This man is a master. I absolutely love it. I never expected to hear an Italian man giving a master class in an F-104, but hell yes.

@PiercarloCiacchi

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Lol, I am glad you enjoyed it, I tried to do my best....we will do more as more flights with no "customer" will become available.

@emanemanrus5835

7 ай бұрын

they had it in service until 2003, can easily believe they are expert of that!

@danijuggernaut

6 ай бұрын

I suggest you to switch ignition on before cranking and ground personel shout wear some head protection with this sharp wing leading and trailing edges.

Kelly Johnson would be so proud to know that almost 70 years later his F-104 is still hitting the skies, and doing it very well. What a badass aircraft. In my top 10 for sure.

@deborahchesser7375

10 ай бұрын

I wish there was an operational XB-70 in existence, that is IMO the most beautiful aircraft ever conceived 🐾✌️🇺🇸

@FastPaull

10 ай бұрын

@deborahchesser7375 Technically the one at Wright Patterson is operational. I don't believe anything was removed from it after it landed there way back when.

Dad was an IP in the 104 back in the 60's. It was quite the privilege as a teenager to be entertained by the shrieking/howl of 4 J79's when a Flight of 4 Starfighters flew over Luke AFB. Dad passed in 2021. I have his flight helmet, flight suit and "spurs" on display in my den. I miss you dad.

I remember watching the "Spilloni" (Italian nick for the F-104s) from Grosseto roaring over the beaches of Tuscany when I was a kid. What a sight, what a roar.

Wow! The Italians are the keepers of the trade for flying these wingless rockets! They make it look like flying a Cherokee!

@banmadabon

Жыл бұрын

We have a soft spot for this gorgeous jet...Ciao

@Real_Claudy_Focan

Жыл бұрын

Speed is in italian genes ! They love fast things !

@kmfiz

Жыл бұрын

Piercarlo flew these and F-16s in the Italian Air Force.

There's just something about the F-104, what a machine.

Nice! I flew the G models for 3 years in W. Germany on a Navy exchange tour. This video brings back a lot of memories. Too bad we didn't have Garmins back then.

@Pmustang-ov8sj

Жыл бұрын

Wow

@tu_alum5619

Жыл бұрын

When I was flying in an A-4 squadron in Lemoore (1973) I talked with a fellow Navy guy who had been on exchange duty with the Air Force at Edwards and got to fly 104s. Boy was I jealous. The leg restraints in the cockpit brought back memories of the Martin Baker seats in the F-9s. Yikes.

@ASW20kutscher

Жыл бұрын

Would trade the Garmin in my Cessna 150 for some Sidewinders 10/10.

@MrStarfightr104

Жыл бұрын

You haven't lived until you fly off the edge of your paper strip chart at 200' agl and 600kts with restricted areas and control zones all around. Good way to get famous and meet important people LOL.

@davidefland1985

Жыл бұрын

@@tu_alum5619 l was stationed in Lemoore 92-96. VAQ-34. They decommissioned 9 mths after l was there. I got sent to AIMD hydraulic shop. Well l never thought ld see that place again. But l was back there 23 years later 2018 as a civilian to work on super hornets for about 7 weeks in the summer. All new base housing.

Best 104 video I have ever seen really felt likeI was along for the ride

Amazing to hear the skill and confidence of this pilot. They definitely put some upgrades in, I don't remember having LCD displays in the 70's

@PrograError

Жыл бұрын

well... it was demil... plus FAA rules...

@emanemanrus5835

7 ай бұрын

maybe this is the last version of 104 license-built in Italy (F104 ASA: aggiornamento sistemi avionici, standing for: avionics systems update). Dont know if the 1st ASAs had digital cockpit but italians made several minor iterations of ASA, until decommissioning the 104s in 2003 (decommissioning started in 2003 but ended up in 2004, so if I remember correctly the last flight of a 104 in italy was in 2004).

Eye-watering! Breath-taking! What a bad-ass airplane! Thank you for taking us along, Piercarlo!!!

@highpointsights

Жыл бұрын

The leading edge of either wing is 7 feet!! That is just stunning. It serves to prove what I've been saying for years. Some wings work for the same reason that boat rudders work. The boundary layer is clamped by the mass of the rushing air. The only thing it can do is take the trajectory the control surfaces force it into!! It's just like flying you hand out the back window in you parents car!!

The howl of these planes is spine chilling. Incredible planes.

I worked as aircraft mechanic from 1981 up tp 1985 on F104G versions at the MFG2 Eggebeck German Navy I love to see this with that perfrect quality and cool camera views.

The scream of the big GE engine brings me back to my days in the Norwegian Air Force. Awsome plain!

My God - this was fantastic! Since growing up back in the 70s, this was my dream airplane 👍🔥🔥🔥

@adzbasslines268

Жыл бұрын

2022, and it's still peoples' dream plane 68 years later.

@ianmangham4570

Жыл бұрын

I just found this, I'm so happy 🤣😎👍🇬🇧

I remember this aircraft as a dependant, living in Lahr Germany, in the 1970’s, when my dad was in the military. Brings back memories.👍 thanks for the video!

Worked on F104s at George AFB in the 60tys😎😎

What a beast! 83% to maintain airspeed with flap put on a base turn, that’s nuts!

@xeeded

Жыл бұрын

Scary monster. Those tiny little wings needed bleed air to be blown over the flaps, to generate enough lift to stay up at "low" speed.

@rinzler9775

Жыл бұрын

The flyimg missile - also called the widow maker.

@Nikola16789

Жыл бұрын

Maybe there is a valve which turns off flaps bleed air under 83% of power.

@xeeded

Жыл бұрын

@@Nikola16789 - no, the flight manual for that aircraft states the BLCS butterfly valve opens when the flap actuator is on LND setting. Manual also recommends holding 88% RPM until the flare, and then smoothly reducing to 83% for touchdown.

@xeeded

Жыл бұрын

@@rinzler9775 Funny enough, the first SLCM was basically a cut down Starfighter - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSM-N-9_Regulus_II

My Grandpa did all the testing for this aircraft, he also was a big part of the Zell launch program in West Germany. Eldon Brown "Brownie" was his call sign. I miss him dearly!

Excellent video. When Piercarlo Ciacchi started talking, I immediately thought, "They guy must be a former F-104 pilot with the Italian AF" as they flew them well into the 80s

@PiercarloCiacchi

Жыл бұрын

Yes very true. We flew them until 2005 in Italy....in 1980 i was 5 lol.

Great video. My home town is home to the CA National Guard. I remember watching the F-106’s and the F-104 take off and land as our house was only two miles from the airport. I love how you walk through the gauges and what you’re looking for.

Glad to see a Starfighter getting airborne. The right stuff.

Grande Pier, vederti pilotare un “settantenne”, con la naturalezza che solo un manico come te può dimostrare, è una gioia per gli appassionati e per chi ha vissuto lo “spillone”. Grande anche l’integrazione nella strumentazione di apparati nav Garmin. Insomma, cieli immensi Pier. Il Penny.

@PiercarloCiacchi

Жыл бұрын

Grandissimo Grazie!!! Un abbraccio enorme!

This is amazing. You read all about how it handles, and the theory about how high wing loading affects the way it flies - but seeing it, especially the control movements is just awesome.

My dad was a F-104 pilot......amazing AC

the F-104 was/is a sexy plane! thanks for a great video Piercarlo! that was an incredible ride (from my couch). Grazie!

Piercarlo, grazie per condividere le senzazioni a bordo dello Spillone 🚀 😊👍🇮🇹🍻

35 years ago, my flight instructor “Bagpipe” (TAF Col. Ret) RIP, took me up in a similar one. Most amazing flight of my life.

I am italian and I am PROUD of you Mr. Piercarlo Ciacchi. I love aircrafts...thank you for this lesson...and keep going.

As a kid I grew up in a small rural village next to an airbase where a squadron of these was in operation in the 70's. I saw them fly almost daily ... I dreamed of being and astronaut and flying one of these one day. It never happened, I became an astronomer instead and my most daring mission was raising my two daughters as a single dad. I don't regret a thing, and watching this was a treat😊Thanks for sharing!

I just cannot think of anything more amazing than being allowed to fly the hottest airplane ever built.

Thanks Captain Ciacchi . Explaining things to us viewers, talking to the backseater, to the control tower and flying the 104 in the same time is not so easy and require fast thinking and fast talking ! I hope to see other interesting videos here. Bye.

@PiercarloCiacchi

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Tony!! Yes I try to do my best, not always easy. I will try to do more, but most times the flights are for "clients" and we cannot obviously do anything else than what the mission requires...some times classified equipment is on board as well.

"Man in a Missle" Now I know why they are called this! This is one of my all time favorites. So many records and I think the first multi record holder. So nice to them still flying. What are some of the main reasons these flew for so long.....and well....still do? Thank you Mr. Ciacchi!

@foxxy46213

Жыл бұрын

Fly well but landing... different story ask the Germans they lost loads in landing accidents.

@skibidabndada6683

Жыл бұрын

@@foxxy46213 my dad is from bavaria and hes still joking about it: i you want a starfighter you just need a pond and patience lol

@PiercarloCiacchi

Жыл бұрын

@@foxxy46213 The aircraft was very different from any of its predecessors. All Air Forces that utilized it had high accident rates until the training caught up....

@mikejohnson5900

Жыл бұрын

@@PiercarloCiacchi Thank you so much for sharing this video - you are a fantastic pilot and it was wonderful to listen to you explain what was happening. Happy flying Sir.

Starfighter is one of my favorite planes!!!♥️

In Italy we call it the "flying coffin", a friend of mine, liutenant of the 36th italian fighter squadron, died in 1997 during the take off for engine failure... In 26 years of service we had a dead pilot every year...

@PiercarloCiacchi

Жыл бұрын

many more in car accidents.

This was wonderful to watch. I remember often seeing the F104 in the early 80's fly over our house near Nuremburg Germany.

@blakeunage8058

Жыл бұрын

I lived in Baden Baden i watched them everyday

@sweper

Жыл бұрын

I was visiting my cousins ​​in Brachtendorf in the Eifel in the late 1960s. Loud bangs could be heard every day when they broke the sound barrier. I assume they took off from the nearby Büchel airfield. Memories.

I've been to 40 airshows in New England, and I've only seen this type fly once. I'll never forget it. I read somewhere the leading edge of the wing is as sharp as a razor.

@pauladams8475

Жыл бұрын

Sloane, this is true. My Father was an F4 pilot with the RAF and organised the RAF Leuchars air display. There was a German 104 Starfighter that came in to do a display. We walked around the aircraft parked up due to display the next day and amongst them was the 104. I couldn’t believe how sharp the leading edge was! The other highlight was a Mosquito that I had a chance to look in the cockpit of. As a kid it was a dream world!

One of the things that amazes me about this aircraft is the incredible strength of those paper-thin wings.

Please make more flight videos like this with the F104!! Legendary plane!!

Man, short final in that plane looked wild. What a gorgeous jet! Thanks for sharing!

Era ora di una lezione di volo con il 104. Spettacolare! Grazie comandante. Un caro saluto dall'Italia.

We used to TDY to Decci (Sardinia) from Ramstein in the 80's, and the Italians flew these 104's.

Wonderful video Piercarlo. Thank you for posting it. My father worked with Kelly on the aircraft design, when he was in the US Airforce. He retired a Colonel, and flew the 104 and later F4. Two of the Starfighters Aerospace 104s used to be at St. Pete Clearwater, and was always a joy to see them fly. My fathers work with Kelly was related to the 104 original design being too fast, for the pilots. And his contribution was a redesign to make it easier to fly (I laugh watching how busy you are already) as well as a flight training and simulation program/process to teach pilots to handle the workload, and speeds the aircraft was capable of.

@PiercarloCiacchi

Жыл бұрын

Sounds soooo cool! Glad to hear that! The 2 jets in S Pete are now in our hangar, although airworthy, we no longer fly them because it is hard to keep those older ejection seats updated...

Goosebumps - Super Mario & his flying cart! ;)

Great to see all the how it is done shots! I still remember standing just below a Starfighter afterburner pass at Zestienhoven airport at an airshow somewhere around 1985 (I was 20). I was torn between covering my ears and taking a picture with my camera. Covering my ears won, although my chest was shaken anyway, man that sound! I did love it though 🙂Later i spend 1.5 years doing my military service in the Dutch airforce, experienced the phasing out of the Northrop NF-5 (T-38 like), those were so elegant! And the the adoption of the F-16's, beautiful (still!) But the sheer power of the F-104, the rocket with wings is just amazing (I had a 1:32 scale model in my teens)

@AirMorgan.

Жыл бұрын

Just my opinion...the F-5 and F-104 are the sexiest looking fighters ever made. Sooooo Sleek.

@PiercarloCiacchi

Жыл бұрын

@@AirMorgan. I do not disagree!

Bellissimo video. Grazie per aver condiviso questa bella emozione di volo. Vedere lo Spillone è sempre una fantastica sensazione, di più per chi come il sottoscritto ha avuto la fortuna di poterci lavorare al mitico 22° Gruppo C.I.O. ad Istrana.

This is one of the most incredible videos I've ever seen. You are just an incredible airman and it is so entertaining seeing you be an absolute expert in such a remarkable aircraft.

As a Canadian, I have a love for the F-104, such a beautiful plane.

Sean and I served together in the USAF 53rd Fighter Squadron in Germany. Great video, cool jet and awesome missions by your Starfighter crew. Freitag is a great dude for sure. Prost Sean!

Retired in italy in 2004 but she's still a beauty.

I love this! The 104 has always been one of my all time favorite planes ever!

When I was a kid I had (built actually) models of the Century Series. The F-104 was my favorite.

I served with Sean in the USAF, stationed in Germany during the 1990s. Keep 'em flying sarge!

Most beautyful jet of all time. Love it!

I’ve never seen one flown before, just fantastic. I have loved the looks of these since I was a little girl! Thanks.

@mustangmikep51

3 ай бұрын

your my kind of girl...are you taken yet? ha ha...

Thanks for this very unique viewpoint and all the infos. Absolutely rare insight. More please. ;)

Most impressive airplane. Visited Canadian Air Force base at Baden-Baden in the early 70’s and had tour of flight line. What I remember most after fifty years were the wooden boards clamped on the wing’s leading edges to prevent ground crew from getting cut. Not exactly razor sharp but close. Second memory was a great steamboat round served in the mess. Finally a fantastic base exchange. I bought a 911 Porsche through their new car program. Got change back from 10 grand.

That was just the best. I felt like I was getting lessons but so much to take in.

The F-104 was what started my fascination with airplanes. I became an accomplished RC pilot and aviation enthusiast for life and I never built an F-104 but its still my favorite to look at.

Wow, one of the best onboards I've seen for a long time. I normally fly a Piper Saratoga, but have had a couple of instructor flights in a Folland Gnat and a Hawker Hunter that were awesome. A flight in an F-104 is definitely on my bucket list. Probably never happen but we can dream, with the help of such videos, thank you! :)

Già! ....è come guidare una Autobianchi Bianchina con sopra un 12 cilindri Ferrari....ci vuole competenza e tanto Coraggio !!! Stupendo aereo e quanto longevo, Grazie Mr Ciacchi per questa bellissima condivisione. Nic from IT

This is by far the coolest video i've seen in a long time. This Jet is bonkers. I had no idea the speeds and power required to keep this thing in the air. thanks for sharing! subscribed.

Ohh this special J79 sound on idle!😍 Cool italian pilot!

I grew up in the 1960s and had a model of this jet/missile. Funny thing is I painted it black to match the Black Widow night fighter. And here is yours painted black. Pretty cool/awesome. Lockheed made incredible planes. By the way my P38 Lightning model was also flat black. Thank you for this awesome video and for helping keep this beautiful warbird flying. It is a work of flying art.

When I was a kid they used to fly over Lake St Clair and break the sound barrier two times that was unbelievable feeling I was about 6 years old

I had a little metallic green die cast model of the Starfighter - it was my favourite model for years…..simple but great things!

Really cool video. I remember watching those Italian F-104s on my TDYs to Dedimomannu Air Base in the 1990s.

Shocked that any of these babies are still in the air! Awesome!

My jaw fell on the ground to watch the calm radio comms while inverted. I was holding my breath for almost the entire time airborne. Incredible

Such a beast! As a young kid, I loved the F-104. Wonderful video! Thank you for keeping this beautiful bird alive and flying

You sir have made the F-104S become my favorite fighter aircraft.

Back when I was growing up in the 60s, McGhee Tyson ANG in Tennessee had a bunch of these rockets. They all gleamed in the sunlight with their polished skins. What a plane !

The Starfighter is such a beautiful jet, so futuristic looking for its time, when I was a kid I used to think it looked like a spaceship, like it belonged in Star Wars.

Always loved the Eagle.

Fascinating! I can't be the only person watching this with my head over to the right though? 🤣

Bellissimo video, grazie - complimenti al Comandante ed a tutto il team che mantiene questo bellissimo aeroplano!

What an absolutely brilliant insight into flying this amazing aircraft. That was fantastic!

That was a real blast. The F-104 Star Fighter & going some speed. How fast did you get up too? In the video at one stage it looked over 300knts above the runway. I see this plane & think of Chuck Yeager. One of hardest planes to fly. Fantastic job on a wonderful flight, it was like being there with you. I'm shutting up now but Cheers or Slainte in Ireland my friend. 😊👌👍💚

I'm so jellos!!! 😁Have such a trip once in a lifetime would be amazing! Great to see this bird fully functional, in the air and not catching dust in the shed. 👋👍

Che bel video, grazie Piercarlo di condividere questi contenuti.🛩 🔥Starfighter🔥

Well done Piercarlo ! We have seen your amazin ability. You are an perfect pilot of Italian Air Force.

This has to be one squirrely plane to fly. So much anhedral, such short wings.

24:13 "And like a miracle, we are flying ! Even with no wings !" I genuinely laughed hard at this ! Thanks !

@nzsaltflatsracer8054

Жыл бұрын

A bunch of years ago a 104 jockey told me it glides like a house brick with feathers.

Great! I saw the first two-seater a few years back!

1st class demonstration. Thank you Piercarlo!

Black Beauty indeed, what a sexy airplane! Thanks for sharing the ride footage!

This is the ONE aircraft you want to have perfect maintenance on. It’s the MOST dangerous fighter the US ever fielded. The Germans lost so many planes due to its difficult flight characteristics. Beautiful aircraft,wickedly fast,unbelievable sounding engine. A real BEAST!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

@bingusmctingus4395

Жыл бұрын

Germany: let’s take a high altitude, high speed interception aircraft, and use it for multi-role and low speed ground attacks. Nothing bad could happen, right? Also Germany: Surprised pikachu face after having a lot of fatal landing accidents at too low speeds.

@CFITOMAHAWK

Жыл бұрын

I dont think they really cared for the pilots. By making them do ground attacks on a high speed interceptor.

@Hornet135

Жыл бұрын

Definitely not the most dangerous, but probably the most misunderstood.

@mikemccarthy1638

Жыл бұрын

@@Hornet135 - Agreed… a more dangerous one was the F-102 Delta Dart… delta wings, delta VS… very unstable.

@CFITOMAHAWK

Жыл бұрын

@@mikemccarthy1638 Did the managers made the pilots do ground attacks on those.. Nope i think.

As a kid growing up in the 60’s this was one of my favorite planes.

wow.. 70 years old.. and still looks like the future.

Super Video with the "Spillone" Mr Ciacchi 😍

I love how the starfighter goes _Flooo_ once it hits the high end of the spool up before blasting the afterburner.

Knowing this aircraft was known as ‘the widow maker’ I literally shi!t myself until it landed and they were safe on the ground 🤣 Well done guys, great video 👏

@harriergr7728

Жыл бұрын

Wasn’t it also known as the flying coffin?

Oh man, what a fantastic video from my favourite aircraft, the best ever. I worked (Responsible for UHF/TR3/Tacan/IFF/Radio altimeter)for years on the F-104G/TF-104G in Memmingerberg when it was the JABOG34 until the early 20th. My time there was in the late 70th. What a great time. So stay safely forever and no open nozzle during landing procedere.🤞🤞🤞🤞

Literally "The Last Starfighter"

A rare insight. Thankyou. :)

Beautiful aircraft! I remember seeing these in the 70's.

Wonderful! Wonderful! The inside shots, one cannot see any wings!

When I was a cadet at Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, Texas from 1977 thru 1979, the mess hall was about thirty feet away, across a short chain link fence, from one of these Starfighters, aft toward us. For three years, three times a day, I marched past the ass-end of one of these aerial needles, and it was the coolest thing ever. It was parked right next to FiFi, the last flying B-29. Back then the Commemorative Air Force -- CAF -- was known as the Confederate Air Force, and it was headquartered at the Harlingen Airport, which was part of the original Aerial Gunner School that MMA was also a part of back in WWII. If you want to see them in their original form, watch the 1943 film Aerial Gunner.

Thanks for taking the time to make and share this absolutely awesome video 😎

Beautiful video! Thank you for sharing this wonderful aircraft!

What a great video, thanks for taking us along!