The F-104B Starfighter's maiden flight on January 16, 1967   

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The initial batch of F-104Bs had the same vertical tail as did the F-104A single seater.  However, the B did not have the ventral fin that was fitted to the A.  During early flight testing, the F-104Bs exhibited an annoying tendency to snake back and forth during flight, indicating that a larger keel area was required.  Twenty subsequent F-104B production versions (from FY 1957 batches) were fitted with the F-104A's ventral fin and were given considerably larger vertical fin area and a broad-chord, fully power-assisted rudder extending well beyond the end of the tail pipe.  The area of the vertical fin of the F-104B was now fully 25 percent larger than that of the F-104A.