f104 starfighter

[1MrErling]

The Norwegian Royal Airforce did use them back in the Day, when I did my military service (1978) in North Norway.

You could heard them for miles before y saw them..... impressiv sound

[fuhrman66]

id rather play russian roulette then fly this

[jkomen]

Note the metal aerodynamic looking plugs in the intakes. They were not dust covers. They were put there to cover up the Top Secret supersonic intake design, when doing closeup press photo's. Also note that the narrator never really says what kind of engine it has, just that its bigger and better.

[justforever96]

That's cool. Disinformation...not just for the Commies! LOL. Where did you read that those covers are for disguise? Or are you just assuming that, since they obviously aren't for anything else? LOL, my mother is in the other room, and she heard the bit about the downwards firing ejection seat (she's no plane nut). She thought that was kind of a funny idea. "Better not fire that off on the ground! That might kinda hurt." LOL. Yeah. So I took the opportunity to edjicate her on jet ejection seats.

[sakoshooter48]

@justforever96 Thats exactly what they were for! The variable inlet geometry of the F-104 was classified at the time, as was the engine, the J-79. And the original F-104 did have a bottom firing ejection seat!

[justforever96]

@sakoshooter48 Yeah, I read up on it all a bit. The intakes were secret (maybe not TOP secret, just not public information). But I guess they didn't actually have "variable" inlets...they do the same thing, but apparently those "Dassault-type" half-cone intakes modify the Mach 2 shockwave inherently because of their shape, and are fixed. The covers were hidden mostly to avoid broadcasting that it was a Mach 2 fighter. But since they show it flying, the word was out when this film was edited.

[sakoshooter48]

@justforever96 There were hydraulic rams attached to these 'spikes' in the inlets. The spikes moved back and fourth to modulate the speed of the air before it entered the compressor. Once this was realized on the older jets, things like the variable cycle J-58 of the SR-71 were possible.

[justforever96]

@sakoshooter48 So, are you sure about the movable inlet spikes? Because that's what I thought, but then someone told me that they didn't move, and I'm pretty sure the "souris" (mice =) intakes on Mirages and stuff work over Mach 2 without moving. But I had thought they did, and I heard that the "moose call" sounds the F-104 makes are from going to max power (while parked), and moving the inlet to Mach 2 position. Now I'm confused! And the spikes on the J-58 HAVE to move, to work as a ramjet.

[sakoshooter48]

@justforever96 Actually the spikes on the J-58 work to capture the supersonic shock wave and then to "bump" it into the gills on top of the engine. This air is ram compressed and then fed into the secondary combustor where it is mixed with the fuel and burned. Most of the turbojet engine is bypassed at higher than mach 2 mach numbers. The aero spike on the front of the J-58 is almost 15 feet long!

[justforever96]

@sakoshooter48 LOL, I didn't notice your name when I first read your reply...what kind of Sako do you have? They produce some beautifully engineered and manufactured rifles. I can't afford one, but even to look at one is nice! Guns are my second love, after aviation. Although I'm game for just about anything! =)

[sakoshooter48]

@justforever96 I have a custom built TRG-42 in .338 Lapua Magnum that Mr. George Garner built for me. I run a 29" Mike Rock 5R barrel, a PGW titanium muzzle brake, a Loopy MKIV M1 16X TMR reticle, and a Tactical Innovations Sling. Just got my Form 2 paperwork back for my AWC Thundertrap suppressor. I have a custom built 25 MOA scope mount built by Canadian Richard Near. The thing is rock solid and George did an absolutely fantastic job on everythging.

[justforever96]

@sakoshooter48 No shit...that's one expensive-sounding rifle! Even the .338 Lapua is like $5 a shot around here! Sure sounds nice . The TRG-42 is the what the Finnish(?) military uses as a sniper rifle, right? My "thing" is service rifles, but any gun is fine. I have an AK-47, an SKS, a Mauser 1891 in 8mm, a Mossberg 835 w. 16" bbl, a 1911A1 custom, a .38 snub, and my pride n joy, a M1903A3 Springfield, all original. I have had a number of others, but I traded 'em in. So what's your best group?

[sakoshooter48]

@justforever96 Best groups are irrelevant, although I do have a posted and witnessed three shot group of 4.33" at 1000 yards. i shoot the gun in a tactical gun competition, and at times it makes me freaking tired. I purchas3ed a whole bamboozle of brass before the stuff got stupid expensive. Actually my favorite shooting rifle for all around shooting fun is my as new M-48 Mauser. i love that fucking rifle! Its honest, shoots straight, and has always been very accurate. Cheap to shoot!

[sablatnic]

@jkomen

I thought that no one noticed the intakes, but you did. You are probably at my age too, and remember when the 104 was the hottest imaginable.

World's coolest sound too!

[jkomen]

@sablatnic I was a pilot in the AF starting in 1980. During pilot training we would be shown informational films about different aircraft and the purpose of specific aerodynamic design. Even as a kid the F104 has always been one of my favorite aircraft. I remember seeing a film, during training, that discussed the F104, it's design and these intake covers to hide, at the time, this inovative design. I see that it has sparked some interesting comments. Thank you for noticing my statement.

[migkiller001]

Those J79s really howl.

[skateguy9758]

disney called the want ther narrator back,

btw great plane f-104g ^^

[StereoSpace]

They called it, "The missile with a man in it".

[T1w4z]

@StereoSpace

In Germany "Witwenmacher".

[MaverickOnTheMoon]

@StereoSpace And what's wrong with that? It's a compliment in fact. It was designed to be an interceptor (like the Mig-25 Foxbat) and did it's job perfectly well.

[cyberarmy007]

The USAF was less than satisfied with the Starfighter and procured only 296 examples in single-seat and two-seat versions. Its U.S. service was quickly wound down after 1965, and the last USAF Starfighters left active service in 1969.

[StereoSpace]

I think they had problems with the engines overheating, IIRC.