New use for Starfighters

[MartG]

BBC article about the F-104 Starfighter, and it's new use as a satellite launcher

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20160826-the-1950s...

[Caruso]

Always loved the look of those. Interesting history, thanks.

[bigkeeko]

Cool article.

[j4ckos mate]

They were amazing things,

the west german airforce used to display two together

[Halmyre]

j4ckos mate said:

They were amazing things,

the west german airforce used to display two together

There's an obvious punchline here, but is that the fluttering of wings I hear?...

[aeropilot]

j4ckos mate said:

They were amazing things,

the west german airforce used to display two together

To be a geeky pendant......I know, but it is PH

The 2 x F104 Team Viking was the West German Navy, not the airforce.

[dr_gn]

Bit like the F-15 ASAT system I guess:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASM-135_ASAT

If the missile could hit an orbiting satellite at 15,000 mph, the warhead could presumably have been put into orbit itself with a bit more velocity.

[Tango13]

The USAF were experimenting with aircraft launched anti satellite systems back in the days of the B-58.

I doubt that article was written by anyone working at the BBC, it's far too accurate and well written

[Dr Jekyll]

If they can't find enough Starfighters there is a Lightning being rebuilt in the US...

[aeropilot]

Dr Jekyll said:

If they can't find enough Starfighters there is a Lightning being rebuilt in the US...

Here's 3 of the 7 they have - don't think they need of a Frightening (especially as their aircrew and groundcrew are pretty much all ex-F104 people, incl ex-IAF and ex-GAF)

[Dr Jekyll]

aeropilot said:

Here's 3 of the 7 they have - don't think they need of a Frightening (especially as their aircrew and groundcrew are pretty much all ex-F104 people, incl ex-IAF and ex-GAF)

Philistines.

[Some Gump]

What a good looking machine.