Aeritalia / Lockheed F-104 Starfighter Manuals Collection

This comprehensive digital collection contains authentic technical documentation for the legendary Aeritalia/Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, specifically covering Italian Air Force variants including the F-104S, F-104S/ASA, F-104S/ASA-M, and TF-104G-M series aircraft. These original manuals represent the actual documentation used by Italian Air Force maintenance crews, pilots, and armament specialists throughout the aircraft's distinguished service life.

Collection Contents

Flight Manuals: TF-104G-M Flight Manual (1996), F-104S/ASA-M Flight Manual (1996), F-104S/ASA Flight Manual (1987) - comprehensive pilot operating handbooks covering all flight operations, systems, procedures, and emergency protocols.

Technical Manuals (Manuali Tecnici): Complete maintenance instruction series for the F-104S/ASAM covering general information, ground operations and refueling, hydraulic systems, pneumatic systems, powerplant, fuel systems, landing gear, flight controls, instruments, electrical power and lighting, and armament and electronic armament systems (1996-1997 editions with amendments).

Parts Catalog: F-104S Illustrated Parts Catalog (Catalogo Nomenclatore Illustrato delle Parti di Ricambio) - comprehensive parts identification and nomenclature manual prepared by Aeritalia (1974 edition).

Weapons Loading Manuals: Conventional munitions loading procedures for AIM-9B and AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles, AIM-7E ASPIDE-1A missiles, LAU-10/A ZUNI rocket launchers, AL-25-50A rocket launchers, BL755 cluster bombs, BLU series incendiary bombs, MK82 Snakeye retarded bombs, and free-fall bombs (MK82, MK83, MK84, M117).

Checklists: Crew Chief Checklist (Lista dei Controlli del Capo Velivolo), Functional Check Flight Checklist, and weapons loading checklists for various munitions systems.

All manuals are published under the authority of the Italian Ministry of Defense (Ministero della Difesa - COSTARMAEREO and Direzione Generale delle Costruzioni, delle Armi e degli Armamenti Aeronautici e Spaziali) and prepared by Aeritalia/Alenia. Documentation is presented in Italian and English where applicable.

Historical Note

The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter earned its place in aviation history as one of the most distinctive and controversial fighter aircraft of the Cold War era. Designed by Clarence "Kelly" Johnson and his legendary Skunk Works team in the early 1950s, the F-104 was conceived as a high-performance, high-altitude interceptor capable of Mach 2+ speeds. Its radical design featured an ultra-thin, razor-sharp wing optimized for supersonic flight, a powerful General Electric J79 turbojet engine, and a sleek fuselage that earned it the nickname "the missile with a man in it."

First flown in 1954, the F-104 entered U.S. Air Force service in 1958, though its American career was relatively brief. The aircraft's true legacy was forged overseas, where it became the backbone of NATO air defenses throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Italy became one of the most significant F-104 operators, with Aeritalia (later Alenia) producing the aircraft under license and developing specialized variants tailored to Italian Air Force requirements.

The Italian F-104S variant represented the ultimate evolution of the Starfighter design. Introduced in 1969, the F-104S featured enhanced air-to-air capabilities with improved radar, the ability to carry AIM-7 Sparrow and later ASPIDE missiles, and a more powerful J79-GE-19 engine. The subsequent F-104S/ASA (Aggiornamento Sistema d'Arma - Weapon System Update) and F-104S/ASA-M variants incorporated modern avionics, improved fire control systems, and enhanced electronic warfare capabilities, keeping the Starfighter relevant well into the 1990s.

Italian Starfighters served with distinction in air defense, ground attack, and reconnaissance roles. The Aeronautica Militare operated the F-104 for over four decades, from 1963 until final retirement in 2004, making Italy one of the last nations to fly the type operationally. During this period, Italian F-104s participated in NATO exercises, air policing missions, and peacekeeping operations, demonstrating the aircraft's versatility and the skill of Italian pilots and maintenance crews.

The technical documentation in this collection represents the culmination of decades of operational experience and continuous improvement. These manuals reflect the sophisticated systems integration, weapons capabilities, and maintenance procedures developed by Aeritalia/Alenia in collaboration with the Italian Air Force. From the detailed hydraulic and pneumatic system maintenance instructions to the precise weapons loading procedures for advanced missiles like the ASPIDE-1A, these documents showcase the technical complexity of maintaining a high-performance supersonic interceptor.

For aviation historians, the F-104 Starfighter remains a fascinating study in aeronautical engineering, international military cooperation, and Cold War defense strategy. For restorers and enthusiasts, these original Italian Air Force manuals provide authentic primary-source documentation of one of the most iconic fighter aircraft ever built. For researchers and collectors, this collection offers invaluable insight into the operational procedures, maintenance practices, and weapons systems that kept the "missile with a man in it" flying for over 40 years of Italian service.

Format: High-quality digital download (PDF)
Language: Italian and English (varies by manual)
Authority: Italian Ministry of Defense / Aeritalia-Alenia
Coverage: F-104S, F-104S/ASA, F-104S/ASA-M, TF-104G-M variants
Instant Access: Download immediately after purchase