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Story
April 18, 1956
The Nome Nugget
Nome, Nome County, Alaska
What is this article about?
The Lockheed F-104A Starfighter jet demonstrated speeds over 1,000 mph in Palmdale, Calif., before a large audience, marking the fastest public aircraft flight. Gen. Twining praised it as the fastest fighter. It outpaces previous records but exact speed secret.
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Starfighter Jet
Shows Off Speed
Of Over 1,000 Mph.
By VERN HAUGLAND
PALMDALE, Calif., (AP)—The Lockheed F-104A Starfighter, a missile with a man in it, has flown more than 1,000 miles an hour.
Several hundred persons, including the largest gathering of news writers of its kind on record, witnessed the achievement Monday. It was the fastest an aircraft ever has flown before a sizeable audience.
It was also the first public showing of this dazzling new craft which Gen. Nathan F. Twining, Air Force chief of staff, has called "the fastest and highest flying fighter anywhere in the sky."
The exact speed of the plane remained a secret. Actually, two models were flown—the original XF-104, which was powered by a Curtiss-Wright J-65 engine, and the production model F-104A, which has a lighter and more powerful engine, the G.E. J-79.
A U.S. research plane, the Bell X-1A, has flown 1,650 mph.—twice the speed of sound—but the speed is not an official record, as it was not made over a regulation course.
The official world speed record of 1,132 mph. was set recently in England by Britain's Fairey Delta experimental plane. The old record was 822 mph., held by a North American F-100 jet fighter.
The F-104A was given a Hollywood type unveiling, with a gold curtain concealing part of a hangar rolling back to disclose the gleaming, spotlighted plane.
Gen. Otto P. Weyland, commander of the Tactical Air Command, announced that his command would be the first to receive the new air superiority fighter.
Shows Off Speed
Of Over 1,000 Mph.
By VERN HAUGLAND
PALMDALE, Calif., (AP)—The Lockheed F-104A Starfighter, a missile with a man in it, has flown more than 1,000 miles an hour.
Several hundred persons, including the largest gathering of news writers of its kind on record, witnessed the achievement Monday. It was the fastest an aircraft ever has flown before a sizeable audience.
It was also the first public showing of this dazzling new craft which Gen. Nathan F. Twining, Air Force chief of staff, has called "the fastest and highest flying fighter anywhere in the sky."
The exact speed of the plane remained a secret. Actually, two models were flown—the original XF-104, which was powered by a Curtiss-Wright J-65 engine, and the production model F-104A, which has a lighter and more powerful engine, the G.E. J-79.
A U.S. research plane, the Bell X-1A, has flown 1,650 mph.—twice the speed of sound—but the speed is not an official record, as it was not made over a regulation course.
The official world speed record of 1,132 mph. was set recently in England by Britain's Fairey Delta experimental plane. The old record was 822 mph., held by a North American F-100 jet fighter.
The F-104A was given a Hollywood type unveiling, with a gold curtain concealing part of a hangar rolling back to disclose the gleaming, spotlighted plane.
Gen. Otto P. Weyland, commander of the Tactical Air Command, announced that his command would be the first to receive the new air superiority fighter.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
Extraordinary Event
What themes does it cover?
Triumph
Exploration
What keywords are associated?
Starfighter
Speed Demonstration
Lockheed F 104a
Air Force
Aviation Record
What entities or persons were involved?
Gen. Nathan F. Twining
Gen. Otto P. Weyland
Where did it happen?
Palmdale, Calif.
Story Details
Key Persons
Gen. Nathan F. Twining
Gen. Otto P. Weyland
Location
Palmdale, Calif.
Event Date
Monday
Story Details
The Lockheed F-104A Starfighter flew over 1,000 mph before a large audience in Palmdale, the first public showing of the craft praised by Gen. Twining as the fastest fighter; two models demonstrated, exact speed secret; Tactical Air Command to receive it first.