This 1954 silent color footage depicts prototype flight tests at Edwards Air Force Base for the Lockheed XF-104 Starfighter, a single-engine, supersonic interceptor aircraft developed for the United States Air Force (TRT 27:45). Includes footage of the prototype 53-37786. Most likely the pilot on most of these flights was Lockheed’s Tony LeVier.

Joshua Trees dot the horizon of Kern County, in Edwards, California. An airstrip runs through the desert with numbered runway markers on either side (0:06). Closeup on an array of two still cameras mounted on a post, with wires running away from them, suggesting a remote or motion-activated trigger for flight analysis photography (0:15). A wider view of the same (0:29). Three cameras on tripods line the runway, ready for high-speed photography against a white backdrop. A blurred shape speeds by in a flash, trailing smoke (0:38). A photographer mounts a lens on a film camera and pans 180 degrees back and forth in various angles (0:45). A cameraman trains his camera on a dusty field. A prototype jet zooms across the horizon amid a cloud of exhaust smoke. A fellow photographer’s clothing blows in the wind (1:36). The first photographer uses a darkroom change bag. Ready to roll again (2:12). A yellow truck with a ladder marked “photographic branch” drives down the road with a man on the rear bumper. He stops to load the cameraman’s gear (2:32). In the distance, a prototype jet aircraft flies horizontally, close along the ground, passing a water tower, and sending a cloud of dust into the air. The haze lingers (2:58). Another distant sprint from the turbojet in slow motion, revealing the passing tail fin (3:52). Slow motion reveals wings and jets (4:54). A man adjusts a film camera and looks into the viewfinder against a blue sky (6:09). Two men mount the camera atop a metal post, elevating it (6:30). The higher vantage point reveals a test track (7:10). Preparing another 16mm film camera with the yellow film truck in the background (7:22). Another photographer with a mustache unloads equipment from a white box, and pivots his special camera to show a large viewfinder. The device in closeup (8:16). Two full-speed test launches in rapid succession (9:11). A crowd of spectators has gathered (9:40). The camera follows women wearing colorful summer dresses and sunglasses (10:20). The prototype flies along the ground (10:42). A flickering spec shoots into view in a wide open airfield. The XF-104 makes liftoff (11:00). Braking on the runway using a parachute (11:49). A closer view reveals small, trapezoidal wings with a low aspect ratio, a stabilator on the tail, and an inner splitter plate on the hull (12:04). Aerial photography of FG-786 in mid air before snow capped mountains (12:32). A fellow pilot’s eye view through cockpit glass (13:17). Clear footage resumes (13:31). A landing viewed from the ground shows landing gear (14:02). Flying with landing gear deployed (14:44). Landing w/ parachute and taxing back and forth (15:15). Static shots: A head-on view of the prototype at rest, then a ¾ shot and a wide profile (16:53). The turbojet’s empennage, tail, and reverse profile (18:45). Taxiing (22:20). Two takeoffs from right to left. Landing and braking from multiple angles (22:38). Test flights continue (24:43). Two ideal shots of smooth takeoff and landing, with cameras following closely at all times (25:12). A longer view against blue skies (27:24).

Construction of this first prototype XF-104 (US serial number 53-7786, Buzz number FG-786) started at Lockheed’s Burbank, California factory in 1953. The Stafighter was completed in February of 1954, and it made its first official flights in March. It was notable for including a non-afterburning Buick-built Wright J65-B-3 turbojet. Only one year passed between the initial contract and the craft’s first flight. Lockheed pilot Tony LeVier did the initial testing and recommended that the Starfighter not be used for chase duties, yet FG-786 was eventually lost while flying chase in 1957. Despite both XF-104 prototypes being destroyed in accidents, the USAF ordered 17 pre-production models. Eventually, Starfighters were also supplied to Turkey, Jordan, and Japan.

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com