F-104G “Silver Bird” Restoration Project Near Completion

Image credit by Focus-Starfighter)

SNA 2018 Day 2: FFG(X) designs by G...
SNA 2018 Day 2: FFG(X) designs by GD BIW, TKMS/Atlas NA, Austal, Fincantieri

Image credit by Focus-Starfighter)
Image credit by Focus-Starfighter)

The restoration project called  ” Silver Bird ” is near completion.  The aircraft was a gate guardian at the old Memmingen Air Base until 2011, the new plans have this aircraft to be erected near the new Memmingen airport. The aircraft is built by Fokker KG-258, and during its service with the Luftwaffe it was marked as  24 +17. However the new paint scheme will be different from the mid-80’s NATO camouflage in fact a ” white aluminum ” and the markings 23+34 will be applied.

The Luftwaffe was the primary user of the Starfighter, operating over thirty-five percent of all F-104s built. Luftwaffe F-104Gs came from all five production lines of the Starfighter consortium. The West German Luftwaffe received a total of 915 Starfighters (30 F-104Fs, 96 F-104Gs, and 136 TF-104Gs from Lockheed, 255 F/RF-104Gs from the North Group, 210 F-104Gs from the South Group, 88 F-104Gs from the West Group, 50 F/RF-104Gs from the Italian Group, plus 50 replacement F-104Gs from MBB to replace some of those lost in crashes).

At their peak in the mid-1970s, Starfighters equipped five nuclear-armed Luftwaffe fighter-bomber wings, two interceptor wings, and two reconnaissance wings. In addition, two attack wings of the Marineflieger (Federal German Navy) were equipped with Starfighters.

This restoration project took almost two years and 300 men hours to complete. For more info about the F-104 “Silver Bird” click HERE.

 

 

Be the first to comment

Graphic Design, Branding and Aviation Art

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*