-885" (56-0885) TAC, Edwards AFB 1958

F-104C, construction number 183-1173, model 183-93-02, US serial number 56-0885, built by Lockheed
delivered to the USAF on September 22, 1958, September 1958 to AF Flight Test Center (Air Research and Development Command), Edwards AFB, CA
January 1959 to 479th Tactical Fighter Wing (Tactical Air Command), George AFB CA, March 1959 to AF Special Weapons Center (ARDC), Kirtland AFB, NM
on December 14, 1959 Joseph "Joe" B. Jordan reached 103,395.5 feet, he achieved this record on his fifth and last flight of the record series.
For the record flight, he started his zoom at an indicated of Mach 2.353 at 39,575 feet, pulled a maximum of 3.15 G and rotated to a maximum climb angle of 49.5 degrees.
His afterburner blew out at 70,000 ft (indicated), he shut down the engine at 81,700 ft, and he coasted over the top at 54 KIAS
June 1960 to Lockheed Aircraft, Burbank, CA; October 1960 to 479th Tactical Fighter Wing (TAC), George AFB (deployments to Moron AB Spain)
crashed May 9, 1961 in Spain with 476 TFS after losing control of the aircraft due to flight control malfunction (Stabilator hydraulic servo pin fell out)
pilot ejected safely, 52 NM ESE of Moron AB, Spain.

copyright © Chris Baird



On December 14, 1959 Joe Jordan reached 103,395.5 feet in an F-104C. He achieved this record on his last flight of the record series.
Joe's F-104C (56-0885) was modified in the following manner for the record attempt:
- An F-104B tail assembly was installed to increase rudder area.
- A shock cone extension was added to generate an additional oblique shock
- A switch was installed to allow the pilot to open the B-flaps
- A switch was installed to decrease minimum fuel flow from 500 pph to 250 pph
- T2 reset max rpm was reset from 103.5% to 104.5%
- The afterburner fuel control was trimmed to provide 10% higher max fuel flow
- In addition to the modifications, the F-104C's 121 deg. Celsius CIT limit was waived
  the following restrictions were imposed for up to 15 flights:
- Five minutes above 120 deg. Celsius
- Three minutes above 160 deg. Celsius
- Max temperature 199 deg. Celsius