Mike's favorite jet

[Mad Aussie]

Great set of shots Q1!! Very cool.

So why is the F104a Starfighter Mike's fav?

The 'a' ... that denotes single seater?

I'm not sure what my fav jet would be to be honest. Gotta love the Harrier Jump Jets but I also love the F86 Sabre ... and because I'm a Top Gun fan ... the F14 Tomcats

[Mad Aussie]

I couldn't remember the name of a Navy jet I like too ... the A7 Corsair ... the Man Eater!

[Marko]

digging this set big time!

[QuietOne]

Great set of shots Q1!! Very cool.

So why is the F104a Starfighter Mike's fav?

The 'a' ... that denotes single seater?

This is Mike. The F-104 is a "pilot's airplane" designed for high performance fighting ability above all else, much like the Spitfire. There is little more to an F-104 than a seat, some fins, and an enormous engine. Almost all of America's astronauts trained in this jet. Some of the early F-104As were later on re-engined with a more powerful engine. They could cruise at 73,000 ft at Mach 2. They did practice interceptions of U-2 spy planes. Despite all the bad press and popular nicknames like "The Widowmaker" the aircraft was well liked by its pilots. The Germans called it the Porsche, the Italians painted theirs up like Ferraris and Ducatis.

The F-104 had a rather random set of letters. F-104A was the first version, a single seat air superiority fighter, F-104B was a two seat trainer with fighting ability, F-104C was a tactical fighter with air to air refueling ability and could carry bombs, F-104D was another two seater with a better engine. The F-104G was "G" for Germany, the version used throughout Europe for almost 40 years.

[Mad Aussie]

Hmm fascinating. Thanks Mike.

[QuietOne]

Seems like my airplane threads are bringing out all the motorheads. Glad they (and others) are enjoying them. I'm looking through another show's pictures - I know for sure I've got shots of an Avenger, 2 B-25s, and the P-40's first appearance in the parrot head paint scheme. She was in plain green camouflage before that.