JF-104A "FG-961" (ex YF-104A 55-2961) during reaction control system (RCS) tests, later used on the NF-104s astronauts trainer RCS consisted of 24 inch wingtip extensions to house reaction-control jets serving as ailerons to control roll and nose-mounted jets to control pitch and yaw in the thin air of high altitudes. YF-104A, construction number 183-1007, model 183-93-02, US serial number 55-2961, built by Lockheedready 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; first flight with NACA August 27, 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. Last flight with NASA August 26, 1975. On November 18, 1975 it was officially withdrawn from use.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 (NASM), Washington DC, for permanent display, which was the 1.444 flight of the airframe; July 2023 noted. 19 NACA/NASA pilots flew this airframe, 3 who became astronauts (incl. Neil Armstrong), 7 "X-15" pilots and 6 pilots who flew the various lifting bodies. copyright © Lockheed archive
38°53'17.76"N 77°1'12.92"W
JF-104A 52961 seen with the early NACA logo in 1957 on the Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards AFB
