This Cold War era fighter steals the show at Kelowna museum

It’s super sleek and screams speed – twice the speed of sound in fact- even though it’s from an era some 60 years in the slipstream.

The 1962 CF-104D Starfighter, is the latest addition to a lineup of extraordinary aircraft at the KF Aerospace/SkyAlyne/KF Centre for Excellence

The plane, which was recently acquired from Arizona, takes pride of place among other impressive exhibits being shown off to visitors at the stunning new facility next to the Kelowna International Airport.

“It’s an absolutely gorgeous aircraft and our goal is to restore it to its original RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force) colours,” Matthew Abrey, digital communications and marketing coordinator told Kelowna10. “People just love this aircraft and how it looks, even if they don’t know what it is. It’s such a stunning aircraft people just what to see what it’s all about.”

Built in Canada by the company Canadair, under license from Lockheed, (now Lockheed Martin), the Mach 2-capable ex-RCAF two-seat training aircraft, acquired by the Centre in 2022, was flown for over ten years by the Royal Canadian Air Force.

The Starfighter’s main role was as a ground attack and interceptor plane during the Cold War, based in Europe.

“It was very advanced for its time. It’s a Mach 2 supersonic fighter," Abrey explained. “In the early 60s a Mach 2 fighter was a big deal.”

The model that’s now on show served with the test squadron at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Cold Lake (commonly referred to as 4 Wing Cold Lake) in Alberta from 1962 until 1973, when it was sold by the RCAF to the Norwegian Air Force. Several private owners later and the plane finally made its way to Kelowna from Arizona.

Long term, the hope is to restore the jet to airworthy state. Shorter term, the goal is to restore it to its original RCAF colours and livery.

But even though it’s not in tip-top shape, Abrey said enquiries about the new addition to the now, 10-aircraft display have been endless, and many visitors and locals have been eager to a get a close up look at a part of Canadian and NATO military history.

“We built the Centre for Excellence with the community in mind and to celebrate aviation in the Okanagan, BC and Canada.”

Learn morehere.