The most beautiful jet fighter ever made

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That Time the Luftwaffe Experimented with a Rocket-Launched F-104G Starfighter
12 Jan 2018

https://theaviationist.com/2018/01/...ed-with-a-rocket-launched-f-104g-starfighter/

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[video=youtube;XCbegiIhLGg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCbegiIhLGg[/video]
Great footage - thanks for posting. Interested to know more about the impulse of the rocket motor used and whether it was an adaptation of an existing unit used elsewhere or specifically designed for this job. It's easy enough to see what the propellant was...
 
Great footage - thanks for posting. Interested to know more about the impulse of the rocket motor used and whether it was an adaptation of an existing unit used elsewhere or specifically designed for this job. It's easy enough to see what the propellant was...

https://books.google.com/books?id=z...AEIWDAK#v=onepage&q=F104 zero takeoff&f=false

Ask and ye shall receive, the rocket was a 120,000 lb thrust SRM (which may actually be a 55,000lb thrust, however they did have a 4KS-130000 JATO unit 4seconds thrust @130000lbs) developed for/from the TM-61 Matador JATO unit. Hopefully the link works as its an excerpt from a book Pg. 89 of Lockheed F-104 Starfighter Warbird Tech vol. 38 by Jim Upton.
 
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https://books.google.com/books?id=z...AEIWDAK#v=onepage&q=F104 zero takeoff&f=false

Ask and ye shall receive, the rocket was a 120,000 lb thrust SRM (which may actually be a 55,000lb thrust, however they did have a 4KS-130000 JATO unit 4seconds thrust @130000lbs) developed for/from the TM-61 Matador JATO unit. Hopefully the link works as its an excerpt from a book Pg. 89 of Lockheed F-104 Starfighter Warbird Tech vol. 38 by Jim Upton.

Thanks very much Rich - link worked perfectly. Fascinating stuff!
 
North of 150 posts and still haven't seen a more beautiful jet fighter than the F-104 Starfighter.

UNDISPUTED !!! :gavel::gavel::gavel::gavel:


Even in PMC:

starfighter 2-16-2013.jpg
 
Same era. Also cancled but at least it got to fly, the BAC TSR-2:
trs2.jpgxr222-duxford-2006-05-31.jpg

While the XF108 was intended to be a fighter/interceptor, I figure the earlier thread photos of the B2 opened up the topic a bit, which is why I added the Vigilante, and TSR-2, which were bombers. Was the TSR-2 ever assigned a name? I guess I don't know.
 
TSR2 , yes!

Nope no name, I believe it was recon and bomber.

My tech drawing teacher at school used to be a draughtsman at (RAF) Salmesbury where they built and flew this beastie... caught me drawing F4 Phantoms one day and pulled me to one side to show me a scrapbook he had of his original drawings.

A couple of years later I got to climb over the one at the museum at Duxford when we visited with cadets.

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edit spelling
 
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Same era. Also cancled but at least it got to fly, the BAC TSR-2:
View attachment 336244View attachment 336245

While the XF108 was intended to be a fighter/interceptor, I figure the earlier thread photos of the B2 opened up the topic a bit, which is why I added the Vigilante, and TSR-2, which were bombers. Was the TSR-2 ever assigned a name? I guess I don't know.

Beautiful plane the cancellation of which is still a very emotive topic amongst those of us in Britain with family who are/were in aeroengineering. A sober and objective review of some of the historical backstory here: https://hushkit.net/2012/05/14/the-bac-tsr-2-bombing-the-myth/

The TSR 2 was probably never assigned a name because it never got that far towards actual service: for example, the Tornado was for a long time known simply as the MRCA (Multi Role Combat Aircraft - or as my Dad's mates on the shopfloor reportedly referred to it 'Mother Riley's Cardboard Aeroplane')

I love the TSR 2 but if I'm really honest an equally tragic beauty, the CF105 Arrow, beats it in looks for me.
 
Even this yank appreciates them and senses the loss.
A kind observance, sir. All things must pass. My father told me that when he started work in the Rolls Royce factory in the 1950s building jet engines there was a sign on the wall to the effect of 'Remember the Zeppelin builders - they were the future once'.
 
I love the Voodoo and was going to mention it a couple of weeks ago but didn't run across a cool in-flight pic.


But 'ya gotta love the scoops on that Thud:
View attachment 336315View attachment 336316

Then there is the Thud nose art that is absolutely NSFW: (But hey, if you really don't wanna miss that tanker...)
https://laststandonzombieisland.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/pussy-galore.jpg?w=1400

I,m gonna have to agree with you on the 101. The single seat RF was particularly pretty!
The 105 was really optimized for low altitude penetration. A buddy of mine( older than me) flew F-4's in Nam. He recalled to me that while escorting the 105's , the F-4's would have to "stroke the burners" to keep up! The 105's were loaded with bombs!
 
F-16C From Nellis Air Force Base’s Aggressor Squadron Wearing The Have Glass V Paint Scheme

https://theaviationist.com/2018/01/...uadron-wearing-the-have-glass-v-paint-scheme/

It is called “Have Glass 5th generation” as it represents the evolution of the standard Have Glass program that saw all the F-16s receiving a two-tone grey color scheme made with a special radar-absorbing paint capable to reduce the aircraft Radar Cross Section: in fact, “Vipers” are covered with RAM (Radar Absorbent Material) made of microscopic metal grains that can degrade the radar signature of the aircraft.

For the moment, the JSF-like paint job will be applied to the F-16CM (formerly CJ) Block 50 Fighting Falcon aircraft that can carry a variety of air-to-air and air-to-surface ordnance, including HARM (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missiles) and precision-guided munitions.

Their role is to enter the enemy territory ahead of the strike package to take care of the enemy air defenses: radars and fixed and mobile SAM (Surface to Air Missiles) batteries.


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F-16-Have-Glass-Aggressors-2.jpg


F-16-Have-Glass-Aggressors.jpg
 
I always liked the Wild Weasels, of whatever planform , but esp. the F4s and Thuds. When I was working at TI, they were making the HARM missile stuff in the next building over (Paveways, too - military products division). They showed us several films, I don't guess it was secret, but it was not widely distributed, of the HARMS in action. Would not have wanted to be at the receiving end!
 
Spent 19 of my 20 years on the Eagle so I'm a little biased. She's got it all! [FONT=&quot]My E-model 87-191, loaded for static display at the Dayton Air Show. The F-14 jock next to us thought we were lying but the jet can take off carrying 20,000 pounds of "warheads for foreheads". The second pic is the notorious 1 wing landing by a Saudi pilot! Try dat one on for size...[/FONT]

87-190.jpg

F-15-960_640.jpg
 
Since I originated this thread, as I've said before I don't mind if it evolves to the broader topic of "most beautiful fixed wing, jet or rocket propelled manned military aircraft".

[video=youtube;cTrdi-660LU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTrdi-660LU[/video]
 
https://goo.gl/images/XktbMZ
Though admittedly a death trap for it's pilot. And having only one confirmed kill during the war. The Heinkel He 162 Volksjäger, better known as the Salamander, is in my opinion, one beautiful aircraft.

If given more time to develop the airframe, having gone from securing contract to test flight in just 72 days, Ernst Heinkel and his design team may very well have been able to produce one of the finest short range fighter aircraft of the war. https://www.aviation-history.com/heinkel/he162.html

My first thoughts went to the Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet. https://goo.gl/images/6AS3Cz
But, since we're talking 'jet' fighters here. That little ball of hypergolic fire doesn't fit into the conversation.

Dang! I do loves' me some not so pilot friendly aircraft, don't I.
 
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Here are two that I have always loved
sea_vixen_mid_air_close_up-1024x683.jpg
I know, it was a dog when it came to performance, killed pilots and had that goofy offset cockpit with the "coal hole" beside it but the lines of the Sea Vixen are simply gorgeous.

sea-venom-r.jpg
And the Vixen's predecessor, Sea Venom. The fairing that was added for the tail hook really completes the lines of this one.
 
Was able to see the Messerschmitt Flugmuseum while in Manching Germany last year, was very cool!!! 262, 163, 109 and such. Was the best museum visit while I was there, as the group was small and the guides were pilots.
 
My vote: the Saab JAS 39 Gripen. Love those canard wings. Also its' predecessors in the Swedish air force, the Viggen and the Draken.


1024px-Saab_JAS_39_Gripen_at_Kaivopuisto_Air_Show,_June_2017_(altered)_copy.jpg

And I'm not even Swedish. Too cool.:cool:
 
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