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 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.
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.
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.
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.
@@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.
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.
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
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).
Serial MM54258. Delivery date AMI 22.10.1969; delivery date 20°Gruppo Autonomo, Addestramento Operativo (AO) at Grosseto AB 22.1.1970; IRAN 22.6.1973-19.6.1974; delivery date 20°Gruppo 4 Stormo "Amedeo d'Aosta" Grosseto 19.6.1974 20-23 8.7.1974- 01.1985; IRAN+R3 repair 12.7.1976-12.8.1977; IRAN 7.1.1981-4.6.1982 4-40 17.7.1985- 26.4.1988; IRAN 29.7.1986-17.9.1987; special color scheme in blue/yellow for "75.000 hrs" on TF 104G 12.1990-28.8.1991; IRAN 28.8.1991-17.3.1994; delivery date 20°Gruppo 17.3.1994 4-40 29.7.1994-8.7.1997; converted TF-104G-M 29.5.1997-19.7.1998 by 4°RMV; delivery date 20°Gruppo 19.7.1998; 4-40 17.7.1998-1.2.2000; IRAN 22.3.1999-21.12.2000; respray in grey camouflage scheme; delivery date 20°Gr 21.12.2000, 4-40 16.5.2002-21.10.2004, Pratica di Mare AB May 2004;last flight to Grazzanise 25.10.2004; withdrawn from use 26.10.2004; delivered December 2011 to the Starfighters Inc Team in Florida and got its civil FAA registration "N991SF" in January 2012; early 2014 it was painted in a light grey overall scheme with white company logos; currently being prepared for making it operational again; December 2018 noted.
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!!
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.
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.
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.🤞🤞🤞🤞
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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 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....
@@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.
Worked for LAS at Luke AFB as an AGE mechanic and external fuel tank repair and insulation on F104G from,1970 to 1983. Thank you for reminding me of a great aircraft. Keep up the great work Piercarlo .
That was great. I couldn't believe how much power had to stay on the plane past the 180 to overcome all the drag and to maintain air over the flaps. Great video. Thank you.
@@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.
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.
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.
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...
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!
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!
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!
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.
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)
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.
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! :)
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.
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
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.
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.
My favorite plane, a Kelly Johnson masterpiece. Awesome video, you had me grinning from ear to ear. Great instruction and so informative. Felt like I was in there with you. Watched the pair of Starfighters perform at Sun-n-Fun several years ago, now I know just a little more about what you guys were doing in the cockpit. Amazing that the pattern speeds exceed the 250 knot restriction below 10k. Sincer thanks for making and posting this video. Blue skies and safe flights to you all.
that is one ba mother thanks for the video very ausum aircraft!!!! this was the aircraft in the ep on star trek in the late 60's as well. super job guy hat's off to ya.
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.
Great looking example, and a TF.. That's pretty special to see in 2022.. And with R&D, wow. I can think of more then one reason why.. Thank you for the video
Thanks for the great video, brings back memories of working on the instrument systems. I was lucky enough to be stationed at George AFB 1963 / 1965 with 104 C’s & D’s. During this time, we took a squadron to Moron Spain, two squads to Da Nang Vietnam, & then to Taiwan. Loved that plane, one of Kelly Johnson’s ‘Skunk Works’ creations!
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 !
Thank you! The aircraft we are currently flying are actually coming from Italy, where they flew operational to 2005....the Canadian models are grounded and although airworthy, we are not flying them at this time.
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.
Ever since I was a young child of 7-8 years old I had a book with all the Jets over the years up until then and this was my favourite ! It’s a beautiful plane 😎
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.
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.
they had it in service until 2003, can easily believe they are expert of that!
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.
Makes 2 of us. This gentleman is the maestro!
Why is that so shocking?
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.
I wish there was an operational XB-70 in existence, that is IMO the most beautiful aircraft ever conceived 🐾✌️🇺🇸
@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.
It’s in my Top 1😂
Agree. Lockheed has 3 of my top 10. The 104, SR-71and the Herk.
Wow! The Italians are the keepers of the trade for flying these wingless rockets! They make it look like flying a Cherokee!
We have a soft spot for this gorgeous jet...Ciao
Speed is in italian genes ! They love fast things !
Piercarlo flew these and F-16s in the Italian Air Force.
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.
Patriot, your wonderful Dad!❤🙏🏻🇺🇸
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.
Wow
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.
Would trade the Garmin in my Cessna 150 for some Sidewinders 10/10.
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.
@@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.
There's just something about the F-104, what a machine.
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.
Retired in italy in 2004 but she's still a beauty.
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
Ferrari a 12 cilindri è di 900 cv, l'F-104 J-79 è di 15000.
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
well... it was demil... plus FAA rules...
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).
Serial MM54258. Delivery date AMI 22.10.1969; delivery date 20°Gruppo Autonomo, Addestramento Operativo (AO) at Grosseto AB 22.1.1970; IRAN 22.6.1973-19.6.1974; delivery date 20°Gruppo 4 Stormo "Amedeo d'Aosta" Grosseto 19.6.1974
20-23 8.7.1974- 01.1985; IRAN+R3 repair 12.7.1976-12.8.1977; IRAN 7.1.1981-4.6.1982
4-40 17.7.1985- 26.4.1988; IRAN 29.7.1986-17.9.1987; special color scheme in blue/yellow for "75.000 hrs" on TF 104G 12.1990-28.8.1991; IRAN 28.8.1991-17.3.1994; delivery date 20°Gruppo 17.3.1994
4-40 29.7.1994-8.7.1997; converted TF-104G-M 29.5.1997-19.7.1998 by 4°RMV; delivery date 20°Gruppo 19.7.1998; 4-40 17.7.1998-1.2.2000; IRAN 22.3.1999-21.12.2000; respray in grey camouflage scheme; delivery date 20°Gr 21.12.2000, 4-40 16.5.2002-21.10.2004, Pratica di Mare AB May 2004;last flight to Grazzanise 25.10.2004; withdrawn from use 26.10.2004; delivered December 2011 to the Starfighters Inc Team in Florida and got its civil FAA registration "N991SF" in January 2012; early 2014 it was painted in a light grey overall scheme with white company logos; currently being prepared for making it operational again; December 2018 noted.
Best 104 video I have ever seen really felt likeI was along for the ride
1st class demonstration. Thank you Piercarlo!
Eye-watering! Breath-taking! What a bad-ass airplane! Thank you for taking us along, Piercarlo!!!
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!!
You sir have made the F-104S become my favorite fighter aircraft.
My God - this was fantastic! Since growing up back in the 70s, this was my dream airplane 👍🔥🔥🔥
2022, and it's still peoples' dream plane 68 years later.
I just found this, I'm so happy 🤣😎👍🇬🇧
The howl of these planes is spine chilling. Incredible planes.
I am italian and I am PROUD of you Mr. Piercarlo Ciacchi. I love aircrafts...thank you for this lesson...and keep going.
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.
Grandissimo Grazie!!! Un abbraccio enorme!
Well done Piercarlo ! We have seen your amazin ability. You are an perfect pilot of Italian Air Force.
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.
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.🤞🤞🤞🤞
Piercarlo, grazie per condividere le senzazioni a bordo dello Spillone 🚀 😊👍🇮🇹🍻
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
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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!
Fly well but landing... different story ask the Germans they lost loads in landing accidents.
@@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
@@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....
@@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.
I've been in love with Starfighters since I was a kid in the 1960's. Thank you!
Fantastico vederle questo aereo così in dettaglio. Grazie
Worked for LAS at Luke AFB as an AGE mechanic and external fuel tank repair and insulation on F104G from,1970 to 1983. Thank you for reminding me of a great aircraft. Keep up the great work Piercarlo .
That was great. I couldn't believe how much power had to stay on the plane past the 180 to overcome all the drag and to maintain air over the flaps. Great video. Thank you.
I love this! The 104 has always been one of my all time favorite planes ever!
Please make more flight videos like this with the F104!! Legendary plane!!
Thanks for this very unique viewpoint and all the infos. Absolutely rare insight. More please. ;)
Man, short final in that plane looked wild. What a gorgeous jet! Thanks for sharing!
Most beautyful jet of all time. Love it!
The scream of the big GE engine brings me back to my days in the Norwegian Air Force. Awsome plain!
Era ora di una lezione di volo con il 104. Spettacolare! Grazie comandante. Un caro saluto dall'Italia.
Thank You great Video and pleas more about the F 104 what a Plane
What a beast! 83% to maintain airspeed with flap put on a base turn, that’s nuts!
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.
The flyimg missile - also called the widow maker.
Maybe there is a valve which turns off flaps bleed air under 83% of power.
@@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.
@@rinzler9775 Funny enough, the first SLCM was basically a cut down Starfighter -
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSM-N-9_Regulus_II
Glad to see a Starfighter getting airborne. The right stuff.
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.
That was just the best. I felt like I was getting lessons but so much to take in.
My gosh, all these years later, an absolutely beautifully stunning a/c!🙏🏻
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.
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...
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!
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!
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!
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.
I’ve never seen one flown before, just fantastic. I have loved the looks of these since I was a little girl! Thanks.
your my kind of girl...are you taken yet? ha ha...
Bellissimo video, grazie - complimenti al Comandante ed a tutto il team che mantiene questo bellissimo aeroplano!
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)
Just my opinion...the F-5 and F-104 are the sexiest looking fighters ever made. Sooooo Sleek.
@@AirMorgan. I do not disagree!
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 served with Sean in the USAF, stationed in Germany during the 1990s. Keep 'em flying sarge!
One of the things that amazes me about this aircraft is the incredible strength of those paper-thin wings.
This was wonderful to watch. I remember often seeing the F104 in the early 80's fly over our house near Nuremburg Germany.
I lived in Baden Baden i watched them everyday
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.
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! :)
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.
Consummate professional and supremely qualified in the F-104. Fantastic video, BRAVO!
Amazing VDO on the iconic F104 !! So instructive ! Thank you
Really cool video. I remember watching those Italian F-104s on my TDYs to Dedimomannu Air Base in the 1990s.
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
Yes very true. We flew them until 2005 in Italy....in 1980 i was 5 lol.
Che bel video, grazie Piercarlo di condividere questi contenuti.🛩
🔥Starfighter🔥
As a Canadian, I have a love for the F-104, such a beautiful plane.
Starfighter is one of my favorite planes!!!♥️
What an absolutely brilliant insight into flying this amazing aircraft.
That was fantastic!
Such a beast! As a young kid, I loved the F-104. Wonderful video! Thank you for keeping this beautiful bird alive and flying
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.
Ich war von 1984 bis 1988 beim JaBoG34 in Memmingerberg stationiert !
Was absolut edles Gerät 👍👍
F 104 G the best in the Sky 🤗💪
Ich kenne ihn vom JaboG 32 auf dem Lechfeld ab 1982.Seitdem verliebt in den "Sternenjäger" 💕
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.
Beautiful video! Thank you for sharing this wonderful aircraft!
Great! I saw the first two-seater a few years back!
My favorite plane, a Kelly Johnson masterpiece. Awesome video, you had me grinning from ear to ear. Great instruction and so informative. Felt like I was in there with you. Watched the pair of Starfighters perform at Sun-n-Fun several years ago, now I know just a little more about what you guys were doing in the cockpit. Amazing that the pattern speeds exceed the 250 knot restriction below 10k. Sincer thanks for making and posting this video. Blue skies and safe flights to you all.
I had a little metallic green die cast model of the Starfighter - it was my favourite model for years…..simple but great things!
Beautiful aircraft! I remember seeing these in the 70's.
Wonderful! Wonderful! The inside shots, one cannot see any wings!
My dad was a F-104 pilot......amazing AC
that is one ba mother thanks for the video very ausum aircraft!!!! this was the aircraft in the ep on star trek in the late 60's as well. super job guy hat's off to ya.
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.
Great looking example, and a TF..
That's pretty special to see in 2022..
And with R&D, wow. I can think of more then one reason why..
Thank you for the video
Fantastic video! So glad to see a starfighter up and flying well done
Thanks for the great video, brings back memories of working on the instrument systems. I was lucky enough to be stationed at George AFB 1963 / 1965 with 104 C’s & D’s. During this time, we took a squadron to Moron Spain, two squads to Da Nang Vietnam, & then to Taiwan. Loved that plane, one of Kelly Johnson’s ‘Skunk Works’ creations!
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 !
As a kid growing up in the 60’s this was one of my favorite planes.
Nice flight! Hard to believe that tiny wing keeps that rocket in the air. Great mini lesson Mr.Ciacchi!😎
Bellissimo, la più emozionante macchina volante e la spieghi come se stessi volando un cessnino!
Unreal. You sir are blessed to have the skills to fly this beauty.
Best looking and sounding jet ever! Awesome video!
Thanks for the fabulous video. Brings back fond memories of the flight line in Cold Lake, Alberta ... where your aicraft came from.
Thank you! The aircraft we are currently flying are actually coming from Italy, where they flew operational to 2005....the Canadian models are grounded and although airworthy, we are not flying them at this time.
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.
Ohh this special J79 sound on idle!😍
Cool italian pilot!
Ever since I was a young child of 7-8 years old I had a book with all the Jets over the years up until then and this was my favourite ! It’s a beautiful plane 😎
Still a very impressive aircraft to this day. Great video
Shocked that any of these babies are still in the air! Awesome!
Your instructions are so great that I think I can fly one. Beautiful aircraft. Thank you
Worked on F104s at George AFB in the 60tys😎😎
Incredibile!
Thank you for this detailed startup and flight video. Very nice airplane. Very good camera shots...
Thanks for taking me along!