Starfighters Space to fly F-104 jets at NASA MAX POWER show

Key Highlights

• Starfighters Space will display and fly its F-104 jets at NASA-sponsored MAX POWER.
• The aerospace expo and airshow is scheduled for Nov. 7-8 at Kennedy Space Center.
• Starfighters said its F-104 fleet supports commercial supersonic flight and aerospace testing work.

Starfighters Space Inc. (NYSE American: FJET) said it plans to showcase its F-104 supersonic jets at the inaugural NASA-sponsored MAX POWER aerospace expo and airshow on Nov. 7-8 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The company said it will take part in both flight demonstrations and static aircraft displays.

The company described the F-104 as having a long history of use by NASA and the U.S. Air Force, including training astronauts during the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs and later supporting Space Shuttle-related testing. Starfighters CEO Tim Franta said the company is continuing that legacy by using the aircraft as a platform to test and advance next-generation aerospace technologies.

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Starfighters said an F-104 at the event will be piloted by Piercarlo Ciacchi, its director of flight operations, whom it described as having more than 7,000 hours of flight time. The company said Ciacchi previously flew the F-104 in the Italian Air Force and was a member of Italy’s National Aerobatic Team.

The release also outlined historical performance milestones for the F-104, including records for speed (1,404.9 mph), altitude (103,395 feet) and time-to-climb (ground to 25,000 meters in 266.03 seconds). Starfighters said more than 2,500 F-104s were built beginning in 1954 and that Italy retired its military fleet in 2004, after which Starfighters acquired multiple aircraft and engines from Italy’s retired inventory.

Starfighters said it operates its fleet at Kennedy Space Center in Florida and the Midland International Air & Space Port in Texas, and that its aircraft are used for work including hypersonic system testing, microgravity science, materials testing, and pilot training. The company also said the aircraft are intended to ultimately support air-launch operations for suborbital and small orbital payloads under its STARLAUNCH initiative.

The original press release is available on stockhouse.com