No-fly zone: Restored Cold War fighter jet that once topped speeds of 1,382mph for sale – as a garden ornament
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:55 PM on 18th August 2011
In its heyday it was the fastest jet on the planet, topping speeds of 1,382mph, and cost $1.42million to build.
Now however, the speed and price have diminished somewhat.
This restored F-104 ‘Starfighter’ is up for sale for £25,000 – because it does not have an engine and is not airworthy.
Jet Art Aviation, based in North Yorkshire, took just four weeks to renovate the Cold War jet, which retired from service in 1987.
Perfectly restored: Once the fastest vehicle on the planet this F-104 ‘Starfighter’ is up for sale for £25,000
Once the pride and joy of the US Airforce, Starfighters could climb 48,000ft in just a minute.
First entering service with the US Air Force in 1958, it was deployed to West Germany at the height of the Cold War.
Chris Wilson, 33, of Jet Art Aviation, is hoping the price of the first plane to ever reach MACH 2 will skyrocket even more.
‘This aircraft definitely fits our brief of fast and flashy,’ explained Chris. ‘It will be the ultimate garden feature, gate guardian, or museum aircraft.
‘We got this incredible machine into our workshop four weeks ago.
Renovated: Retired from service in 1987, the jet fighter was fully restored in just four weeks by UK-based company, Jet Art Aviation
Impressive: Although the Starfighter is not airworthy it comes with a restored cockpit
‘And we’ve thrown ourselves into making it look just as good as it used to.’
The Starfighter needed speed in case of a Cold War battle against the might of the Russian Soviet forces.
‘This plane is a ex-West German Luftwaffe aircraft that was licence built by Messerschmitt,’ said Chris.
‘In the right hands was capable of ferocious speed and successfully kept the peace patrolling the sky’s of the Cold War Europe.
‘But as well as being massively quick and looking like something from outer space the Starfighter was also highly controversial and was quickly christened – The Widow Maker.
‘The F-104 has very high take off and landing speeds and with such a small wing area staying in control at low air speeds was a fine art.
‘It was called Lawn Dart due to the high number of pilots who lost their lives flying this High Performance jet.’
The F-104 Starfighter of German Airforce, Luftwaffe in July before its renovation in Selby, North Yorkshire
For the The German Luftwaffe suffered losses operating the F-104 with 293 aircraft destroyed in accidents and losing a total of 110 pilots.
This particular Starfighter comes with a restored cockpit, though unfortunately it has no working engine or weapon systems.
But with it’s 21 foot wing-span this war-bird could be one of the world’s most impressive garden ornaments.
‘The aircraft is not airworthy and has no engine or weapon systems,’ said Chris.
‘The cockpit is complete and comes with its very own Martin Baker ejection seat, stick, throttle box and instruments.
‘This beautifully designed aircraft would make a fantastic business promotional tool.
‘Parking a Starfighter outside your business premises would get any business on the map.’
The F-104 fighter jet last saw operational service in the Italian Air Force before being retired in 2004
By: robbieb - 19th August 2011 at 18:31
F-104G Starfighter for sale, £25,000 o.n.o.
Cool looking plane, having seen it when it arrived, and to what she looks like now,great job Chris:)
By: JT442 - 19th August 2011 at 17:32
Its been there for a couple of years. Bloodnok hits the nail on the head – his business is mainly focussed around the high quality finish of the smaller components (which again are VERY expensive), but do sell well.
By: J31/32 - 19th August 2011 at 14:37
Nice Harrier for sale on their site:
By: bloodnok - 19th August 2011 at 14:28
Jet Art’s prices rarely seem logical or sensible, but he must be doing something right as he’s still in business.
I think his prices are more aimed at the millionaire who wants something cool or unusual rather than enthusiasts or museums.
By: MIZPAH - 19th August 2011 at 10:34
£25000 for a F-104 is mad.
I wonder how the smaller museums who now have a Nimrod came by £15000-£20000. How much would a regional aviation museum actually take in a year and how much of this might be available for purchasing exhibits?
A museum would need 5000 visitors a year paying £4.00 each just to raise £20000.
Hard to see smaller museums ever being able to add to their collections if the prices on this thread are correct. Prices might be correct, but values cannot be.
By: Sky High - 19th August 2011 at 09:23
Well £10,000 for the nose cone puts £25,000 for a whole plane very much in bargain territory!!:D
Price is only ever determined by supply and demand, so it will be interesting to see if the seller has judged it right.
By: spitfireman - 19th August 2011 at 09:11
Well…..you could buy this if you want to save a bit of cash:rolleyes:
Bargain!!
By: Wyvernfan - 19th August 2011 at 08:12
Thanks for that Kenneth!
By: Kenneth - 19th August 2011 at 08:08
US authorities can only influence disposal of aircraft of this type which were financed/leased/lent to European countries in the Sixties and Seventies under the various aid/assistance treaties in existence at that time.
As far as I know, German F-104G’s were fully financed by the Federal German government and are therefore not subject to any US approval.
Danish F-104’s were partially self-financed and partially US aid aircraft. The latter were passed on to Taiwan while many of the former gravitated to various museums. I think there is even one in the UK.
By: Bruce - 19th August 2011 at 08:06
If you owned it in the first place, and took it to a restorer for a full paint job, and restoration to display standard, I think you’d be surprised at just how much it can cost.
By: Arabella-Cox - 19th August 2011 at 08:02
hope they sorted the intake tunnels and undercarridge legs out as well as the tires all of them were rotten when at brunty
By: Wyvernfan - 19th August 2011 at 07:58
As it was apparently licence built by Messerschmitt and not Lockheed would the US still have a say on its disposal?
By: TonyT - 19th August 2011 at 00:34
To put this 25 grand in context, the Nimrod I am lead to believe were sold for 20 grand with engines, 10 grand without!
By: mantog - 18th August 2011 at 23:40
I know the Yanks get very twitchy over F4’s and F14s seeing as they are still in use by…um..’other’ nations, but didn’t realise the F104 was still a ‘problem’. Surely not? If they wanna get tetchy about stuff, when can we rescind rights to let them use British territory under lend-lease 😀
By: bravo24 - 18th August 2011 at 23:24
Please talk us all through your understanding of the policy of the USA government in regard to ex USAF or US leased airframes being in the hands of UK residents!
I only ask as a very interested observer, I await your comments and advice to all owners of Uncle Sams kit.
By: Firebex - 18th August 2011 at 19:50
Seriously £25000 for 4 tonnes of aluminium? No engine….. What is the world coming to? I can get AIRWORTHY aircraft for less than that….
I could get three airworthy aircraft for that !!!!:diablo::diablo::diablo::diablo:
It would be cheap at less than half the price but unfortunately it aint going for less than half the price:diablo::diablo::diablo:
It must have gold plated ballastthat would explain it John ?????
Anyone want a flying flea for 10K all genuine honest boss !!!!!.One carefull owner from new :D:D:D:D:D:D:D
Sorry being flippant again !!!!!!!! but I can think of a lot of aircraft I would prefer to invest 25k in and a widow maker aint one of them,in fact I am surprised its even hit the market .I thought they where on the old restricted resale policy like the sabres etc like a lend lease job when finished with they went back to the USA or at least uncle sam had the final word on what happens to them ?.
Or has things changed since I went into hibernation and that time slip back to ww2 ?.
Tally Ho Bandits at 3 o’clock !!!!!!!!!
By: trumper - 18th August 2011 at 19:32
Sounds like a quick paint job. Nice though, previously if you wanted one in your garden you needed to move to Germany, sooner or later one would have dropped in…..
ROFL 😀
By: JT442 - 18th August 2011 at 19:32
Seriously £25000 for 4 tonnes of aluminium? No engine….. What is the world coming to? I can get AIRWORTHY aircraft for less than that….
By: ZRX61 - 18th August 2011 at 19:31
Fully restored in 4 weeks? BWUHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
By: Arabella-Cox - 18th August 2011 at 19:29
Nice though, previously if you wanted one in your garden you needed to move to Germany, sooner or later one would have dropped in…..
Harsh…but fair! :diablo:
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August 18, 2011 at 6:17 pm