{"product_id":"hobby-master-1-72-cf-104-ha1011","title":"Hobby Master HA1011 1:72 CF-104 12701 \"Special Chromed Finish","description":"\u003cp\u003eHobby Master HA1011 1:72 CF-104 12701 \"Special Chromed Finish\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe RCAF received their first CF-104 in March 1962. Although originally designed as a\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003esupersonic interceptor the Canadian Air Force used it primarily for low level strike and\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003ereconnaissance. The Canadian version of the F-104 was capable of carrying a ventral\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003emounted Vinten Vicon pod with 4 cameras inside for reconnaissance picture taking.\u003cbr\u003eOn September 4, 1963 number 12900 was the 200th and final CF-104 produced and\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003eentered service on January 10, 1964. The CF-104 retired from service in 1985 when it\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003ewas replaced by the CF-18 Hornet. Over the 25 years of active service 110 aircraft were lost to accidents earning it nicknames like “Widow Maker” and “Lawn Dart”. The RCAF CF-104 probably had the most flying time of any variant with an average of 6,000 hours per plane over their life time compared to the Luftwaffe’s 3,000 hours.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLooking for a supersonic replacement for the RCAF aging Sabre Mk. 6 the Canadian\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003eGovernment chose the Lockheed F-104. This never was the choice of the Air Force but it was a decision based more on economics and politics. It was decided that Canadair\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003ewould build the Canadian version under contract. Originally designated CL-90 the aircraft finally became the CF-104. In the spring of 1961 the first Canadian-built CF-104 serial number 12701 was airlifted to Palmdale, California where on May 26, Lockheed Test Pilot Ed Brown performed its maiden flight. The Canadair number for this Aircraft was 683a- 1001, the RCAF serial number was 12701 but in July 1970 renumbered as 104701. In 1967 aircraft 12701 was one of 5 aircraft sent to the Central Experimental and Proving Establishment (CEPE) located at Cold Lake Alberta Canada. These aircraft were used for evaluations and flight trials of all the aircraft modifications, systems and armaments. Why this aircraft wasn’t preserved is unknown to me but in 1985, possibly after being cannibalized, it was struck off the inventory list and later scrapped.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hobby Master","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43319006953699,"sku":"12140","price":199.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0632\/5000\/6243\/products\/hobby-master-ha1011-172-cf-104-12701-special-chromed-finish-592678.jpg?v=1748159294","url":"https:\/\/www.mtsaviationmodels.com\/de\/products\/hobby-master-1-72-cf-104-ha1011","provider":"MTS Aviation Models","version":"1.0","type":"link"}