I grew up in the 70s and 80s in the Eifel region in Germany. There were two US airbases with F-104 squadrons in the area and they trained almost daily. The howling and the occasional sonic booms were an integral part of the sound of my youth during the cold war. This video brings back memories...

@retrogamer1

7 ай бұрын

I'm from Düren and in the 80ies we had sonic booms all day long. Somewhat annoying but we were used to it. The F104 is a beautiful, we could inspect her in numerous low flying military trainings.

@williamwilson6499

5 ай бұрын

Don’t think that’s correct. Germans were flying the F-104 during that time, but not USAFE. I was 3rd Infantry Division 76-79 at Schweinfurt, FRG and the Luftwaffe were flying the Starfighter while USAFE flew F-4 Phantoms.

@JCrashB

5 ай бұрын

@@williamwilson6499 You're probably right, I just assumed that the 104s were piloted by USAF because of the airbases around my hometown. Maybe it was combined training between GAF and USAF because I also remember seeing a lot of F4s at that time.

@williamwilson6499

5 ай бұрын

@@JCrashB Whenever we were out on exercises, the Luftwaffe and USAFE jets would periodically do simulated strafing runs on us…sometimes I think they did it just for fun. The F-4 was pretty bad noise wise, but that F-104 was a demon out of hell. They would scream down on us, pull up, and hit those afterburners.

@freiheitsfighter3051

3 ай бұрын

Anyways, in the Bergisches Land in the 70s on a farm, they always came in pairs, low, afraid they would rip the chimney off. Occasional sonic boom , higher up then. Very seldom simulated dog fights, remember one with afterburner going straight up, very impressive.

A plane designed in the 50s, still looking “futuristic” in 2021, Kelly Jonson was a visionary genius.

@StrelitziaLiveries

3 жыл бұрын

Looks cool but idk about "futuristic"

@bobthompson4319

3 жыл бұрын

Kelly's SR-71 is what amazes me. Its 50s tech also.

@John_Redcorn_

3 жыл бұрын

@@bobthompson4319 yep. All analog. Nothing digital

@josie4065

3 жыл бұрын

Kelly is a legend

@bobthompson4319

3 жыл бұрын

@@josie4065 more like legend is defined by kelly.

When i was a boy and was living in east-bavaria in germany more than fifty years ago, nearly every day a 104 flew above our village at a very low altitude. I'll never forget that shrill howling. Till now it causes goosebumps on my skin. Awesome.

@DilbertMuc

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, the same in northern Baden area. The US Air Force trained in the Black Forest valleys. Never forget the shock reaction at the dinner table, when they suddenly screached above our house in low altitude without any warnings. Good to know, that those days are long gone.

@vidright

3 жыл бұрын

@@DilbertMuc Yeah, thanks god those days are gone and the cold war is over. Hopefullly it never will return.

@rickreimer1050

3 жыл бұрын

Canadian Airforce flew these out of Baden-Baden and occasionally out of Lahr.

@tazman5722

3 жыл бұрын

@@rickreimer1050 I was posted to Lahr 1987-89, and Baden Söllingen 1989-1992. Best time of my 35 years service.

@rickreimer1050

3 жыл бұрын

@@tazman5722 I was posted on Lahr 76-81. I agree, best posting ever!

After seeing this video, it brought back fond memories of Edwards AFB. I used to work there in 1962 on the X-15 project. They used 104's as chase planes for the X-15 flights. I'll never forget the sound of those J-79's... (gave me 'chills' when I saw it)

This is one of the best 104 video's I have seen, you can really hear what the airplane sound like.

@jimhardy743

3 жыл бұрын

awesome!

@donaldstanfield8862

3 жыл бұрын

It's stunning

@matthiasstock9620

2 жыл бұрын

Havent heard them since my childhood. I think the last one I witnessed flying was around 1990. In the years before they were flying over our region almost daily.

@klesmer

2 жыл бұрын

@@matthiasstock9620 Sounds about right. The Starfighter demo team started and were based out of ST. Pet/Clearwater International in Clearwater Florida,US. The southbound approach goes right over my house so I was serenaded every time they practiced. I don't know what happened to them , I sure miss the 104 howl and insane approach speed.

@matthiasstock9620

2 жыл бұрын

@@klesmer I'm from northern Germany and we had two military airports with F104 within 25 km range. So there were a lot of them. I also remember knowing a F104 pilot who later died in a crash of his machine.

Perfect! Great job capturing all that F-104/J79 goodness! No cuts, no music, no talking, just beautiful! I live for the smoke & thunder of old turbojets and low-bypass turbofans and the 104's amazing sound! The short turkey feather variable area nozzle makes thst fantastic howl!

@Ceusky

3 жыл бұрын

Is that the reason.? Is not the engine itself but the nozzle? Cool!

@mytmousemalibu

3 жыл бұрын

@@Ceusky Its all in the nozzle. The last of the Starfighters, the Italian F-104S had the long feather nozzles and do not howl. Same for the F-4 Phantoms. Except the British Phantoms, all others were powered by the J79, same basic engine of the 104's. The older F-4C's had short feather nozzles and also howled. Later variants got tbe long feathers and lost the howl. Something about the shorter geometry nozzles creates a resonance at certain power settings. AgentJayZ has many J79 test videos with the short & long feather nozzles. The howl is absent on all except the shortys. These are engine stand tests so that also removes the aircraft type, airspeesd, gun ports, all the normal stuff that makes sounds. Even the different J79 engine type is in actually irrelevant. Its all from the short variable area nozzle.

Thanks for this video, i'm Italian , and the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare) used this fantastic plane for 46 year ! My house is near Istrana AB ,and i remember all the summers clinging to the airport net to see this fantastic plane listening to its howl, 51 air wing, now with the eurofighter 2000 typhoon . I hope, like many others here in Italy, that the experimental flight department in Rome will put one in service to remind all the passionate people here of the fantastic plane it was! This is not noise, it is the sound of freedom

@joeshmoe9978

3 жыл бұрын

Great comment 👍

i grew up around this base in the seventies when these planes came into service.....really freaked me out every tuesday and thursdaynight when they flew nightshizzle. Very eery howl at night in the distance, instant bad memories🙂

Heard this sound a lot in West Germany in the 70s now I have a plane to attach it to. Thank you.

@davidpearn5925

3 жыл бұрын

I seem to recall that they lost a lot in icing conditions. I just think of the wing loading when I see one.

@Flyanb

3 жыл бұрын

The National Guard F 4’s at KDLH in the 70’s through early 80’s sounded the same for me. It’s even better when it’s a flight of 2-3!

@wiesenbefeuchter

3 жыл бұрын

How does this howl come ?

@SonicArrow451

3 жыл бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/l3ZszsGfc66qg9o.html I think I found the pilot.

@Daytonaman675

3 жыл бұрын

Was it followed by a crashing sound? Bad joke but they lost a LOT of them.

As a child I grew up with the impressive and beautiful sound of the F-104 Starfighter. My father was with the Dutch Airforce on airbase Leeuwarden where as a mechanic he was working on this magnificent jet fighter before he changed to the F-16. Hearing this sound, brings back a lot of sweet memories. I even have a picture of myself as a child in the cockpit of an F-104.

@truckindave1

3 жыл бұрын

Post it, dude!

@robertlassiter907

3 жыл бұрын

I spent 2 months at Soesterberg AB back in 78. We came over while they were changing from F-4’s to F-15’s. Was fortunate to see quite a bit of your country. I had a wonderful time there. Great memories for me. Take care.

@Brownie1969

3 жыл бұрын

Since 1986 I've been living in Amersfoort, just a few kilometers from Soesterberg. I still remember the Americans living and working near and on the base. They left in 1994 and in 2008 the airbase was closed. The entire area has now become a nature reserve.

@pugasaurusrex8253

3 жыл бұрын

@@Brownie1969 That’s really cool actually

@yourfriendlyneighborhoodf1802

Жыл бұрын

Must've been hell of a change technology wise to work on F16s coming from F104s

That sound bring back memories from my childhood in the northern Denmark🥰♥️🥰

One of the most beautiful planes built by Lockheed who made a number of beautiful planes from the Connie to the SR 71. Beauty and “easy to fly” not often heard together.

@ursus9104

6 ай бұрын

I think the German pilots have another opinion about that.

@f4ephantom

6 ай бұрын

@@ursus9104 When you try to push an airframe into a role it wasn't designed for sometimes you get unforeseen results.

@komdivmaklenskov1105

6 ай бұрын

@@f4ephantom What, landing safely wasn't part of the design?

@f4ephantom

6 ай бұрын

@@komdivmaklenskov1105 The aircraft was designed to be a high speed high alt interceptor, not used for ground attack. As far as landing safely, not sure what you are implying. Just looking at the small and narrow wings and undercarriage makes it look like a tricky aircraft to land.

@northerngannetproject3147

6 ай бұрын

​@@komdivmaklenskov1105landing speed is high but not particulary dangerous. Concorde had similar speed.

Tears in my eyes and chills down my spine, what an amazing bird.

@gaetanoapicella3903

Жыл бұрын

esagerato...

@sigma_frenchie4075

Жыл бұрын

Not really amazing, sounds good tho

From 1958 to 1961 I lived at China Lake, CA, and went to Richmond Elementary School on base. For 3 years my classroom windows looked north over the test ranges where Sidewinder missiles were tested and F-104s flew. Nearby sonic booms and distant explosions were routine during classroom hours. It was common for the parents of my classmates to be either scientists at the famous Michelson Lab or test Pilots flying the Starfighter or other cutting edge aircraft. At 8-11 years old, I thought this was normal. But being a Navy brat you eventually realize that nothing is forever ....

The most beautiful interceptor ever built, and a evil howl.

@csjaugiedog

3 жыл бұрын

As an interceptor, YES it's the most beautiful, however, in my opinion, a trainer, the T-38, takes the cake.

@timmason7430

3 жыл бұрын

That is a matter of opinion.

@pilot3016

3 жыл бұрын

@@csjaugiedog The Talon is also beautiful.

@misterfonix

3 жыл бұрын

yeah, and it was nicknamed the widow maker because it was stupid dangerous to fly

@pilot3016

3 жыл бұрын

@@misterfonix Semi-true. Two civilians own a pair of them, and I doubt they have a death wish.

We test run a lot of J79s. The ones in the Starfighter are usually the J79-11 model, which I call the smoker and the screamer. I recently posted a video of a -11 test. The smoke is proportional to power setting, and the screaming occurs at flight idle and just above. This video of one flying is just great. I loved it. Most of my J79 videos are of the later model, the -19, which doesn't smoke or scream. More powerful, but less exciting!

@needleonthevinyl

3 жыл бұрын

Can't think of anything J79-powered without thinking of your channel

@CessnaPilot99

3 жыл бұрын

It is the turbojet man himself! Btw I'm an Embry-riddle a&p grad looking for work in the your area of expertise if you are hiring

@seagrave7336

3 жыл бұрын

I have watched your static test vids of jet engines. Thoroughly enjoy them!

@erickborling1302

3 жыл бұрын

AgentJayZ Great to hear from our friendly canuck jet engine expert! This looked like the "overheard maneuver" clearance ATC would provide so the fast movers can slow down quickly over the airport by turning. But this rocket with teensy wings lands hella fast. Less fun in landing. As to all other phases of flight... NO OBJECTION, your honor.

@ethanspaziani5269

3 жыл бұрын

Well well well fancy seeing you here

Being a Canadian "Air Force Brat" growing up in the 50s and 60s, I remember these (the CF-104 for the RCAF). Descriptions often contained phrases such as "the glide angle of a brick", but pilots claimed to love them anyway, though of course fighter pilots aren't completely sane to start with (that's a compliment, by the way). And OMG, just look at it! It's gorgeous. Full marks on the sight and sound fronts. I also remember building the plastic model kit (by Revell - I think) when I was about 8 or 9 years old . Ah, nostalgia. 😊

@joeshmoe9978

3 жыл бұрын

I think the F-104 looked best in Canadian markings. 😎

@fdhicks69

7 ай бұрын

To start your descent throttle back to about 320 KIAS.

I spent 13 months at a base camp near the end of the runway at Bien Hoa Airbase, Vietnam. I could just hear the sound and tell you if it was a 104, 105, 101 Voo Doo or an F4 Fantom. Some memories just won’t die.

My father was a mechanic in Turkish Air Force and some times he took me to the base with him. It was the time just before these beautiful birds were retired. There were f-4 Phantoms and F-104 Starfighters located in the base (and some f-5s). I remember that I observe F-104s were landing way more faster than Phantoms. Later I found out it was because the different aero-dynamics. Oh, and the sound.. It was beautifull, and a little bit chilling :)) I am still in love with both Phantoms and Starfighters, they are both stunning, charismatic.. Thanks for the beautifull video..

I remember seeing the Belgian Aerobatic team, The Slivers flying the F-104s, at an air display at Prestwick in Scotland in the very early 70's. Their routine was spectacular and very noisey.

@GRHDA

3 жыл бұрын

I well remember those boys at Biggin. Lord knows what effect it had on the pilots but that music gave every red blooded male at Biggin a stiffie,

@wolf828pack6

3 жыл бұрын

Biggin hill air fares I see them at. I can still hear them now. Wow what a glorious sound for young ears .

The only military aircraft that does mach 2 without moving.

@joaquinliras4617

3 жыл бұрын

... Or a Convair Coronado Taking off?

@rickroltrap8124

2 жыл бұрын

Sad mig25 noises

@insertname.5985

2 жыл бұрын

MiG 25, maybe 31, SR 71, X-15 Mach 5 Hypersonic test plane be like

2:30 Now I get where George Lucas got his inspiration for the TIE fighter sound from

@ericssmith2014

3 жыл бұрын

_And_ it's called a "starfighter," hmm...

@nel1962

3 жыл бұрын

Actually the Stuka Dive Bomber was the inspiration for the Tie roar.

@Sadik15B

3 жыл бұрын

From thailand?

@kidkique

3 жыл бұрын

I was just thinking it sounded like Star Wars

@joeshmoe9978

3 жыл бұрын

@@nel1962 the dive activated siren?

I've always found it amazing that a jet with that wingspan could fly, let alone land! Great engineering!

@thePronto

7 ай бұрын

Many German widows agree.

@sapiensiski

5 ай бұрын

​@@theProntobad pilots

Man, I haven't heard that scream in a long time! Thanks for the memory!

My God the J79, what a magnificent engine.

@Livinghighandwise

3 жыл бұрын

It was for it's day.

0:27 - To me, what an INCREDIBLY, handsome plane. Great job of filming...thank you. ☮

Sounds that take me back to Bitburg AFB 1968-1971 ... The green grass, the birds and the sound of the F-104 ...Germany before mass immigration. Wish I could travel back in time

Great video! This banshee-like, howling, J-79 engine is music to my ears! I kinda feel a bit nostalgic, thinking that the Starfighter was a no brainer, such a common sight back in the 70s. Now, it's become such a rarity. But it still attracts crowds and fans alike! Long live the F-104!

I remember as a kid 4 of these at RAF Greenham common international air tattoo all 4 engines howling it was awesome great jets and great memory.

One of the best looking and best sounding jets ever made! I used this spesific plane when I was "tug training" in Norway 1984. This was before we were aloud to pull the F-16.

@cordongrouch9323

3 жыл бұрын

*Specific.

@altair7001

3 жыл бұрын

"allowed"

@cordongrouch9323

3 жыл бұрын

@@altair7001 Missed that one. My bad.

I love how no one is saying a word and just appreciating the fascinating sound of this beautiful aircraft❤

Beautiful sound of the F-104 Starfighter.

This video should be at 10 million views with monetization. I have never heard a jet that gave me goosebumps THRU THE VIDEO.

That is one of the best sounds in the world 😍🤩

WOW!!! How I miss that eerie howl. I loved these in the 80’s. I was stood at crash gate 3 at RAF Binbrook one day in thick fog. You couldn’t see a thing, then out of the blue this eerie howl appeared and two Starfighters came through the fog and landed. I will always remember that.

I love this F104 houling Sound. Best engine Sound ever😁

The “lawn dart”, the M-61 and the mighty, mighty J-79; what and awesome combination!

The sound of freedom in the1970years in West-Germany , when we were children.....great rememberance

@bananajoe3669

3 жыл бұрын

Ja, yes! I remember the old days at Mittelfranken with a lot of Starfighters, but especially the LFA-7 oder Area-7 at the Hesselberg where we had seen so many of these birds. So sad that the skies are so silent now... ☹️

@pleaseenteranamelol711

3 жыл бұрын

Ah yes, the sound of lockheed bribes and german pilots dying like flies because they were forced to fly low in a plane designed as a high altitude interceptor. Beautiful

@voornaam3191

3 жыл бұрын

Wrong! That is the sound of hundreds of pilot's widows. Because the European Airforces were in fact test pilots. Those Starfighters were not safe enough to be sold, huh? So the pilots were lab rats. If only they knew... Do you know the first ejection seats were aiming DOWN?! Yeah, it was hundreds of screaming widows, you just heard.

@avzansbach

3 жыл бұрын

Da kann ich mich auch noch sehr gut daran erinnern wie die in katterbach ca 10 m über unser Hausdach eingeflogen sind! Ich war da so um die 5 Jahre alt!

@beachmaster1614

3 жыл бұрын

@@voornaam3191 also a cold war take comrades away. Anyway it was a period of learning for the german air force in a hard way.

The howl from this animal is felt from beyond visual. It's best when this engine can't be seen. Crazy

Between the gorgeous lines and the amazing banshee type sound, there is nothing like a 104 in flight.

Awesome indeed. A real flying blowtorch attached to a whistle. I lived a 5 km from a military airfield as a teenager during the cold war (those seventies!). And they were flying a lot almost every day, the landing circuit was above the house hard to forget the noise!! I remember taking my bicycle to the direct proximity of the airstrip. You should hear them at takeoff, literally shaking ones guts. Fortunately they were never called into real action. I wanted to become a pilot myself....

F-104 sounds and old rock and roll both made great music.

Thanks for this video, i remember this sound when i was young and even today im still amazed by it, one of the best sounding aircraft ever, i love it!

That was a scary landing. It just drops like a rock on approach. And still going fast. No room for error.

What a beauty. I didn't know they were still flying.

@erfgoedgidsveenhuizen

3 жыл бұрын

Norway has one flying in the European airshow circuit

@ParkerUAS

3 жыл бұрын

There is a company called "Starfighters" that flies three CF-104's (former RCAF F-104's) out of Clearwater Florida. They used to do quite a bit of airshow in the US, but have gone more private contract for use as enemy simulation and high performance chase aircraft.

@Lhenry-pf5zn

Жыл бұрын

@@ParkerUAS CF-104s built by Canadair in Canada.

@Lhenry-pf5zn

Жыл бұрын

As is the one in Norway.

I was stationed at Luke AFB, Arizona in 1967-68. The F-104 and F-100 were the primary aircraft at Luke and this video brings back a lot of memories.

Never seen an F-104 in the wild, and had no idea they had such a distinctive sound. Nice!

that Sound!!! ...thousands of memories... fashinating, thank You!

Possibly the coolest jet ever....Kelly Johnson was a true genius

@yli97

3 жыл бұрын

I agree 100%

@randomnickify

3 жыл бұрын

Wives of the pilots killed by that Widowmaker would not agree. I mean... on average 1 of every 3 crashed, I would be inclined to call the guy murderer but for sure not a genius.

@5000mahmud

3 жыл бұрын

@@randomnickify guy helped design the SR-71, for sure a genius

@sixbells99

3 жыл бұрын

The Starfighter was without doubt the most deadly fighter jet ever to go into service. But not deadly for the enemy but the pilots who flew it. As iconic as it was, its also was a death trap. There are a few documentaries about it and it entered service in Europe due to Bribes and corruption. The US quickly replaced it.

@randomnickify

3 жыл бұрын

@Kia C apostrophe D only small fraction of cars crashes not 33% of them, and that's generally driver error, not because they are unflyable coffins.

The smoke and banshee howl is enough to make the enemy surrender.

@necsoiub

3 жыл бұрын

That airplane is more of a menace for the pilot than the enemy is. It's also called "The Widowmaker".

@senior_ranger

3 жыл бұрын

Obviously, you never faced the Viet Cong.

@cf6282

3 жыл бұрын

Back in the seventees we had a hijacking of a train in the north of the country. They train was raided by the marines. But to cover the assault Starfighters we sent in to create shock and awe. They would dive on the train at speed and pull up just overhead engaging full afterburners. I leved near an airbase where the practiced the runs. It was a sunday and flying on sunday was pretty unusual. We heard them make a big noise. Live at about 12 km and was wondering what it was all about. The next day we knew.....it was straight on the news! Future highest Air Force officer was on that raid. The result....the terrorist were captured or killed. At least one of the hostage got killed in the action. At the same time a Kindergarten had been raided by terrorists. No planes here because of location in a regulart suburb. Still the marines did the job!

@tonioreyes

3 жыл бұрын

@@senior_ranger clearly neither did you LMAO

@localcrew

3 жыл бұрын

🖖

Growing up as a Kid in the 1970/1980 inside Western Germany this was my Sound of Freedom!!!

For those who may be wondering what causes the typical "Howl"............ It is actually the simple event of two differing airflows coming together and causing a whistle! The engine is surrounded with bypass air, some of which is coming from the engine air bypass flaps, and some is coming from generator access doors and aft fuselage suck-in panels. This bypass air is mixed with heated air coming from within the engine, which has been heated due to it having passed through the compressor and hot section. The result is a mixture of heated air, that which has passed through the engine, and cooler air, that which has passed around the engine, all of which is forced to be mixed when it encounters the convergent/divergent exhaust nozzle system. What we have is two airflows, one heated and faster from the engine, mixed with a slower and cooler airflow, from around the engine, forced out through the exhaust. The result is a whistle. Some call it a howl.

@Lhenry-pf5zn

Жыл бұрын

Always reminded me of our Great Northern Canadian wolves when my father flew them out of Cold Lake, Alberta.

The "Widowmaker" is a rare sight to see flying now. But they still sound pretty damn epic :-))...

I love old aircraft, and what I remember most about this one is that the turning radius was 5 miles, or 8 km. Beautiful aircraft...

@andyman8630

3 жыл бұрын

and that's on the tarmac!!

@f4ephantom

6 ай бұрын

I love old aircraft as well, but it was a real shock when the birds I worked on started turning into drones and museum pieces. I guess getting old sure beats the alternative, 😁

Wow! this has just popped up on my utube feed....it takes me right back to the early 70's when the F104's used to "howl" over RAF Gutersloh....the days when FR10's & F2A's ruled the skies over Gutersloh.....happy memories😊

Ab-SO-lutely AMAZING sound and video of such an iconic aircraft!!

When I was stationed at Luke AFB in Arizona in the early 1970's Luke did all the F-104 pilot training for the German Air Force. We used to call it the largest German Air Force base in the world because of the number of German owned 104's kept there. A few miles off the end of the runway was the Sun City (still there) retirement community and they would constantly call the base complaining about the noise when the 104's were active. When Luke was built it was way out in the desert but as Phoenix grew the surrounding area became heavily populated. They probably still complain about the jet noise.

@pbsjones

3 жыл бұрын

Me too -- late 70's! Luke had so many transient aircraft, it got so one could identify each aircraft by the sound of its engines. The scream of the F-104 was very distinctive.

@oldtimehockey7324

3 жыл бұрын

My Grandparents winter home was in SunCity. I remember visiting them in the mid 80’s and sitting on their back patio and watching the planes work the pattern. I think it was predominantly F16’s but my memory may be failing me. Anyways, my grandfather earned a civil engineering degree from the University of Iowa in the late 30’s. When the war started he joined the Army Air Corps and was assigned to help turn a Packard car factory into a Rolls Royce engine manufacturing facility. After the war he moved back to Iowa and purchased a Piper Apache. Used it to fly it all over the Midwest visiting job sites and Hawkeye football games. Even flew it to the Rose bowl once. When he was looking for a place to winter he had 3 criteria. Warm weather, Golf, and an Air Force base. He used to finish every evening with a scotch and jet noise. I know he was never the one to call Luke and complain about the noise. He loved all of it.

@larrymann2105

3 жыл бұрын

I was sationed at Luke 1963 thru 1964 and the 104's were there then.. Only thing better than the sound of the engine was the sound the gattling gun made when plane was on the harmo range.

@yrkjrk2972

2 жыл бұрын

I can promise you the old hags in sun city still complain, but now it's about 16s snd the occasional 22

@juliojames5986

7 ай бұрын

I worked in the area of Luke, and was on a roof ,off base, not sure it was a 104 but think it was,on take off, something went wrong two pilots ejected One of which the chute did not open in time, one did….the plane continued on !crashing and plowing up a field for a half mile or longer….I saw the whole thing, as the roof was over a school gym, just off base. Those 104’s were great to watch, and hear. A friend of mine flew them in Nam. Thanks

My father was a career Luftwaffe pilot. He said when he left the Starfighter fleet to fly Phantoms it was like "beating the odds"

@elstevobevo

3 жыл бұрын

My grandfather was responsible for downing several Luftwaffe aircraft. Worst mechanic they ever had!

@KaiTakApproach

3 жыл бұрын

if i recall, in the Luftwaffe it was called "the widowmaker" for that reason

@xrayperforator

3 жыл бұрын

@@KaiTakApproach Erdnagel ("tent nail")

@jameswitt605

3 жыл бұрын

He did beat the odds, and that was getting into a plane about which one test pilot said, "The Phantom is proof that even a brick will fly with enough power" At least the Phantom had proper wings with good flaps and droops so it could fly with stability at low speed.

@hayden4516

3 жыл бұрын

He really did beat the odds. The Luftwaffe had a hard time with 104s for years.

I worked on these in 1969 at Homestead AFB 319Th fis. the last operational f104 squadron in the AF. these were -19 engines which gave them superior performance to the f4s though these were A and B models. We lost one on a Sunday, a pilot was doing touch and go's, it stalled and pitched up and rolled, the pilot ejected into the ground killing him. I had heard he was a c124 pilot before. Years later at a reunion of the squadron at San Antonio around 2006 I had the opportunity to talk to the pilots that were there then. (I had since acquired my flight instructor licenses) I asked about the accident, I was told at the time that the accident was caused by a broken bolt that let one of the flaps retract. The pilots informed me that there was a cable connecting the flaps that prevented that from happening. The reason was that the pilot pulled the power back too far and the and he lost boundary layer air for the flaps which came from the 18th or 19th stage compressor, which kept airflow attached to the surface of the flap. Had a great time talking to the pilots there. Sadly the last hurrah of the squadron is held this year due lo too few people left to attend. Great memories

Built for pure speed, brilliant !

That sounds unmistakable!! Loved seeing the 104 @ airshows in the UK static and flying, hope the Norwegian jet comes to the UK one day.

As a kid growing up in the seventies I stayed at my uncles house, he live very near Twente Air Base.. Oh the blessed noise

The CF 104's from CFB Cold Lake, Alberta were annual performers at the Abbottsford International Airshow in British Columbia for many years. Seeing them, the CF 101 Voodoos and the CF5's was a real treat every year.

Living my young years from the 60ies to the 80ies in the vicinity of Volkel AB in the Netherlands this sound is instantaneously recognised, even after 40+ years! That howl stays in my memory, oh yes!!

The starfighter is souch a insane plane. It's just totally pure performance and aesthetics. No compromise.

Lockheed Starfighter!!!! Its sound is distinct, erie, and awesome all at the same time I love it.

@Mr5thWave

3 жыл бұрын

The sound AND the sight. What a unique plane!

I grew up near Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia, U.S., and as an adult moved out of the city to a rural area. One of the things I miss the most is the jet noise. Some people complained, I loved it. My house was close to the Final Approach and I could see the speed brake rising on the F15's as they descended. The F15's stationed there were replaced by F22 Raptors in recent years. Jets are way cool.

When I was a kid growing up in Germany, we had Starfighters flying over our village. I remember the howling sounds of the engine and sonic booms scared the living daylights out of me.

Fabulous ! For once the video represents the real noise of the 104. Thanks !

@95in3rd

3 жыл бұрын

Back when airplanes did what they were supposed to do. Make noise! I miss sonic booms.

That’s a lot of noise from a small plane, holy moly.

@antimattercarp2720

3 жыл бұрын

small is relative, these things are still pretty big

@vEeyore

3 жыл бұрын

Small? This things a fucking train long

@stevengaber7977

3 жыл бұрын

@@antimattercarp2720 Still, a lot of noise from one airplane.

@airgliderz

3 жыл бұрын

You mean beautiful artistic powerful music. It's not noise, period.

@airgliderz

3 жыл бұрын

@@stevengaber7977 You mean beautiful artistic powerful music. It's not noise, period.

Looks like it’ll fall outta the sky below Mach 1. What a bizarre sound. Thanks for the vid.

that sound....."could be only a 104" is what i think everytime i remember it!

What a great sound. Love that high piercing

The F014 was Lockheed's idea of putting tiny wings on the J79 and have a pilot fly it.

@weldonwin

3 жыл бұрын

And it was the US State Department's idea to sell it as an All-Weather Ground Attacker, resulting in a catastrophic number of fatal accidents

@Frankestein01nl

3 жыл бұрын

Lol, and if you wanted to own an F-104 in Germany, all you had to do was buy a plot of land... i was told a couple of years ago. Back then there were many falling from the skies it seems.

@followyourbliss101

3 жыл бұрын

from what i read, it appeared that german pilots crashed the most - must've been something about the plane that didn't make sense to them

@weldonwin

3 жыл бұрын

@@followyourbliss101 Because it was a fighter designed as a high-altitude interceptor, being used as an all weather ground attacker, a role for which it was absolutely unsuited to

@NefariousKoel

3 жыл бұрын

@@followyourbliss101 - From what I've read the FRG would regularly train their F-104 pilots to fly near treetop level for low-level bombing practice. Part of their air war doctrine during the Cold War, for fast penetration of enemy defenses underneath radar. While it was capable of the high-speed part, the '104 wasn't well suited to such a low-level role. It was easier to suffer from mistakes or technical faults while down in the weeds that low, with it's higher stall speed & such.

That was a great interception of all that sound in one - pun inteded!! Thanks for posting 👍👍

MAN I love the Starfighter! Saw one at an airshow as a kid (more like heard) and fell for it hard!

My grandfather Tony LeVier was the first Pilot to fly the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter.

@Nana-rk2xn

Жыл бұрын

Grand 👍

Wow. What a unique sound and great look as well.

I was based in Germany in the 80s as part of BAOR. We were out on exercise one time and two F104Gs "bounced" our position at about 150 feet. The noise was proper, brown trousers, mindboggling. We really didn't know what had hit us. By the time the Air Attack warning sounded they were dots in the distance

Was stationed at CCK Air Base in Taiwan in the 60s. Heard this sound daily. They often taxied past our revetments as we worked on USAF C-130s.

Really cool sounds. Reminds me of the WW2 Corsair. Japanese called it Whistling Death.

@Lhenry-pf5zn

Жыл бұрын

But with the CF-104 you never heard it coming.

The most beautiful plane i have ever seen

these used to fly over my house daily when I was a kid, 20 miles from the East German border. Constantly broke the sound barrier, too, shaking windows and house. We got used to it. Have not heard that sound in a long time. It came usually with a blend of Bell UH-1D chop chop at low altitude as a support concert, also loud as heck.

What an awesome aircraft! Love that sound!!👍😄

Now there is history, just not many around anymore or the men who flew them.👍👍👍👍👍🇺🇸❤🍻

I always loved seeing those at air shows years ago The sound of freedom

@hansb.8

3 жыл бұрын

More the sound of war. Besides, the most unreliable fighter ever build. But it was early days of jet fighters.....

I remember well as an Air Traffic Control Par Controller in Germany doing a "min fuel square" and asking the pilot to "tighten the turn, if able"...what a rush as a par controller...and a lot of fun working with the 104's...great memories...

And two days after, I'm here again just to conclude that your video is the most impressive on KZread, regarding Lockheed F-104! The sound of your recording is just amazing!!!

Missile with a man in it. Love it

@gittarpikk

3 жыл бұрын

I always heard it was a rocket with a saddle

@Lhenry-pf5zn

Жыл бұрын

@@gittarpikk Nope, missile with a man in it.

I fell in love with the Starfighter as a child - "Starfighter"..."STARFIGHTER"! come on!! - now I know it sounds like this...well...the love affair continues.

@andrewaevaliotis8769

3 жыл бұрын

ThePereubu1710 I, too, fell for the Starfighter early on My first model airplane kit was an F-104, looked like a rocket with stubby wings & an oversized tail, heard it was a handful to actually fly but certainly looked the part!

Christ that noise is frightening and awe inspiring

Thank you, I haven't heard that sounds since I was a young teen 1963

That's some Buck Rodgers shit right there.

The most awesome jet fighter of its time!!

When I was posted to Lahr Germany in the late 70s early 80s, Canada had the CF 104. This was a very common sound on the base and surrounding area, this brings back fond memories. Thanks for posting this video.

When I was young we had F104s passing overhead at speed practically every day, and I loved their sound & shape - really missed it when they were phased out by the F16...

Rare footage of a starfighter actually landing safely.

@troyjollimore4100

3 жыл бұрын

Only because they were safe enough not to warrant constant video coverage?

@Paul_C

3 жыл бұрын

In Germany there was a running joke on how to acquire a F-104 'buy a plot of land in the area where they practice low flying, then just wait'. And yes, that was in the sixties and seventies, ancient I know...

@dennisholiday1868

3 жыл бұрын

Yes I seen those things when I was stationed in West Germany but I liked the Mirage 3 and The Saab Vigan better.

@WardenWolf

3 жыл бұрын

@@Paul_C Once they adopted specialized training, the accident rate dropped. People forget that a lot of the early jets were like this. They had handling quirks and each model required specialized training. They were not like older aircraft where a pilot could easily transition without significant retraining. I maintain it was an excellent aircraft in its intended role and by the standards of its day, but when you're on the bleeding edge of technology sometimes you get cut if you're not careful.

@stevengaber7977

3 жыл бұрын

Many air forces used the F-104., some for decades --Spanish, Italians, Dutch, etc. For some reason Germany had the highest accident rate of them all. Were they mis-using the aircraft or were they inadequately trained?

If u like your freedom ? Thank the F- 104 starfighter! ✈

I love that sound. No other plane sounds like that.

@georgemontgomery8720

3 жыл бұрын

I liked the otherworldly sound a B57 made, our ground crew couldn’t see us where we landed at Anchorage, a cycle up and down with the throttles told the whole base we were home (and deaf in our retirement)

That think is incredible. The sound is unbelievable.