[Jet Collector]

Originally Posted by William

We are distributing it worldwide with a limited run of 1,000pcs.

We finally decide to add the "Vicon Pod" with no extra cost to the customers. Yes, adding it for the "701".

Outstanding News!


Just Pre-Ordered!

[Rush104]

How long was the VICON pod carried by the CF-104? Was it for the duration that the plane was in service, or was it phased out earlier?

[smartd]

Originally Posted by Rush104

How long was the VICON pod carried by the CF-104? Was it for the duration that the plane was in service, or was it phased out earlier?

In 1972, 1 Air Div was redesignated 1 Canadian Air Group with headquarters at Baden-Soellingen Lahr was closed, and Nos. 422, 427, and 430 Squadrons were disbanded. Nos. 439 and 441 replaced all but 421 Squadron in Nos 3 and 4 Wings at Baden. Of the remaining three squadrons, 421 was committed to converting to ground attack roles, together with No. 431 Squadron, leaving only No. 441 Squadron to continue tactical reconnaissance missions with the Vinten VICON under fuselage camera pod. They disbanded at Baden-Soellingen in March 1986

[ACpilot]

The article on RCAF.com has a few errors.

Actually it was 439 Squadron that continued on in the Tactical Reconnaissance role after 421 and 441 Squadron converted to conventional ground attack roles.

431 Squadron never operated the CF-104 and are now famous as the Squadron of the Snowbirds Air Demonstration Team.

Here is the complete history (http://www.visiteuropeonline.com/zwe...nadianafb.htm)

Picture is of a 439 Squadron Tiger Meet Aircraft (Actually the previous Hobby Master CF-104 release) with the Vicon Pod.


Beginning in December of 1962, the RCAF used its CF-104s to equip eight European-based squadrons of its No. 1 Air Division. Other CF-104s were assigned to the No. 6 Strike/Reconnaissance OTU based at Cold Lake, Alberta. Apart from the operational conversion unit established at Cold Lake, Alberta in late 1961 (eventually redesignated No 417 Squadron), RCAF CF-104s were all committed to the support of NATO's nuclear deterrent mission in Europe.

No. 427 Squadron was the first to form, with initial deliveries to 3 Wing at Zweibrucken, Germany in December of 1962. 434 Squadron joined 427 in April of 1963. 444 and 422 Squadrons were formed at 4 Wing in Baden-Soellingen, Germany in May and July, respectively, of 1963. 430 and 421 Squadrons initially proceeded to 2 Wing at Grostonquin, France in September and December, respectively, of 1963; however in February of 1964, even before France withdrew from NATO in 1966, 2 Wing was disbanded, and its two CF-104 squadrons were transferred elsewhere with No 421 moving to 4 Wing and No. 430 moving to 3 Wing. The two photo-reconnaissance Squadrons, 441 and 439 were formed at 1 Wing in Marville, France in January and March, respectively, of 1964. Marville was closed by March of 1967 and its two CF-104 squadrons moved to Lahr, Germany. No's 434 and 444 Squadrons were disbanded in 1967-68, reducing CF-104 strength to four nuclear strike squadrons and two tactical reconnaissance squadrons.

In May of 1969, 3 Wing at Zweibrucken was closed, and No 427 Squadron was relocated to Baden and No 430 to Lahr.

In 1970, the Canadian government decided to reduce the strength of the Air Division to only three squadrons and to relinquish its nuclear strike role in favour of conventional attack. 1 Air Division was redesignated 1 Canadian Air Group. 422, 427, and 430 Squadrons were disbanded. 439 and 441 Squadrons replaced all but 421 Squadron in 4 Wing at Baden. Of the remaining three squadrons, 421 and 441 were committed to converting to ground attack roles, leaving 439 Squadron to continue tactical reconnaissance missions. 417 Squadron at Cold Lake continued as a CF-104 Operational Training Unit.

CF-104 Air operations at Lahr ceased in 1970, when it became a Canadian Army base, but 1 Canadian Air Group Headquarters remained there, co-located with the Canadian Forces Europe Headquarters. The airfield at Lahr remained operational for air transport operations as well as being a deployment base for the CF-104s from Baden-Soellingen.

By January of 1972, the CF-104s had all been converted from their nuclear and reconnaissance roles to that of conventional ground attack. A 20-mm Vulcan cannon was installed, and the fairing was removed from the cannon port. Twin bomb ejector rack carriers and multi-tube rocket launchers were installed.

A number of former Canadian Forces single-seat CF-104 fighter-bombers and CF-104D two-seat trainers were transferred to Denmark and Norway after having been brought up to F-104G/TF-104G standards.

By 1983, all single-seat CF-104s had been modified with the Litton LW-33 digital intertial navigation/attack system, which replaced the original LN-3 analog inertial navigation system. The LW-33 was much more accurate and less expensive to maintain than was the earlier LN-3. In addition, the LW-33 had an attack function.

Beginning in 1983, the CF-104 Starfighters were replaced in Canadian Armed Forces service by McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornets. No. 441 Squadron phased out the last CF-104 on March 1, 1986. Canada then offered Turkey an initial batch of 20 CF-104s; later increased to 52, including six CF-104Ds. Twenty of these were sent to MBB at Manching in Germany in March of 1986 for inspection before being transferred to Turkey. The remainder were broken down for spares.

About 110 CF-104/CF-104Ds were lost in accidents, out of 239 delivered - a loss rate of no less than 46 percent. However, it is only fair to point out that the Canadian CF-104s probably had the highest-flying time of any country operating the Starfighter. At the time of retirement, average airframe times were in the order of 6000 hours as compared to 2000 hours for the Luftwaffe.

[fileasfog]

That was very interesting. But I'm wondering what a canadian army base was doing in Germany in the 70's and what conflicts these planes were involved in?

[JustPlaneNuttz]

Originally Posted by William

We are distributing it worldwide with a limited run of 1,000pcs.

We finally decide to add the "Vicon Pod" with no extra cost to the customers. Yes, adding it for the "701".

Thank you! This is such GREAT news!!!! This model will sell-out like hot cakes!!

JPN

[ACpilot]

Originally Posted by fileasfog

That was very interesting. But I'm wondering what a canadian army base was doing in Germany in the 70's and what conflicts these planes were involved in?

The Canadian Army as part of the country's commitment to N.A.T.O. stationed a Brigade (later a reduced Brigade Group) in Germany from the early 1950s until after the end of the Cold War when it was withdrawn in 1995.

When the Canadian Government (Under Pierre Trudeau - a known socialist) decided to cut the entire commitment in half - the CF-104 squadrons at Lahr were disbanded. Lahr was then left to the Canadian Army to occupy when
the Army was withdrawn from being committed to operate with the British Army of the Rhine (B.A.O.R.) also in Germany. Thus you had the army stationed on an airfield.

No CF-104 ever fired a shot in anger during it's entire 25 year career with the RCAF/CAF.

As part of Canada's commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty countries the CF-104 was a deterrent to the Soviets and Warsaw Pact. It symbolized the fact that Canada and all countries of the Western Alliance were willing to stand together and defend one another against any threat of Communist aggression during that era.

Dan

[fileasfog]

Very interesting thank you Dan!