This die-cast metal airplane model comes in 1/120 scale with a plastic stand and measures approximately 2""""D x 6""""W x 4""""H. This detailed replica authentically recreates the Lockheed F-104G Starfighter as used by NASA, including its official colors and markings. Recommended for adult collectors ages 14 and up. First taking flight in 1954, the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was originally designed as a supersonic interceptor and later used as a fighter-bomber throughout the Cold War. It was developed in response to feedback from Korean War pilots who wanted a smaller, lighter aircraft optimized for rapid climbing. Powered by turbojets, it could reach a top speed of 1,528 miles per hour. Capable of flying at twice the speed of sound, the F-104 was used by NASA for high-speed flight tests, including thruster control experiments, evaluations of advanced flight technologies, and as a chase plane. It played a crucial role in testing the durability of Space Shuttle heat shield tiles and other components under flight conditions. Nicknamed “the missile with a man in it,” the F-104 remains a favorite at air shows. Today, various F-104 aircraft are on display at locations such as the Air Force Flight Test Museum at Edwards Air Force Base in California and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona.