Lockheed Nf-104A Aerospace Trainer (1962)

Synopsis

Lockheed NF 104A Aerospace Trainer” is a 1962 color film serving as a “progress report” on the aircraft. The Lockheed NF-104A was an American mixed power, high-performance, supersonic aerospace trainer that served as a low-cost astronaut training vehicle for the North American X-15 and projected Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar programs. An NF 104A Starfighter is shown landing at mark 00:33 as the narrator explains how that aircraft was reconfigured and resigned into an aerospace trainer. At Edwards Air Force, test pilots are shown discussing the aircraft beginning at mark 02:10 in preparation for eventual flights of the aerospace trainer. The film continues with the narrator providing detailed, additional facts regarding external and internal modifications of the aircraft. The trainer is shown undergoing a multi-phase inspection of the cockpit starting at mark 06:37, as well as tests of the rocket engines (mark 07:42 ). The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was a single-engine, supersonic interceptor aircraft originally developed by Lockheed for the United States Air Force (USAF). One of the Century Series of fighter aircraft, it was operated by the air forces of more than a dozen nations from 1958 to 2004. Its design team was led by Kelly Johnson, who went on to lead or contribute to the development of the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird and other Lockheed aircraft. Three aircraft were modified from existing Lockheed F-104A airframes, and served with the Aerospace Research Pilots School between…

Uploader's description on archive.org

Details

Running time

8 minutes

Language

English

Collection

Ephemeral Films

Subjects on the Internet Archive

• Stock Footage