Lockheed F-104 Starfighter

Single Jet

The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was the first operational fighter capable of sustained Mach 2 flight, earning its nickname as the "missile with a man in it" for its radical needle-nosed design optimized purely for speed and altitude. Introduced in 1958 during the height of the Cold War, the Starfighter featured razor-thin wings spanning just 21 feet and a General Electric J79 turbojet that could push the aircraft past 1,450 mph at altitude. It set multiple world records including an absolute altitude record of 103,395 feet in 1959 and remains one of the few aircraft ever to exceed Mach 2 in level flight. The F-104's unforgiving handling characteristics and high landing speeds—approaching at nearly 200 knots with minimal margin above stall—made it notoriously difficult to fly, contributing to high accident rates particularly in European service where it earned the grim nickname "Widowmaker." Despite its controversial safety record, the Starfighter served with fifteen NATO and allied air forces and remained in Italian Air Force service until 2004, making it one of the longest-serving supersonic fighters. The design prioritized performance over versatility: its tiny wings provided minimal lift at low speeds but exceptional efficiency at supersonic velocities, while the downward-firing ejection seat in early models reflected the era's experimental approach to pilot safety. The aircraft could reach 50,000 feet in under two minutes and cruise at altitudes where pilots could see the curvature of the Earth. Today a handful of F-104s remain airworthy in civilian hands, operated by companies like Starfighters International for adversary support training, research missions, and giving pilots the rare opportunity to experience genuine Mach 2 flight. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with the largest observed operator.