Taking the F-104G Starfighter to the Sidewinder Low Level route in Microsoft Flight Simulator

Today we fly (most of) the Sidewinder Low Level route in the F-104G Starfighter in Microsoft Flight Simulator - taking off from Edwards AFB, flying across to Isabella Lake, and then tracing our way from visual reference point to visual reference point. Along the way we manage to break the Starfighter (or it breaks itself), we go supersonic, then we get away with perhaps the heaviest landing of a Starfighter in living memory :)
Here's the official link to the PDF from 2016 showing the low level route, and all of the supporting information:
www.edwards.af.mil/Portals/50...

[@jonbeckett]

Here's the official link to the PDF from 2016 showing the low level route, and all of the supporting information:
www.edwards.af.mil/Portals/50/documents/R2508/AFD-110126-047.pdf

[@WDXash]

A friend of mine used to fly the F104 when he was in the Luftwaffe. He said they needed to be treated with respect but loved flying them. He was posted to Miramar as an instructor on them for a few years before moving back to Germany to fly Tornados for 10 years. I always love his stories

[@stormkilm6217]

You always fly the F-104 power-on until the mains touchdown then cut the throttle. Any cut below 83% rpm wheels off will result in asymmetric lift which is why you landed on one side. SSW got this behavior modeled very well. Otherwise, a superb video!

[@jonbeckett]

I KNEW somebody was going to write this comment :) The funny thing - I commented about not reducing thrust, a minute before I reduced thrust lol

[@davidkennedy7549]

So my college roommates Dad flew these (amongst lots of other planes too). Major General Hal Grey; I got many a great story about these. He had love/hate relationship with them, but ultimately love, because, I believe he was the oldest person to keep flying them...I think they finally clipped his wings about 79 years old.

[@321bytor]

Just as you said 'it's a nice looking aircraft' I thought 'it's a nice looking aircraft' 😆

[@dillank3240]

I picked this up. I haven't fully figured it out, but after watching a couple of your videos I had an idea of how to land it, which is the important thing, right? I was successful! Thanks for the inspiration!

[@jonbeckett]

Yeah - don't do what I did here :) Fly it into the runway lol

[@jakeplissken]

That Sidewinder document is awesome! Going to have to try this run in the sim. That failure was very odd, I've had the APC and the individual dampers fail before but never have the hydraulic system cut out as well. Ever figure out what it was?

[@jonbeckett]

Nope - could have been a bug - I haven't updated the Starfighter in ages - I'll have to go look and see if there are any updates for it.

[@oisiaa]

Is this the F-104 that's in the sim marketplace? I've had my eye on it for a long time.

[@dillank3240]

Yes it is!

[@crcpathfinder]

Great video. Do you know of a route for this in Little Navmap? It would be extremely helpful to have one. Thanks

[@techstepman]

wow wait! what parking brake? did they finally add one?

[@008juggy]

What external application do Need for radar?

[@liquidsnake1123]

Does fuel flow decrease at higher altitudes in this plane? Hope its simulated

[@jonbeckett]

I'll go look next time I try it.

[@hugopnabais]

The flight model is very accurate, your landing skills are the one at fault sir!

[@jonbeckett]

As I commented in reply to somebody else - notice how I commented about not reducing thrust on approach, and then did exactly that :)

[@Faye-9896]

Is there anyway for the Xbox version to turn it's radar on?

[@jonbeckett]

Apparently so, but I would have no idea how.

[@racheljennings1688]

So featureless