Breaking the Sky: The 1958 Jet Fighter That Shattered Altitude Records

On May 7, 1958, a new frontier in aviation was pushed higher than ever before by a remarkable Jet Fighter Aircraft 1958. U.S. Air Force Major Howard Carrol Johnson, serving as the operations officer for the 83rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron, piloted a Lockheed F-104A Starfighter, serial number 55-2957, into the history books. Taking off from Edwards Air Force Base, California, Major Johnson executed a spectacular zoom climb that resulted in a new Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) world altitude record. The official certified altitude reached was an astonishing 91,243 feet (27,811 meters), a feat that captured global attention and highlighted the cutting-edge capabilities of Cold War era aviation technology. The record was formally certified by Charles S. Lodgson of the National Aeronautic Association, solidifying this groundbreaking achievement in the annals of flight.

The Record-Breaking Ascent

Major Johnson’s record flight wasn’t simply a matter of pointing the nose up and hitting the throttle. It utilized sophisticated techniques honed by Lockheed aerodynamicists. The critical phase of the flight began with a climb to 41,000 feet (12,497 meters), where Major Johnson accelerated the Starfighter to its maximum speed during level flight. This initial speed was crucial for building momentum before the final ascent.

He then initiated a steep climb, carefully maintaining a steady 2.5 G load. A simple yet effective piece of masking tape affixed to the cockpit canopy provided a visual reference for the predetermined optimum climb angle. As the aircraft sliced through the increasingly thin atmosphere, its J79 turbojet engine powered it skyward. However, at approximately 77,000 feet (23,470 meters), the engine had to be manually shut down. This was a necessary step to prevent the engine from overheating in the extremely low-density air at that altitude.

MAJ Howard C. Johnson prepares for his record flight, with Lockheed test pilot Willam M. (

Major Howard C. Johnson preparing for the altitude record flight with Lockheed test pilots William M. Park and Jack Holliman at Edwards AFB in 1958.

From that point, the F-104 continued its trajectory like a ballistic missile, coasting upward against gravity until it reached its peak altitude. The silence of unpowered flight at the edge of space was a stark contrast to the roaring ascent. After peaking, Major Johnson expertly controlled the descent. At a lower altitude, he successfully restarted the J79 engine, regaining powered flight and safely flying the Starfighter back to Edwards Air Force Base. This flight was a testament not only to the pilot’s skill but also to the innovative design of the 1958 jet fighter aircraft and the techniques developed for high-altitude operations.

Surpassing Previous Records

Major Johnson’s achievement was particularly impressive as it broke a relatively new record. Just 17 days prior, Lieutenant Commander George C. Watkins of the U.S. Navy had set an altitude record in an experimental Grumman F11F-1F Tiger. The Lockheed F-104, with its sleek design and powerful engine, managed to surpass Watkins’ mark by a significant margin – a remarkable 4,362 meters (14,311 feet). This rapid succession of record-breaking flights underscored the intense competition and rapid advancements occurring in world fighter aircraft design during the late 1950s.

A report from The Daily Independent Journal captured the local excitement:

Hamilton Jet Pilot Sets World Altitude Record

A 37-year-old Novato father of two today holds the world altitude record for flight in a powered aircraft.

Maj. Howard C. Johnson of the 83rd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Hamilton Air Force Base yesterday nosed a jet-powered F104 Starfighter to an altitude of 91,249 feet above the Mojave desert.

His mark eclipsed by 2.1 miles an unofficial record of 80,190 feet claimed last Friday by a French Trident 06 at Istres, France.

Major Johnson, operations officer of the 83rd FIS, first Starfighter-equipped unit of the Air Force, took off at 9:40 a.m. from the Palmdale (Los Angeles County) facility of the Lockheed Aircraft Corp., manufacturer of the plane.

He sent the missile-like Starfighter upward on a 55-to-60 degree angle as it swept over the heavily instrumented range at Edwards Air Force Base. Then he pulled up sharply into a high angle climb, and zoomed out into the thin atmosphere over the desert—more than 17 miles above sea level.

Just 27 minutes later, he touched down again at Palmdale.

Describing the flight at a Los Angeles news conference today, the curly-haired major said he flew at 35,000 feet to Santa Barbara, went into a climbing turn at 40,000 feet and gave the jet full power about 10 miles from Mojave. Over Mojave, he went into his climb.

He said he had no trouble controlling the plane. With colder air, he thought, he could have gone higher. The temperature outside the plane at the peak of his climb was minus 43 degrees Fahrenheit. Inside it was 70 degrees above zero.

In the past week he had made six practice flights prior to yesterday’s record breaker.

What does the sky look like at such altitudes?”

I was so busy on most of my flights I didn’t notice,” he said. “On one flight I did and it was sort of a dark purple.”

Johnson estimated he was at his maximum altitude 10 to 15 seconds and was going 622 miles per hour at the top of his climb.

Johnson said he didn’t “feel like I was in outer space.”

“But this obviously is a transition from the atmosphere we have known,” he said. “We are on the threshold of space—a step up the ladder.”

Back in Novato, his wife, Doris Jean, was at home at 1260 Cambridge street. Their children, Theodore 10, and Carol, 4, were at school.

Mrs. Johnson knew her husband was out after the record, but she wasn’t worrying, she said today.

“We’ve been married for 16 years and all of that time he has been in the Air Force,” she said, “so I’ve learned not to worry too much.

“He had oxygen and a suit to protect him. But I do wish he’d stay a little lower.”

Mrs. Johnson’s telephone rang soon after 10 o’clock. It was her husband, calling to say he had been successful in setting a new altitude record.”

That’s about all he said,” reported Mrs. Johnson.

The record is subject to review by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale before it goes down in the books as official.

Plane altitude records have been zooming since the adoption of the jet engine. The altitude record for a propeller-drive plane is 56,046 feet, set ‘way back in 1946 by Maj. F. F. Ross, pilot, and Lt. D. M. Davis, flying from Harmon Field on Guam.

An experimental rocket plane has gone higher than Johnson’s Starfighter, but the feats are not comparable. The rocket craft was launched from a mother plane high in the air, while the Starfighter took off from the ground.

A balloon piloted by Maj. David G. Simons ascended to approximately 100,000 feet last Aug. 19 and 20, according to the World Almanac.

Major Johnson is a native of Knoxville, Tenn. He has been in the Air Force since April 1, 1942, and has logged 4,600 hours flying time, including 1,800 hours in jets. He has been stationed in California, at Castle Air Force Base, Merced, and then at Hamilton, for five years.

Major Howard C. Johnson, U.S. Air Force, after his record-setting flight. (U.S. Air Force)

Major Howard C. Johnson after his successful altitude record flight in 1958.

This news clipping provides a fascinating glimpse into the public perception of the event, highlighting the pilot’s family life and his humble reactions to the record, including his observation of the sky turning “dark purple.” It grounds the technical achievement in a human story, a detail often appreciated in both news and entertainment contexts.

The Pilot: Howard Carrol Johnson

Born on February 2, 1920, in Knoxville, Kentucky, Howard Carrol Johnson, nicknamed “Scrappy” in his youth, had a distinguished military career long before his record-setting flight in the cold war fighter aircraft. He enlisted in the Air Corps, United States Army, in 1942, shortly after the U.S. entered World War II. He went through aviation cadet training and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1943.

Johnson’s early career included roles as a gunnery instructor and target pilot. During the Korean War, he flew 87 combat missions in the North American Aviation F-51 Mustang. He later transitioned to jet aircraft, flying the Lockheed F-94B interceptor on Arctic missions from Goose Bay Air Base in Canada. Prior to his famous flight, he served with the 83rd and 84th Fighter-Interceptor Squadrons at Hamilton Air Force Base.

Following his 1958 record, Major Johnson served with the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD). He was deployed during the 1961 Berlin crisis, flying the Republic F-84F Thunderstreak and advising the West German Air Force. His command roles included leading the 476th Tactical Fighter Squadron at George Air Force Base.

Vice President Richard M. Nixon presenting the Collier Trophy to the team involved in the Lockheed F-104 program in 1959. Left to right: Major Walter W. Irwin, Lieutenant Colonel Howard C. Johnson, VP Nixon, Neil Burgess, Gerhard Neumann (J79 engine designers), and Clarence Leonard “Kelly” Johnson (Lockheed).

From 1966 to 1967, Johnson served in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, assigned to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing in Thailand. He flew 117 combat missions in the Republic F-105 Thunderchief, another significant world fighter aircraft of the era. A founding member of the Red River Valley Pilot’s Association, his dedication and bravery earned him numerous decorations throughout his extensive career. Colonel Johnson retired from the Air Force in 1972 after 30 years of distinguished service. He passed away in 2020 at the remarkable age of 100. His significant contributions were recognized with multiple awards, including the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal. Lieutenant Colonel Johnson was also part of the team that received the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy in 1958 for their work on the Lockheed F-104 program, an award recognizing the year’s greatest achievement in aeronautics.

The Aircraft: Lockheed F-104A Starfighter

The star of the record flight, the Lockheed F-104A Starfighter, was a single-seat, single-engine supersonic interceptor. Designed by a team led by the legendary Clarence L. “Kelly” Johnson at Lockheed’s Skunk Works, the F-104 was groundbreaking for its time, earning it a place among the most distinctive world fighter aircraft. Its design emphasized raw speed and climb performance.

The F-104A had a notably small, razor-thin wing, contributing to its high-speed capabilities but also giving it notoriously high landing speeds and a challenging flight envelope for pilots. Its dimensions were: 54.77 feet (16.694 meters) long, a short wingspan of 21.94 feet (6.687 meters), and an overall height of 13.49 feet (4.112 meters). The tiny total wing area of just 196.1 square feet (18.2 square meters) was offset by a powerful engine. The wings featured a sharp -10° anhedral, an unusual downward angle. Another distinctive feature was the all-flying stabilator mounted on top of the vertical fin, creating the aircraft’s signature “T-tail.”

Three-view diagram illustrating the distinctive shape and dimensions of the Lockheed F-104A Starfighter.

The F-104A weighed 13,184 pounds (5,980.2 kilograms) empty, with a gross weight varying between 19,600 and 25,300 pounds depending on the mission load. It carried 896 gallons (3,392 liters) of internal fuel and could extend its range with external tanks carried on underwing pylons or wingtips.

Powering the F-104A was a single General Electric J79-GE-3A afterburning turbojet engine. This engine, featuring a 17-stage compressor and 3-stage turbine, produced 9,600 pounds of thrust (42.70 kilonewtons) normally and a significant 15,000 pounds (66.72 kilonewtons) with its afterburner engaged. The J79 was a revolutionary engine for its time, enabling performance previously unseen in tactical aircraft. Its power contributed significantly to the F-104’s ability to reach such extreme altitudes, making it a standout 1958 jet fighter aircraft.

The performance figures of the F-104A were impressive: a maximum speed of 1,037 miles per hour (1,669 kilometers per hour) at 50,000 feet (15,240 meters), an initial rate of climb of 60,395 feet per minute (306.8 meters per second), and a service ceiling of 64,795 feet (19,750 meters). These figures highlight why it was chosen for such demanding record attempts.

Standard armament included a General Electric M61 Vulcan 20 mm cannon, a formidable weapon for its time. It could also carry AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles or external fuel tanks. The F-104 series saw extensive production, with 2,578 aircraft built by Lockheed and various international licensees, making it one of the most produced jet fighter aircraft of the Cold War era, although the F-104A was an early variant retired by 1969. The Starfighter served with many nations for decades; the last military F-104 was retired by the Italian Air Force in 2004.

The Lockheed F-104 was armed with an electrically-powered General Electric T-171E-3 (later designated M61) Vulcan 6-barrel rotary cannon.

A technician prepares a belt of 20mm ammunition for the M61 Vulcan cannon installed in the Lockheed F-104.

The specific aircraft used for the record flight, 55-2957, was one of the initial YF-104A pre-production models later modified to the production standard. After its moment of glory, it was converted into a QF-104A high-speed drone. Its operational life ended when it was expended as a target on August 8, 1967.

Lockheed QF-104A Starfighter 55-2957 in flight as a high-speed drone.

Lockheed QF-104A Starfighter 55-2957 flying as an unmanned high-speed drone after being modified.

Conclusion: A Moment in Aviation History

The flight of Major Howard C. Johnson in the Lockheed F-104A Starfighter on May 7, 1958, was more than just setting a new altitude record; it was a significant step forward in exploring the upper reaches of the atmosphere using powered aircraft. It showcased the capabilities of the cutting-edge f6 fighter aircraft (an alternate designation sometimes associated with aircraft of this era and capability) and the bravery of the pilots who pushed them to their limits. This event remains a fascinating highlight in the history of the Jet Fighter Aircraft 1958 and the ongoing quest to fly higher and faster, capturing the imagination of anyone interested in the era’s technological race.

References:
FAI Record File Number 5056
FAI Record File Number 8596