Starfighter returns to European skies

[aeropilot]

After a decade plus long restoration, an ex-RNoAF TF-104 Starfighter took the skies again a few days ago.

What a fabulous achievement.


Love that F-104 J79 howl

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01jRZBBvwCQ

Some stunning footage here taken from the RNoAF F-16 chase plane

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdMioGFmUqM

[saaby93]

Not sure getting one in the air is a a great idea - did they have a good propensity for staying there?

[aeropilot]

saaby93 said:

Not sure getting one in the air is a a great idea - did they have a good propensity for staying there?

Not due to any technical issues with the aircraft, it's not a massively technically complex one, it was more to do with it being used often in a role it wasn't originally designed for, and by airforces that, at the time, simply didn't have the experience in operating such an aircraft.
The RNoAF had one of the better records of operating the Hooter, and the Japanese had a very low loss rate, using it in the role it was originally designed for. The Spanish AF also had a low loss rate - they didn't loose one!! although they didn't operate it for the length of time that others did.

[NM62]

aeropilot said:

After a decade plus long restoration, an ex-RNoAF TF-104 Starfighter took the skies again a few days ago.

What a fabulous achievement.


Love that F-104 J79 howl

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01jRZBBvwCQ

Some stunning footage here taken from the RNoAF F-16 chase plane

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdMioGFmUqM

Thanks for posting that - glorious!

That brought back memories from seeing many F-104's from various air forces / navies in the U.K. and Europe in the late 70's and early 80's.

And you're right about the howl!

[hammo19]

Ah man that was great to watch....brought back so many memories

[Riley Blue]

It brought back memories of my time in Germany from '65 - '67 when it seemed they were falling from the sky every week. It's one of the memories from that era that sticks in my mind. An insight into the Luftwaffe's experience with the Starfighter here: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/f104_17.ht...

[anonymous-user]

That is fking awesome. Thanks for sharing!

[anonymous-user]

aeropilot said:

After a decade plus long restoration, an ex-RNoAF TF-104 Starfighter took the skies again a few days ago.

What a fabulous achievement.


Love that F-104 J79 howl

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01jRZBBvwCQ

Some stunning footage here taken from the RNoAF F-16 chase plane

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdMioGFmUqM

I had that on the TV thought it was a bit quiet so cranked up the volume then the starfighter wound it up and it was suddenly LOUD. My poor dog ran out of the room.

[72twink]

Excellent memories, I remember being at the IAT at Greenham '80 or '81 (pre cruise and wimmin) and they were everywhere, German, Norwegian and didn't the Canadians have a team of 5, 4 with tip tanks that did formation stuff and a fifth "slick" example that did the silly fast stuff? Can we have an F8 back in the sky next please?

[Eric Mc]

I think the Canadian F-104 team was known as Tiger Romeo.

[NM62]

Found this on fighter Control.co.uk -

,All 3 of the CAF CF-104 sqns of 1CAG(441, 439, 421) at Sollingen had a team at one time or another from 1970-1980. They were either 4 or 5 ship teams (3/4 formation and a solo) and went by several names depending on the unit - Tiger Romeos, Red Indians, Check Whiskey and Redskins.. From late 1980 the team was fielded by 1CAG as a whole and used The Starfighters name until their tragic accident early in 1983 and the team was disbanded. The Slivers pair were just something else and really showed off the 104s abilities, they lasted until 1975. The Vikings were officially named in 1983 though there had been Marineflieger pairs for many years. They flew until 1986 when 2teams were formed, one touring N America.

I certainly remember "The Red Indians" at Mildenhall air show but then my memory has been proven faulty at times

And The German Navy Vikings ( but cannot remember where).

[aeropilot]

The Slivers were the Belgian 104 team - they were a couple of right nutters

I'm not sure if I ever saw them, might have done at one of the Biggin Hill BoB shows in the 70's, but not sure tbh.

Saw one of the Canadian 104 teams at Greenham I think.....got an old grainy shot somewhere taken on my little 110 camera I had as a teenager.

Fond memories of the Marineflieger duo though right up until their last UK displays in 1987. I remember the fast solo, just nudging the sound barrier run at Fairford that year, the loud crack & boom made me nearly fall off the step ladder as I was filming
I think their last ever UK show was the '87 Leicester International Airshow on the Aug bank holiday that year. I remember that my plans to go and see this last show were thwarted by a broken 4 branch manifold on my Sunbeam Ti

[72twink]

The Red Indians is the name I remember from back then and I certainly remember 104s at Biggin as it was my local show.

[Ginetta G15 Girl]

IAT 79 or possible IAT 81.

A transatlantic voice comes over the tannoy:

"Ladies and Gentlemen...The sound of freedom!"

Followed by 4x CF104s crossing the crowd-line from behind at nought foot six and warp factor snot.


The entire crowd-line ducked as one.


It was an awesome sight (and sound) but it would never be allowed today.

[aeropilot]

Ginetta G15 Girl said:

IAT 79 or possible IAT 81.

A transatlantic voice comes over the tannoy:

"Ladies and Gentlemen...The sound of freedom!"

Followed by 4x CF104s crossing the crowd-line from behind at nought foot six and warp factor snot.


The entire crowd-line ducked as one.


It was an awesome sight (and sound) but it would never be allowed today.

I'm pretty sure it was '79......Herc 25th Anniversay line-up and the last year of the Reds with Gnats - have all on grainy 110 shots.

I had a 35mm SLR by '81.


Oh....and warp factor snot

[Eric Mc]

I was there in 1979. Nice weather too.

[NM62]

Ginetta G15 Girl said:

IAT 79 or possible IAT 81.

A transatlantic voice comes over the tannoy:

"Ladies and Gentlemen...The sound of freedom!"

Followed by 4x CF104s crossing the crowd-line from behind at nought foot six and warp factor snot.


The entire crowd-line ducked as one.


It was an awesome sight (and sound) but it would never be allowed today.

I remember both those shows (think it was 79 as aero pilot said) and they did it at Mildenhall around that time too - never seen so many people duck in unison

Edited by NM62 on Monday 3rd October 16:25

[telecat]

I have to ask. How come a private group can fly a Supersonic ex military aircraft in Norway??

[aeropilot]

telecat said:

I have to ask. How come a private group can fly a Supersonic ex military aircraft in Norway??

It's not quite any old private group, as there are direct links to the RNoAF museum (a/c was released from the museum to the group) and restoration was done within the RNoAF base at Bodo etc. You don't get an airforce F-16 chase plane accompanying your first flight if you are 'just' a private group....even if your TP is the RNoAF senior TP
This is closer to the 'official' operation of the Swedish Airforce Historic Flight operation of the Saab Tunnen, Lansen, Draken and Viggen.

[telecat]

Got to admit a "Cold War" flight with the Vulcan, Victor, Lightning, Buccaneer and Phantom would be interesting. Shame the MOD can't be bothered to maintain the current Red Arrows to a safe standard.