F104 Supersonic Flight, 8/5/2012

F104 Starfigher

[@isilver78]

To clear up the confusion, the company that operates the aircraft is based at KSC and has authorization to operate within their restricted airspace. For a flight such as this one, the restricted area goes hot, sometimes the full deal from surface to unlimited. The operating area extends well offshore over the Atlantic. At 45,000 ft/min climb and 0.92 mach cruise, it doesn't take long to get offshore into an area in which unrestricted operations are permitted.

[@maurizioc.3121]

Beato te

[@cakeadventure8412]

12:44 I just recognized that he was flying at the Kennedy Space Center, thats the VAB and he's landing on the Shuttle landing facility. How cool is that. I live 40 minutes away from there!

[@sbc2954]

Oh shit, damn I used to live in Oveido, I was a couple hours away

[@sbentjies]

Just WOW. My favorite aviation video, EVER. Now I know what it's like to buzz KSC and land at that famous strip. Thank you for the ride!

[@grassfuse]

The F104,one of the greatest interceptors ever to fly,so beautiful and obviously being flown by an outstanding 'aviator',just breathtaking,thank you!

[@grassfuse]

+Micheal Donovan This was an issue with this concept,The British E.E. (B.A.C.) Lightning Fighter also had the same initial limitation.It was inherent in its very specialised role of High speed,High level Interceptor,i.e. 'get off,get up,locate,kill,get back,all in around 20 minutes or so.It was not meant to undertake extensive Air Combat Manouveres,or engage in any 'Multi role' or strike missions.This was quickly found to be of very little use to Air Forces that simply needed far more 'bang for their buck'!Indeed many believe it was Lockheed's deliberate corruption of the Star-fighters role from bespoke Interceptor to 'Multi role Combat Aircraft that led to the tragic losses suffered by the Luftwaffe.The Starfighter like all Thoroughbreds was a magnificent beast,but very highly strung and unforgiving! I.M.H.O. of this generation and type of aircraft only the MiG 21 managed to successfully become a useful M.R.C.A.!

[@grassfuse]

I understand that those 'protectors' really were needed to prevent Groundcrew being cut by the sharp edges of the wings! It had its limitations but the F104 was without a doubt one of the most beautiful 'Jets' ever built,especially when 'stripped down' and in 'Silver' U.S.A.F. 'Colours'.as a boy in the 60's they were the epitome of American Military style to me,and began an admiration for U.S. design that I still have to this day!

[@grassfuse]

Hello again Micheal! Yes the ' Under and over' engines meant a fairly long 'ladder' had to be fabricated to effect Crew access! The sight of a 'Lightning' going vertical,burning pure 'Avpin' is one of the Memories that made my heart swell 'back in the day' The 1960's were the Golden age of military Aviation!Planes had character and unique styles,not like today's flying 'bugs' (I think it's time for my Medicine now,! Ex R.A.F. 'Erk' 73-79!

[@grassfuse]

It really too close to call on Scotland,but as a Englishman,Who was glad to serve at Lossiemouth and Leuchars (Buccaneers and Phantoms) It would be heartbreaking!Never has the 'West' needed unity of purpose more,it's either make a stand for freedom now or wait for the Caliphate to spread like a cancer,until that Black Flag flies over Buckingham Palace and the Whitehouse.I used to live at Beck Row,worked for U.K. D.O.E./P.S.A. at Mildenhall,my Brother in law served 4 years there!

[@grassfuse]

Yes indeed Micheal,my American family all live around The Cape (Satellite,Cocoa,Rockledge,etc)! I can't help but think we've hijacked this a bit,but W.T.H.,! I couldn't have been more disappointed with President Obama.He seems to have bungled every thing,corrected none of the things he said he would,and initiated nothing.He has had opposition,but he doesn't seem to have been able to sell his pitch,and in a 'democracy' that's everything!Whatever we ( UK,US,EC,even Russia,China and India) need to wake up to the fact the the SHTF,After Iraq and now we have to find a way to restore our safety.I.S. is now to all intents a National entity,well equipped for ground combat with millions of dollars of equipment and weapons we paid for,and the useless Iraqi armed forces threw on the ground at the first sight of a black flag.These Murderers and bandits are coming to kill us,they have said so quite clearly,unless we kneel to their perverted perception of Islam.Our Current Air dominance must be exploited soonest for maximum effect,but only ' boots on the ground' and many NATO boots at that,will turn this tide,and then hopefully terminate this threat!If this current NATO summit doesn't sound a 'muster for combat' call we might as well learn Arabic and buy a Prayerrug!

[@GJones462-2W1]

Great vid, and I think I speak for most aviation fans, when I say THANK YOU for not adding some shit soundtrack to this. Jet noise IS my soundtrack! Thanks, again, sir!

[@ivovanderavert1269]

Lame soundtrack addition to any cockpit footage should result in permanent expulsion from the Internet. I am so sick of the number of times I've heard Thunderstruck over AH-64-footage.

[@geonerd]

Well, the craptastic GoPro microphone doesn't begin to do the sounds justice. :(

[@anthnysalazar2887]

👌🏼

[@placebomessiah]

I sang Highway to the Dangerzone anyway

[@LatitudeSky]

The J-79 is music all by itself. Nothing else made by humans sounds like that, and it will be a sad day the last time a J-79 or LM1500 shuts down and is never heard again. That sound. That SOUND. nothing even close to it

[@ralphflyer711]

What a great ride you gave us. Thank you sir! The transition to supersonic was so smooth that I couldn't tell when it occurred. It would have been nice to have seen the mach meter. I've never flown in an F-104. What a great plane.

[@debbies3763]

How long would it take to cover 100 miles, BALLS OUT!

[@claudiocarbone2225]

Planes for pilots with balls of titanium

[@BrapBrapDorito]

@@debbies3763 not sure if your comment is an actual question or not but, at Mach 2.2 (F104 top speed) it is doing about 28 miles a minute. So at full balls out speed one of these would do 100 miles in about 3 and a half minutes.

[@paulinemilana587]

Lovely, thanks for the ride!

[@MrLuvOldies]

Great video and photography.Fantastic view and ride. Thanks again. I watch it over and over. mmmmmmm

[@HankiPankii]

02:09 a cloud coming in the shape of jet wow

[@alfredodorado2821]

+Mohammad Hamza wow its true exactly

[@Flying_Acehole]

hahahahaha

[@rn9244]

LOL

[@rn9244]

2:07 what is that purple . At the left?

[@wood_barrel]

@@rn9244 what?

[@MrLuvOldies]

Thank you for this wonderful video.

[@Vektorer]

And now, we all know what a Simulated Flame-Out Approach looks like from the pilot's perspective. Well done!

[@Michael_Michaels]

Thank you very much good sir, for this incredible experience!

[@280StJohnsPl]

One of the sleekest aircraft ever.....saw 3 of them do vertical takeoffs back in 1969 at Perrin AFB, Texas. Incredible !

[@flexairz]

Yeah. Just because they could not take off vertically. Only after a normal take off a vertical climb with after burner.

[@280StJohnsPl]

@@flexairz I know what I saw

[@tmjudd1]

"Nothing goes better together than a Starfighter pilot and his view of the VAB... while on short final!" :)

[@glennellis1584]

NOTHING BEATS THE WHINE OF THE GENERAL ELECTRIC J-79 ENGINE.

[@snapjazz2222]

Daaamn, that's some fast take-off speed. I guess that's what you gotta do when you barely have wings.

[@augustomachete1715]

Great camera angle, great video. Thanks for sharing.

[@jayrad8321]

dope. thanks for the ride along!

[@MrLuvOldies]

Great Video. This is the only chance I'll ever get to see and imagine flying in one of the fastest Jet Fighters in the world---The F-104 Starfighter.

[@SootyGrouse]

Man. Each time I watch one of these cockpit view videos, I think: “I sure did pick the wrong career path.” Awesome!

[@spacetownman]

What an incredible flight! If I could afford it, I'd pay for a ride like this one.

[@darthgeros5863]

you'd first need plenty of G-Force training

[@chipm2544]

Awesome flight. I agree, no music, just the sound of flight is best. No noticeable change when going supersonic in the F14D, just hauling.

[@TheLovatt123]

The curvature of the earth looks awesome great video

[@prodromospartheniou639]

perfect .................thanks for the flight.

[@alexandrossotiropoulos5621]

Dangerous job! Great video!

[@eduardojones7970]

Now this is an awesome view & ride. Totally enjoyed the ride, wish I could be the back seat rider!

[@user-ez2oi4ry4h]

最高　懐かしい!

[@norma3565]

If I was given the option to either go on a plane or go in this, man it has to be this, fantastic

[@schlusselmensch]

Did the 104 have a bit of yaw instability in cruise? While he's flying straight and level out over the water the nose seems to walk around a little bit at about 1 hertz along with a bit of associated roll. Is that the autopilot in use or perhaps a yaw damper characteristic?

[@justforever96]

+Schluesselmensch I noticed it looks like it has a slight wander on the runway on the takeoff and landing runs; you can see the nose searching slightly as it rolls.

[@pjneslo8979]

Awesome from Kennedy Space Center, the pilot basically went the same route the Space Shuttle would have on it's way to orbit I'm pretty sure anyway... Lucky person that to fly shotgun ... Awesome video, thanks for sharing !

[@rn9244]

No fucking music just jet sound i love this vid

[@ashokiimc]

4:18 is that a UFO

[@TheDude397]

Just a weather balloon

[@equation1321]

@@TheDude397 send proof

[@carlitoxb110]

it's also called the moon

[@DennisLN2012]

IT IS, agents below trying to confuse

[@dustinl6838]

It is. Lol. I had this debate 6 years ago on this same video.

[@winterkks]

Thank U!

[@JIMTHACKER]

Top centre of the screen at 4:14, something is travelling at an incredible speed!

[@micharoszkiewicz2031]

+Mick Muscles yeah a water drop coming from condensation on a windshield :)

[@xxw379k]

+Michał Rószkiewicz > The incredible speed of 0,1 m/sec! :-) Or perhaps it's really a UFO....

[@colinsparks1229]

+Mick Muscles A type of reflection from either the glass canopy or some of the components most likely...

[@JIMTHACKER]

+Mick Muscles The flash of light you saw in the sky was not a UFO. Swamp gas from a weather balloon was trapped in a thermal pocket and reflected the light from Venus.

[@inekemateman273]

+Mick Muscles Fogged about the drugs!

[@alpha7871]

Awesome brotha..!

[@ranieri7x]

Beautiful

[@doyleperkins4916]

Totally awesome!

[@Doones51]

I saw F- 104's land at McConnell AFB in Wichita, KS in the early 70's and was amazed at the high angle of attack as they came in. The tail would be hanging low and looked almost like it was close to dropping out of the sky in a stall. Can any former pilot talk about this. I have never seen one land like that in a video. Is that a normal landing maneuver?

[@MrJimneutron]

great video.... Never gone supersonic before... the F104 didn't even notice.. Im restoring a Mig21.. it supposed to shudder at the point of supersonic. Just past mach 0.97

[@MrJimneutron]

Berke Beenhouwer Sure am. I have a 1967 ex Egyptian mig21u. Once its up and ready I will be flying adventure flights in it over here in Perth Western Australia.

[@hinatamiyakawa8034]

すばらしい映像を、ありがとう！

[@godgamerindia1004]

Denwavababangowa

[@triggeredwehraboomachinegu6858]

Denwavabanangowa

[@isilver78]

The aircraft in the video goes supersonic while on a due east heading away from the coastline. And as someone previously stated, there are exceptions for aircraft such as the F-104 for violation of the 250 knot limit below 10,000MSL. .

[@JFTM00]

Nice images of a smooth flight. When the sonic boom occurred i couldn't tell.

[@sbentjies]

Yeah I was looking for at least some vapor gathering on the nose or something

[@StormsparkPegasus]

You can't hear a sonic boom inside the aircraft. The sonic boom trails along behind the plane (the angle of it depends on speed).

[@MrLuvOldies]

The GE J-79 Turbojet Engine with Afterburner in this F-104 Starfighter has quite a "Boom" noise,when you kick in the Afterburner prior to the takeoff roll. I didn't hear the Afterburner "Boom' noise kick in on this video prior to his takeoff roll. How come?

[@11SEXMACHINE]

The second object at 4:17ish appears from behind clouds. As it goes around it then goes behind clouds again. If you slow it down to .25 speed that is how it looks. While it is in plain sight it looks like a gnat or something inside the glass crawling. Especially where it stops and then starts again goes up and then turns around. But when it appears it looks like it comes from behind clouds, and then goes behind clouds again.

[@JSS011]

Cool, good eye. Now I want to know what it was.

[@tageasvolos6633]

very smooth nice ride

[@FireFox705]

These are the best kind of video's, why can't there be more aircraft video's with views like that, just need a Tornado one next:)

[@Shuzcan61]

MFR. Priceless! Thank You

[@BlackRedsPlaneSpottingChannel]

EPIC!!!!

[@Stellerex]

I know where this was filmed at. Thats the shuttle landing strip isn't it? I can tell by the surroundings and the white gravel road outlining the marsh below. I wish I could have been out there to see you during this fly overhead that would have been awesome. Amazing flight man thanks for sharing this video and doing what you do. I couldn't fly because my eye sight being bad. Maybe my next life right?

[@DVRCGreg]

Man that thing drops like a rock when you pull the power back! What is your final approach speed when you're lined up on the runway just before coming in?

[@mitchellking2590]

+DVRCGreg The 104's landing speed is 150 knots minimum from what I've read. Over the fence at about 180kts. They have blown flaps and also have to maintain above about 83% N1 Rpm to avoid losing control. images.dailykos.com/images/127026/large/F-104_Landing.jpg?1422875842 That image should help you with how crazy fast the pattern is with these.

[@akanishta99]

F-104 has an approach speed of 190KIAS

[@stephenharper8935]

Effing sweet!

[@sky42893]

wauw .... magic

[@ugott1]

Please write more information about this flight. Where was it ? What was the maximum speed ? When did the F104 supersonic ?

[@Sreybk]

Who has a Starfighter these days? Is this one privately owned?

[@jacoballen3267]

Took me a second to realize this was filmed at the Cape.

[@toomuchlean]

Can you tell me when exactly it passes the sound barrier please ?

[@minimusic4630]

I'd also like to know when he went supersonic, if he did.

[@gpdude22]

At 14:45

[@brennandenardi7580]

Mortuus Rationem 😂

[@devryguy27]

Fucking lame. I thought this jackass was going make a sonic boom.. 14:46 of wasted life!!!!!

[@LuisRodriguez-su5lw]

James stewart he is going supersonic you can’t hear it from the cockpit cause he’s going to fast for the sound to be heard

[@fjdiesi]

I also figured you'd see the vapor cloud off the nose more than the sound due to flying faster than the sound. ..so nothing special here

[@JamesMiller-lq5rd]

To all whom apparently never have flown a Fighter, Just watch his helmet.....Vibration escalates as he breaks thru the barrier!

[@vdub2002]

You won't see the jet go super sonic...

[@CristopherGore]

why? :( nothing happens from the pilot’s POV?

[@birgerkagan6087]

@h1dden Apart from the Mach meter showing it, you would get a slight sensation of increased pressure in you ear as the normal shock wave passes over the canopy and simultaneously your VSI and Altimeter will show a descend due to the same increase in pressure. A short lecture on normal shock waves - the form in the transonic speed area between M0.8 to M1.2 (mostly but type dependent) and the form where there is an accumulation of air molecules when the free airstream decelerates from supersonic to subsonic speed

[@hawkplaya94]

Well he took off from the shuttle landing runway at Cape Canaveral. You can see the vehicle assembly building at 2:16 and the launch pad at 8:34. And it looks to me like the supersonic run was at about 6:45ish. Max speed...no idea.

[@riccopolo8510]

Great vidéo Isaac,just jet noise,perfect,thank you very much!And sorry for my bad english.

[@chrisfitzmaurice7484]

Wonder where this was filmed?

[@guitarfan01]

Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He takes off and lands on the Space Shuttle Runway. You can see the Vehicle Assembly Building on his final landing approach.

[@patfab5229]

extra ! tres tres bruyant

[@Tiagomottadmello]

Freaking awesome !!!! 👍👍👍👍 Great landing !! I Just don't get why German Air force pilots simply hated the F-104, loosing lots of them back in the 80's.....

[@geraldheinig4205]

German pilots certainly didn't hate them, they absolutely loved them! I've never seen an interview of a German F-104 pilot where he even remotely criticises the plane. On the contrary, they all sing its praises. Their widows and the German press, on the other hand...

[@Tiagomottadmello]

@@geraldheinig4205 ...yeah ! That may explain the negative issue, then. (Press... always manipulating public opinion according to their interest $$$... It's not new). Do you know why they got so many losses, then ???

[@geraldheinig4205]

@@Tiagomottadmello Hey Tiago, tudo bem? I wrote an answer to your question this morning, but it got censored, probably due to my comment about the press and its job. I was thinking of replying in Portuguese, but thought better of it in order to reach a wider audience.

[@Tiagomottadmello]

@@geraldheinig4205 Hey! Tudo muito bem, e com você ?? 😂😂👍👍 Good try answering in portuguese, man. It would have been real cool to know what you know and had to say about the press... It's annoyingly impressive how the censorship is broad these days, in every single country in the world !! That's why we call It "DictaTube"... It does the same to us all the freaking time over here in my country. It's all about manipulation and interest $$$$. Ridiculous all that !

[@Tiagomottadmello]

@@geraldheinig4205 ...👉 Just a tip : whenever you want to write something that's​ subject of DictaTube censorship​, select and copy it before sending It out.... If DictaTube censors you, paste It back changing only the critical words, and try again... 👍👍. . NEVER ALLOW THEM TO BREAK YOUR FREEDOM !! 👊👊

[@busyend]

What Mach number did he achieve? It is capable is 2.3 Mach... and yes, I saw the fast mover at 4:17.

[@jpatt1000]

Caught the bird at the 58 second mark. That's what would really make me nervous about flying this or any jet. By the time you see it, it's too late to do anything about it. Wouldn't stop me if given the chance though!

[@topsecret1837]

Whereabouts?

[@SupesMe]

Was this out of Clearwater International? There's a guy here who has a F-104.

[@maktron2186]

Luar biasa

[@dank630]

Are these guys really operating this beast with the Ejection seats removed ?

[@flightcomputer2437]

Slow the video speed down to 0.25 and watch at 4:14. A bright object, seemingly quite close, cuts across the center of the screen from top middle to lower right diagonally. It's so fast you can only see it at quarter speed. A few seconds later at 4:17 a similar object appears, now seemingly much further away and moves from center right upwards, appears to stop very briefly, then changes direction downward moving much faster and makes some quick turns before disappearing. Right after it stops briefly there also appears to some kind halo effect, not unlike a shock-wave, as it starts moving again. What the is that? I have no belief in UFO's by the way but it is weird!

[@JSS011]

Yeah I noticed that too. What is it? You can tell it's not a reflection....

[@jfstg6039]

does the pilot and the passenger have ejection seat?

[@jshepard152]

Hey Ridley, you got any Beemans?

[@davidtheguitarman]

Why does it has that slightly left and right movement?

[@paulomesquita7735]

Show...

[@jamesvfx]

full HD please !

[@encomanenco7347]

At 4:14 head not moving and that's when you can see something streak by from eleven o'clock down to five o'clock in that moment. At 4:15 he moves his head. Now we have a bug running circles at one O'clock in the canopy. Forget it, sit back enjoy the flight. Where we going anyway?

[@104zipper]

Taking-off runway 33 at NASA Shuttle Landing Facility, Kennedy Space Center. First low fly-by Vehicle Assembly Building(VAB) visible on right.

[@cratecruncher6687]

Given the fuel burn of these old jets (600 gallons/minute w/afterburn) I bet that was an expensive afternoon. I swear my ears started to pop on that dramatic climb!

[@Pilot853]

Is this at the Kennedy Space Center?

[@FrostyBud777]

man , I would love to be a pilot. My own hope now is to fly in heaven. Just as Jesus ascended into it, to fly in the sky. So amazing. The clouds ripping by is extraordinary.

[@hooks1982]

Whose F104 is this? That is badass!

[@Chris.Davies]

Is that the VAB???

[@kudosdc]

I think if you are flying directly away from the coastline, the sonic boom cannot propagate back to civilization.

[@KB4QAA]

Military exceptions don't apply. This is a civilian registered acft and will never be allowed to operate under military rules in a MOA or Low Level Training Route. The 30miles/30Kft rule applies (oh, and you still have to ensure metro conditions don't exist that might allow the boom to hit the ground).

[@pavlovsk]

Seems unreal this place. Where is this?

[@Jarlerus]

+Polten Sepp Runway is NASA Shuttle Landing Facility, Florida USA.

[@justforever96]

+Simon K Does that mean this is one of the NASA Starfighters they use for chase missions, etc?

[@TheTechnoPilot]

My guess would be that this is one of Starfighters F-104s out of Florida. I cannot confirm though.

[@henrythomas4859]

is that a UFO coming on to the screen diagonally from the top left at 04:14. It is traveling much faster than any human jet could fly so...

[@Yosemite-George-61]

...wondering around at low level and slow speed in an aircraft like that... if the engine coughs, there's nothing to do but to get out quick...

[@aggudude624]

Thats why they dont fly low speed and altitude at the same time

[@andrewzhang1290]

So can you not hear something supersonic as it’s coming towards you? Is that why supersonic flybys catch people off guard?

[@jumpieva]

I'm curious how many pilots are flat earthers? :D

[@guyedskull1]

When did he supersonic exactly?

[@elireid8451]

I know this is an old vid and this will get lost in all the comments, but at 0:58 seconds into the vid it looks like that was a VERY close birdstrike?

[@sublimation05]

cool

[@Tiagomottadmello]

...🤔... Just picture yourself in this pilot's place, in a hurry to intercept a Mig-21 fleet... (You may come back to the ground or not, your body being torn to pieces by a missile you didn't even see coming....). Great respect for all the fighter pilots and their bravery !! 👊👊

[@rrw65]

no supersonic there. someone mentioned seeing something. thats reflection of pilot, duh

[@japa9991]

Grandpa was an F-104 Survivor. Col. Homer C. Boles.

[@vekuboi]

Thats cool.

[@guidosarducci166]

5:15 Is it me or does it seem like the airplane is doing a sort of high frequency dutch roll?

[@topsecret1837]

That’s wave drag. As the plane accelerates the center of lift and drag shift causing changes in stability.

[@pablohorney]

4:12 my mather in law flying with her jet

[@ronorckstr]

so at what point does he go supersonic?

[@ztealthfn5116]

were is the boom?