February 11, 2006 at 4:01 am
I was reading a book about the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, the book mentioned that the USAF’s attempt to get out of its want (contract commitment) for the F-104 Starfighter in its service, by demanding that it be able to carry and launch the AIR-2A Genie nuclear armed air-to-air rocket. For the USAF thought that the F-104 being a light-weight fighter design would not be able to meet this new challenging demanded of it, and hence justify its reason for curtail its production.
But again Lockheed was to take on and meet this challenging demand, and came up with specialised single-missile launcher that fitted to the centre fuselage hard-point / pylon of the Starfighter that allowed the carrying and launching of this large and heavy nuclear rocket.
Lockheed was said to have carried out many successful tests with the F-104 / Genie combination.
But been beaten at its own game, the USAF decided that this demand was no longer valid, once it had realised that Lockheed’s ‘Rocket with a man in it’ (the Starfight) was ready and willing to meet this new challenge. The USAF would use the Starfighters range limitation as its excuse to drop the F-104 from active front-line service.
Has anyone seen photos of an F-104 Starfighter carrying, let alone launching the AIR-2A Genie rocket?
It would make an interesting picture because of the small size of the Starfighterf and the large size of the AIR-2A Genie
Regards
By: Pioneer - 11th February 2012 at 06:17
Ok now we are rocking!!!
This is a better and extended video of the Starfighter/Genie combo, which encompasses much more interesting information and footage!!!
P.S. The video also has some interesting info and footage on the M61 Vulcan cannon!!!
This video is from the ‘Great Planes’ series of excellent videos
Regards
Pioneer
By: Pioneer - 11th February 2012 at 05:52
You beauty!!!!!
I finally found it, after all this time!!
Unfortunately it has no sound. But one is able to see the ingenuous trapeze- launch system, as well as an actual successful launch of the AIR-2A Genie!!
Regards
Pioneer
By: Route Pack Six - 14th February 2006 at 02:11
Is the Genie really all that heavy? Several places have its weight around 800 lbs.