Summery :
The Lockheed NF-104A was a production Starfighter, a Mach 2 interceptor plane, heavily modified with the addition of a liquid-fuel rocket engine at the base of the tail, and reaction-control thrusters to enable maneuvering at extremely high altitudes.
This NF-104 (#56-0762) was the third airplane of only 3 ever built. It was just delivered to the USAF on November 1, 1963.
On December 10, 1963, Col. Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager lost control, and the plane fell into a flat spin at 65,000 feet.
He ejected just 5,000 feet above the ground. Falling through the sky, the smoldering ejection seat was briefly snared in his parachute lines and struck him, damaging his helmet and burning his face. He landed near the burning wreckage of his plane and was picked up by Air Force rescue personnel.
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