Burbank in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

F-104 Starfighter

1954

— Lockheed —

F-104 Starfighter Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 23, 2025

1. F-104 Starfighter Marker

Inscription.
Designed by C.L. Kelly Johnson in 1952, the F-104 Starfighter made its initial flight in 1954 as the XF-104. It was the first production aircraft to fly at twice the speed of sound and held numerous airspeed and altitude records. On May 18, 1958, an F-104A set a world speed record of 1,404.19 mph, and on December 14, 1959, an F-104C set a world altitude record of 103,395 feet. The F-104 Starfighter was something completely different: an inexpensive lightweight fighter with thin seven-foot wings.

Erected 2021 by Invesco; Overton Moore Properties; and artist Richard Deutsch.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Industry & Commerce • Military. A significant historical year for this entry is 1954.

Location. 34° 12.165′ N, 118° 21.1′ W. Marker is in Burbank, California, in Los Angeles County. It is on Tulare Avenue west of Hollywood Way, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3790 Tulare Ave, Burbank CA 91505, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s The Valley

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— the San Fernando Valley,

in Greater Los Angeles,

and in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: U-2 (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); P-80 Shooting Star (about 500 feet away); SR-71 Blackbird (about 600 feet away); F-117 Nighthawk (approx. 0.2 miles away); P-38 Lightning (approx. 0.2 miles away); F-22 Raptor (approx. 0.2 miles away); Amelia Earhart (approx. 0.9 miles away); Bobbi Trout (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Burbank.

More about this marker. Located in an industrial park which used to be the location of Lockheed Skunk Works, where the F-104 was designed.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. — an F-104 Starfighter on display in Burbank.

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 23, 2025

2. F-104 Starfighter Marker

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 23, 2025

3. F-104 Starfighter Marker

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 23, 2025

4. F-104 Starfighter Marker

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 23, 2025

5. F-104 Starfighter Marker

Celebrating Skunk Work's Contribution to Aviation History.

F-104 Starfighter image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2018

6. F-104 Starfighter

Nickname: “Missile with a man in it”. This display is at Olive Recreation Center in Burbank.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 15, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 191 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 15, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 6. submitted on June 4, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.