F-104 Flight Training from Kennedy Space Center
$ 34.000 for a 3-day training program, including flight.
The course covers the fundamentals of flying the legendary F-104 Starfighter.
Fly a supersonic Starfighter
Nicknamed “The Missile with a Man in it” thanks to its radical design, you will be flying a real legend. Brigadier General Chuck Yeager – the first human to break the sound barrier and a legend himself – famously displayed a record-breaking ascent in a rocket-assisted F-104, climbing to the Edge of Space at more than 118,000 feet (34km). The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter has an extremely radical, very fascinating design. Its sharp-as-a-dagger, razor-thin, tiny wings are attached to the very lean, cigarette-shaped fuselage very far in the back. Being the first production aircraft to fly at Mach 2, the Starfighter was also the first to hold airspeed, altitude, and time-to-climb records simultaneously.
A Skunk Work masterpiece
The legendary engineer Clarence L. “Kelly” Johnson – the founder of Lockheed’s Skunk Works – was the father of the F-104 Starfighter. Skunk Works, that is an official pseudonym for Lockheed/Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Development Programs (ADP). It is also responsible for the development of such famous aircraft like the P-38 Lightning and P-80 Shooting Star, the U-2 Dragon Lady, the SR-71 Blackbird, and the stealth aircraft F-117 Nighthawk, F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. Kelly Johnson came up with the concept for the Starfighter after asking US fighter pilots during the Korean War about what they were looking for in a fighter jet. The pilots were requesting a smaller, simpler aircraft, much faster fighter aircraft with excellent performance and high-altitude capabilities. At that time, they felt like the Soviet MiG-15s were superior to what they currently had. As an answer, the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was created.
Your Starfighter Flight training
When arriving at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center – where the Starfighters are located – you’ll meet your pilot. After the reception, you will go to the training facilities. For 2 days, you learn the fundamentals of flying the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter. This limited-access flight training is designed to enhance confidence and flight safety for pilots. That happens through comprehensive ground training sessions and back-seat flight operations in the controlled airspace above NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
If the weather is fine, on the 2nd day around noon, you will be ready for your 35-50-minute training flight in the F-104 Starfighter.
After landing, you can take a souvenir photo with the pilot and the aircraft and you will receive a certificate that records your flight achievement. Afterward, you can refresh yourself with a drink or a toast to your fantastic adventure. A flight video of your adventure is included.
We recommend planning for an extra day – in case the weather is bad. You can do additional flights at a lower cost on day 3 or 4. It is possible to fly in with your own aircraft and land directly at the Shuttle Landing Facility.
What is requested to fly a F-104 Starfighter?
Currently, F-104 Starfighter Flights in Florida are under a September 2017 Letter of Deviation Authority (LODA) from the FAA. That means that F-104 flight training can be offered to qualified, licensed pilots. This limited-access training is designed to enhance confidence and flight safety to pilots, through comprehensive ground training sessions and back-seat flight operations. The flight in the Starfighter is in the controlled airspace above NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The basic requirements are:
- Private pilot’s license (PPL) or a CPL – non-US pilots can fly too, but more head time is required
- Valid flight medical
- Height and weight limitations: 245lbs (110kg), 6’5″ (201cm), Chest 52″ (132cm), Waist 48″ (122cm)
- 18 years of age
- Must qualify for access badging to NASA Kennedy Space Center
- Must sign a release-of-liability agreement
Location
Testimonials – What our clients say
Amazing day!!! I flew the L-39 out of California and it was perfect. The pilot was very experienced, knowledgable and friendly. The jet was immaculate and beautiful. You could see that he keeps it perfectly maintained. We had total confidence in everything before taking off. The flight was AWESOME. Lifelong dream and it was everything I had hoped for. The pilot is an instructor so I got to fly a lot and learn rolls. It was truly perfect.
Amazing is the only word that describes the ride. I flew out of Van Nuys, Los Angeles, CA. Our pilot William spent a lot of time explaining the flight, the cockpit and the stunts. He made certain I was going to get out of the flight what I wanted. And man did he deliver! Top of my Bucket list was met many times over. Never knew I could experience fear and joy at the same time.
Starting with the first contact with MiGFlug through flight debriefing every thing was seamless and about getting my wish fulfilled!
Thanks again to Phillip and William for an AMAZING day!
Fly high William!