CANADA'S STARFIGHTERS FROM NUCLEAR TO CONVENTIONAL BOMBERS

摘要

The United States Air Force never operated the F-104G Starfighter in squadron service, but Lockheed did a superb sales promotion in selling this variant to other countries. Germany was the first to commit, followed by Canada on July 2,1959 to replace the F-86 Sabre. The Starfighter was originally referred to as the CF-111, but this was changed before it entered service to the more appropriate CF-104. Competition for the selection had involved the F-105 Thunderchief, Draken, F-4 Phantom Ⅱ, Mirage ⅢC, Buccaneer, Northrop N-156 (F-5A), Super Tiger and G.91. The F-105 was the RCAF's first choice but the costs of building the Thunderchief in Canada eliminated it from contention. The Mirage lacked the strike (nuclear)-reconnaissance capability of the F-104, the Buccaneer and the G.91 were deemed too slow, the N-156 had not yet flown and the Super Tiger had been cancelled by the US Navy.