![Known as "the missile with a man in it," the stubby-winged Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was the first U.S. jet fighter in service to fly Mach 2, twice the speed of sound. Designed Known as "the missile with a man in it," the stubby-winged Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was the first U.S. jet fighter in service to fly Mach 2, twice the speed of sound. Designed](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2GGBNHN/known-as-quotthe-missile-with-a-man-in-itquot-the-stubby-winged-lockheed-f-104-starfighter-was-the-first-us-jet-fighter-in-service-to-fly-mach-2-twice-the-speed-of-sound-designed-as-a-high-performance-day-fighter-the-f-104-had-excellent-acceleration-and-top-speed-it-first-flew-on-march-4-1954-while-built-for-the-us-air-force-most-starfighters-were-flown-by-other-countries-particularly-canada-italy-germany-and-japan-many-were-built-under-license-overseas-the-national-aeronautics-and-space-administration-nasa-flew-this-f-104a-for-19-years-as-a-flying-test-bed-and-a-chase-2GGBNHN.jpg)
Known as "the missile with a man in it," the stubby-winged Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was the first U.S. jet fighter in service to fly Mach 2, twice the speed of sound. Designed
![The 'North American Eagle' land speed record car is an F-104 Starfighter with the wings chopped off : r/WeirdWings The 'North American Eagle' land speed record car is an F-104 Starfighter with the wings chopped off : r/WeirdWings](https://preview.redd.it/n7aumk73sah31.jpg?auto=webp&s=d315762613315876f9c94e32f6a477fea4e4ad5c)
The 'North American Eagle' land speed record car is an F-104 Starfighter with the wings chopped off : r/WeirdWings
![F-104G Starfighter "World Speed Record Holder" c/n 9028, Belgium Air Force, June 6, 1963, 1:72 Hobby Master HM-HA1070 F-104G Starfighter "World Speed Record Holder" c/n 9028, Belgium Air Force, June 6, 1963, 1:72 Hobby Master HM-HA1070](https://cdn1.bigcommerce.com/server1900/9aa77/products/32206/images/85497/1659386624_hm-ha1070_3__09929.1661550113.1280.1280.jpg?c=2)
F-104G Starfighter "World Speed Record Holder" c/n 9028, Belgium Air Force, June 6, 1963, 1:72 Hobby Master HM-HA1070
![DECODED: The Cold War in Europe 1945-1995 : A Tarnished Legacy: The F-104 and the Starfighter Crisis DECODED: The Cold War in Europe 1945-1995 : A Tarnished Legacy: The F-104 and the Starfighter Crisis](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hf33IhRfO4g/UfcZNgOyj8I/AAAAAAAACwQ/9B3pXxCu23I/s1600/F1045.jpg)