Giving simmers the opportunity to test their jet fighter flying skills, military aircraft developer Sim Skunk Works has released its rendition of the famous Lockheed F-104 Starfighter aircraft for MSFS.
The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was a single-engine, supersonic interceptor aircraft which saw major deployments as a fighter-bomber during the Cold War era. The plane was initially developed based upon airmen stationed in South Korea requesting a lightweight, simple aircraft with exceptional performance capable of keeping up and surpassing that demonstrated by the then supreme Mig-15 fighter aircraft. After initial studies, a new fighter concept was presented by Lockheed to the U.S. Air Force in 1952, with the first prototype having taken to the sky from Edwards Air Force Base on March 4th, 1954.
Even though development took place quickly, the first combat-ready F-104A aircraft only entered service with the 83rd Fighter Intercept Wing on January 28th, 1958. The F-104 subsequently suffered from substantial demand by foreign Air Forces, including the German Air Force, for which a different version of the airframe called the F-104G “Super Starfighter” was designed. For this, the original Starfighter was subjected to a complete redesign of the airframe, equipped with a more powerful engine and a larger tail, among other modifications. Overall, more than 2’500 examples of the aircraft were built, with the last retired only in 2004 by the Italian Air Force.
Well-known military aircraft developer Sim Skunk Works has released its rendition of this well-known fighter jet for MSFS users to take supersonic. The product features a highly-detailed model with a fully-animated cockpit and external model. According to the developer, the aircraft comes included with a completely accurate and faithful recreation of both its systems and flight dynamics, tested by former F-104 Starfighter pilots. Finally, the product also features a custom-coded NASARR R-15 combat system featuring both A/A and A/G modes, and a custom sound set developed using live recordings inside and outside the aircraft.
Sim Skunk Works’ rendition of the F-104 Starfighter can now be added to your collection by visiting the simMarket online store, with the purchase setting you back €20.00 E.x. VAT.
Feature List
- Highly detailed model, fully animated, both cockpit and fuselage
- Complete 3D-lights systems both internal and external
- Close-to-complete replication of all systems working as in the real thing
- Flight dynamics modelled 99% close to the real aircraft
- Fully functional and close to real NASARR R-15, A/G and A/A mode
- Aerodynamic pitch up, inertia coupling and BLC system reproduced
- Inertial navigator Litton LN-3 fully implemented
- DDI (DYNAMIC DRAG INDEX)
- Custom soundset
- Numerous multinational liveries
- Custom paint kit available
