iN PHOTOS: Kelowna’s KF Aerospace acquires historic Canadian fighter jet

The KF Aerospace has added a Canadian-built fighter jet to its Centre for Excellence museum in Kelowna, a 1962 CF-104D Starfighter.

"We feel truly lucky to have been able to acquire this piece of Canadian military aviation history," KF Centre of Excellence director Paula Quinn said in a media release issued today, June 29.

"This is an aircraft that holds a special place in the hearts of many veterans and aviation enthusiasts alike, and we are incredibly excited to bring it back to Canada, recognize its contributions, and be a part of its next chapter."

The Starfighter, capable of flying twice the speed of sound, was built in Canada by Canadair under a licence from Lockheed Martin. 

The plane acquired by KF was flown by the Royal Canadian Air Force with the test squadron at CFB Cold Lake from 1962 to 1973. The jet was sold to the Norwegian Air Force and in 1984 the Norwegians sold it to a museum in California, and it was in the hands of several private owners before the KF acquired it last year.

The plane has flown for more than 200 hours over the past decade and is in “near-airworthy condition,” the release said.

It was transported to Canada from Arizona in two truckloads.

“The decision to drive, rather than fly this 104 to the Okanagan was made due to the desire to take as many additional precautionary measures as possible in order to ensure the safety of our crew, while also respecting the advanced age of the aircraft,” the release said.

KF Aerospace engineers are now hard at work ensuring the aircraft is being restored to an airworthy state.

“As one can imagine, this process will take some time.”

To contact a reporter for this story, email Dan Walton or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.