The Greatest Fighter Jet of All Time.

[pbfoot]

Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ

That was the reason it was designed to begin with!!!!
The multi-role philosophy came almost a decade later when by that time technology allowed modern combat aircraft to perform multi roles effectively.

The 104 was better used by the Italians until 2003? as an interceptor could climb as fast and higher plus it was also a multi role fighter . Would also opt for the F4 in the same time frame as did the RAF later . The EE Lightning was a maintainence heavy aircraft and I don't believe that was in the design specs

[FLYBOYJ]

Originally Posted by pbfoot

The EE Lightning was a maintainence heavy aircraft and I don't believe that was in the design specs

Ease of maintenance was one of the least thought about items in aircraft design until the 1980s...

[Graeme]

The history of the Lightning makes good reading.



Gething points out in his book 'Sky Guardians', that the design originates as far back as 1949, in response for a high speed research aircraft, but this crystallised into a "quick reaction' interceptor, as by 1953 the threat from high altitude bombers was very real for the UK.

It's short range/endurance was of little importance then as the aircraft was only considered a "stop-gap" (under the direction of Duncan Sandy's White Paper) until replaced by Surface to Air Missiles.

You know the rest. 'Thinking' changed and that "stop-gap" lasted 31 years. The endurance problem became an issue during this long period, culminating in the F3/F6 designs.

[Kruska]

Good post Graeme

Regards
Kruska

[JugBR]

i dont know if f-104 was a great dogfighter, but in mine opinion its the most beautifull jet aircraft made since the me 262.

YouTube - F-104 Starfighter

i also likes the mirages by its beauty

what i know about modern aviation thats is all about computer systems, very diferent from 40´s wheres the guys should be real ninjas to stay alive. i just figure when microsoft will launch a windows vista fighter edition, then the guys would be a real headcase...

[Matt308]

Your hangin' in there JugBR. Not quite sure what is a language barrier and what is bullsh!t, but I find your posts amusing.

[JugBR]

you like ? great ! you disagree ? i respect you. you dont like ?

[Matt308]

me casa su casa pija

A little respect goes along way, chica.

[FLYBOYJ]

Originally Posted by JugBR

i dont know if f-104 was a great dogfighter, but in mine opinion its the most beautifull jet aircraft made since the me 262.

nice clip - a lot of those scenes were from Edwards and Palmdale in the late 1950s.

[KrazyKraut]

Yeah nice clip, however it must be an unwritten rule that every aircraft video now has massive attack's teardrop as background track.

[JugBR]

Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ

nice clip - a lot of those scenes were from Edwards and Palmdale in the late 1950s.

i saw those scenes in "wings" from discovery channel, back in the 90´s

f-104 is a piece of art

[eddie_brunette]

I choose F15, only because of combat record, my favourite on the list is the F86 by FAR. IMO the most beautifull US jet ever

edd