F-104 Starfighter: Can a 60-Year-Old Fighter Jet Help America Win the Space Race?

One of the most unusual businesses in space starts with a Cold War fighter jet.

Starfighters Space operates the world’s only Mach 2+ commercial fleet—a handful of F-104 Starfighters flown by a small cadre of pilots. Could these aircraft help shape America’s future in space?

The company recently went public, and I wanted to understand the business behind the speed.

I sat down with CEO Tim Franta to discuss where space technology is heading, how companies fund their ambitions, and why he chose to take Starfighters Space public. We also explored how SpaceX has reshaped the industry—opening doors while making life harder for others.

An unconventional company. A high-stakes market. And a fighter jet with another mission.

 

What You’ll Discover In This Episode 

• How one pilot turned a fleet of 60-year old jets into a space company
• Setting the world record for rate of climb
• Why many small space projects are now getting funded
• How inexpensive component testing can save $250 million satellites
• Where they find pilots in during a pilot shortage
• Why they’re building a ‘Wind Tunnel in the Sky’
• Ripple effects of SpaceX and Blue Origin pulling out of ridesharing