RichB
Well-known member
Growing up around CFB Cold Lake, the sights and sounds of the CF-104 were all too familiar. Whether it was the sight of the slim fuselage and vestigial wings, the ubiquitous smoke trail or the mournful howl of a J-79 during a nighttime -30[sup]0[/sup] engine run, it will never be forgotten.
It was one of the types my Dad worked on during his 30 year RCAF/CAF career. As a fledgling Instrumentation Designer at AETE, the CF-104 was the first aircraft I worked on. I spent the better part of an afternoon in the ammunition bay measuring it for a test equipment installation.
So, starting with the 1/48 Hasegawa JASDF F-104DJ and some Leading Edge Decals,
we will hopefully end up with CF104646 as she was near the end of her career with AETE.
She was built at Lockheed in Palmdale, Ca and TOS by the RCAF on 18 Mar 1963 as 12646. Her first assignment was with No. 6 Strike/Reconnaissance OTU at RCAF Station Cold Lake. She later transferred to 448 (Test) Squadron also at Cold Lake. With CF unification, she was renumbered as 104646 in July 1970 while on strength at AETE. Her last missions at AETE were as a chase plane during CF-188 testing in 1983. She was to have retired earlier, but the CF-104 was the only aircraft in the CAF with the speed to operate as a photo/safety chase for CF-188 testing in the high-speed regime. Once completing her duties, she was to be the last CF operated Starfighter to fly in Canada when ferried from Cold Lake to Trenton and retirement from active duty on 17 Oct 1983. She was recalled to service as an instructional airframe before being transferred to the National Air Force Museum in Trenton in 1995 and final retirement.
Cheers,
Rich
It was one of the types my Dad worked on during his 30 year RCAF/CAF career. As a fledgling Instrumentation Designer at AETE, the CF-104 was the first aircraft I worked on. I spent the better part of an afternoon in the ammunition bay measuring it for a test equipment installation.
So, starting with the 1/48 Hasegawa JASDF F-104DJ and some Leading Edge Decals,
we will hopefully end up with CF104646 as she was near the end of her career with AETE.
She was built at Lockheed in Palmdale, Ca and TOS by the RCAF on 18 Mar 1963 as 12646. Her first assignment was with No. 6 Strike/Reconnaissance OTU at RCAF Station Cold Lake. She later transferred to 448 (Test) Squadron also at Cold Lake. With CF unification, she was renumbered as 104646 in July 1970 while on strength at AETE. Her last missions at AETE were as a chase plane during CF-188 testing in 1983. She was to have retired earlier, but the CF-104 was the only aircraft in the CAF with the speed to operate as a photo/safety chase for CF-188 testing in the high-speed regime. Once completing her duties, she was to be the last CF operated Starfighter to fly in Canada when ferried from Cold Lake to Trenton and retirement from active duty on 17 Oct 1983. She was recalled to service as an instructional airframe before being transferred to the National Air Force Museum in Trenton in 1995 and final retirement.
Cheers,
Rich
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