Touch-roll-touch in a F-104

The legendary Belgian Air Force pilot Bill Ongena used to do something with his F-104G that even Lockheed and its test pilots deemed impossible: a touch-roll-touch with an airplane notorious for its lack of aerodynamic friendliness at low speeds.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Lockheed
• Starfighter
• F-104
• 104
• airforce
• belgian
• belgium
• Bill
• Ongena
• Bill Ongena
• touch
• roll
• airplane
• pilot
• pilots
• test pilots
• impossible
• low
• speed
• stunt
• air force

[thekenemy]

According to my old Dutch teacher who was a ground crew member for the Belgian starfighters, the idea was to do this as close to the ground as possible. He claims to have witnessed a horrible crash where the pilot for some reason ejected during this manoeuvre and got launched into the ground. This must have been Cpt. Susse Jacobs. I don't know whether these f-104's ejected upwards or downwards. Some internet research suggest there might be footage of this crash, but I can't find it.

[alessandromartens]

@thekenemy It was indeed Susse Jacobs, who replaced Ongena after his retirement, who was killed while ejecting after a badly performed roll-touch-roll. The downwards ejecting seats were only installed in the early models of the F-104 and owned by the USAF. The rest, wisely, ejected upwards. I have no idea if there's a video of Jacobs tragic ending. Ciao Alex

[TheWalkera]

bill à executer cette manoeuvre au dessus de l'aéroclub de maubray en belgique , il a même sauté en parachute au départ d'un avion de tourisme, j'ai le témoignage d'un mécano de bauvechin , un ami , qui m'a décrit l'ambiance de ce triste jour.

quoiqu'il en soit même si la manoeuvre est inutileet dangereuse elle est cependant grandiose je vous le répéte : c'est du belge!à oui mon fils est éléve pilote planeur à maubray...

jp hanart

[TheWalkera]

Bill to execute this maneuver above the Flying Club Maubray in Belgium, he has even parachuted in from a light aircraft, I have the testimony of a mechanic bauvechin, friend me describes the atmosphere of this sad day.

Anyway even if the maneuver is Inut dangerous it is nevertheless impressive I repeat: it's Belgian! to yes my son is a student glider pilot to Maubray ...

jp hanart

[TheWalkera]

I know people who have seen the accident ... there are pictures ...... my respects to the performance of SUS and BILL my friendships with their families

[TheWalkera]

I know people who have seen the accident ... there are pictures ...... my respects to the performance of SUS and BILL my friendships with their families

j-p hanart

[thekenemy]

On another note, he also claimed the f-104's had rubber covers on their wings because people kept cutting themselves on the leading edges :)

[TheWalkera]

I'm Belgian and children of the 60s was one of my dreams Seeing this fighter pilot is okay to have put this video online ...

the memorable Ongena with Jacobs .. the U.S. not understand that it does not come from home ...

jphanart

[longsweep1]

unbelievable! very nice footage!