No-fly zone: Restored Cold War fighter jet that once topped speeds of 1,382mph for sale - as a garden ornament



In its heyday it was the fastest jet on the planet, topping speeds of 1,382mph, and cost $1.42million to build.

Now however, the speed and price have diminished somewhat.



T his restored F-104 'Starfighter' is up for sale for £25,000 - because it does not have an engine and is not airworthy.

Jet Art Aviation, based in North Yorkshire, took just four weeks to renovate the Cold War jet, which retired from service in 1987.

Perfectly restored: Once the fastest vehicle on the planet this F-104 'Starfighter' is up for sale for £25,000

Once the pride and joy of the US Airforce, Starfighters could climb 48,000ft in just a minute.

First entering service with the US Air Force in 1958, it was deployed to West Germany at the height of the Cold War.



Chris Wilson, 33, of Jet Art Aviation, is hoping the price of the first plane to ever reach MACH 2 will skyrocket even more.

'This aircraft definitely fits our brief of fast and flashy,' explained Chris. 'It will be the ultimate garden feature, gate guardian, or museum aircraft.

'We got this incredible machine into our workshop four weeks ago.

Renovated: Retired from service in 1987, the jet fighter was fully restored in just four weeks by UK-based company, Jet Art Aviation

Impressive: Although the Starfighter is not airworthy it comes with a restored cockpit

'And we've thrown ourselves into making it look just as good as it used to.'



The Starfighter needed speed in case of a Cold War battle against the might of the Russian Soviet forces.



'This plane is a ex-West German Luftwaffe aircraft that was licence built by Messerschmitt,' said Chris.



'In the right hands was capable of ferocious speed and successfully kept the peace patrolling the sky's of the Cold War Europe.



'But as well as being massively quick and looking like something from outer space the Starfighter was also highly controversial and was quickly christened - The Widow Maker.

'The F-104 has very high take off and landing speeds and with such a small wing area staying in control at low air speeds was a fine art.



'It was called Lawn Dart due to the high number of pilots who lost their lives flying this High Performance jet.'

The F-104 Starfighter of German Airforce, Luftwaffe in July before its renovation in Selby, North Yorkshire

For the The German Luftwaffe suffered losses operating the F-104 with 293 aircraft destroyed in accidents and losing a total of 110 pilots.



This particular Starfighter comes with a restored cockpit, though unfortunately it has no working engine or weapon systems.



But with it's 21 foot wing-span this war-bird could be one of the world's most impressive garden ornaments.



'The aircraft is not airworthy and has no engine or weapon systems,' said Chris.



'The cockpit is complete and comes with its very own Martin Baker ejection seat, stick, throttle box and instruments.



'This beautifully designed aircraft would make a fantastic business promotional tool.



'Parking a Starfighter outside your business premises would get any business on the map.'