starfighter low pass

F-104 starfighter doing a really low pass. Awesome!!!!

[@Maxum97SeaDoo91]

Most impressive high speed pass I've ever seen was by an F-104 while a young airman at Norton AFB, Ca. in the early 80's at the finish of our airshow. Made several passes over the runway at blistering speeds in various stages of burner and disappeared. Came back a few minutes later out of nowhere faster than the Enterprise at warp 10, scared the Hell out of nearly everybody. Multiple shock diamonds ripping out the burner, pointed the nose up & Thundered skyward like an Apollo rocket to the Moon.

[@hankhenry9199]

Yup, an absolutely awesome machine. My father flew them in Europe and Canada with the RCAF. In Canada we were at Cold Lake, Alberta where there was/is unlimited open space including the air weapons range where the Maple Flag Air to Air competition is conducted. Also lots of lakes with good fishing. My father like other pilots in the '60s loved to buzz we fishermen in our little boats at mach speeds and 50 feet off the deck with the Cf-104s. You never heard them until they were well past you and the sonic boom almost blew you out of the boat. Incredible.Loved it!

[@FormerMPSGT]

Flew over my Guard Tower in Germany, I saluted they tipped their wings!

[@thetigerstripes]

At Chu Lai in 1965, 2 F-104's flew over our base slightly above stall speed. When they were about 1 mile south, they gunned the engine, lit up the afterburners and flew straight up and continued accelerating as they gained altitude. The ground shook. The walls of my tent vibrated and even my jungle fatigues were shaking. It was an incredible show for an 18 year old artillery gunner. They must have come from Tan Son Nhut Airbase near Saigon.

[@pilot3016]

The "Starfighters Group" did a simple show at Reno one year. What a beautiful aircraft.

[@dyhanendra]

i remember the 104's at Smyrna in the late 50's, early 60's, before sonic booms were outlawed. a high speed pass at the old Berry Field in Nashville knocked the entire crowd flat on our asses! IT WAS GREAT!!

[@Romey43623]

Love those Starfighters! I worked a couple of squadrons, Luke AFB Tower, 1974. F4s are cool, but not as cool as a single seat, single engine fighter.

[@onblock7]

The museum's single-seat F15A, nicknamed "Streak Eagle," broke eight time-to-climb world records between Jan. 16 and Feb. 1, 1975. In setting the last of the eight records, it reached an altitude of 98,425 feet just 3 minutes, 27.8 seconds from brake release at takeoff.

[@hughloraine9660]

When I was young a huge number crashed in Europe in the low level penetration role. They were not really suited to that activity. Another group of pilots died when the ejection seat was changed from down (you had to roll upside down at low level) to up. But it was a beauty, and that haunting sound. There will never be another plane like the 104.

[@796andy2]

yeah , Dad was behind one when it flamed out on take off (he was in a 100) guy punched himself into the runway. as per Dad "its a nice bird ... just gotta watch your ass" still have his mach duece pin !!

[@Tigershark_3082]

@@796andy2 Damn, your dad got to fly Super Sabres, that's awesome!

[@796andy2]

@@Tigershark_3082 flew everything ... steermans to starfighters. flew the last 51s to bolivia "peace condor"

[@chrisdavis3642]

Right!!

[@nigelevans7146]

There was a standing joke. 'How do you get a Starfighter? - Buy a field in Germany and wait.' I can still remember my diaphragm shaking at an airshow as one of these went past at 0.9Mach

[@funkster007]

Got to see an F-104 in action at an air show in Wisconsin. They were exhibiting a mock cold war dog fight. First a Mig 21 did a fly by and soon to follow was the Starfighter in pursuit. They both had their own distinct roars. The Mig was awesome, but that Starfighter was rumbling well after it disappeared from sight. Amazing bird.

[@jpatt1000]

Was it back about 89/90 with the Combat Jets Flying Museum's 104 and 21? Their's was silver with red white and blue trim. Was so exited the first year that whole museum came! An A-4 Skyhawk, Hawker Hunter, T-33, F-86, MiG-15 and MiG-21. They came as a mass arrival and it was very impressive! The Starfighters have been here twice. Once with a 2 seater, then a couple of years later with it and a single seater. They flew both together in the show! Looks like I'll need to go to TICO or Sun 'n Fun to see them again though.

[@funkster007]

I'm pretty sure it was the '90 Oshkosh event that featured those planes ( I only attended that annual show in '90 and again in '92. ). Very possible those are the same ones you mentioned. I can't specifically recall the details of the colors, but I know the F-104 had the classic silver exterior. They also featured a Harrier jet with the vertical take off. I don't think my ears fully recovered since then.

[@mustangmikep51]

It WAS 1990...I was there also AWESOME moment !!@@funkster007

[@vexviper]

You know ever since I saw the movie "The Right Stuff" I will always associate this plane with Chuck Yeager! lol

[@gazza2933]

2020. Rest In Peace 'Chuck'. Best Regards from England.

[@Optimaloptimus]

As it should be. Rest In Peace Chuck Yeager. Fly with the angels now.

[@ernestgalvan9037]

He has indeed Touched the Face of God... RIP

[@uprebel5150]

I met him 20-plus years ago and asked him if he got in trouble for the crash. He said I was flying like I stole it. I guess that was a no.

[@MrLuvOldies]

Lockheed F104---The Best. Mmmmmmmm

[@ascii211]

I would be like "omg I luv dat sound!!!!!" then oof from the thrust knocking me over

[@DavidHernandez-wj8eo]

Who would want a ‘Vette, Lambo, Ferrari, Cobra... even a Tesla if you could have this?!?! That Swede -Johnson- had to be able to SEE air! Flawless design, just beautiful!!!

[@geoffmorse4366]

Best looking aircraft ever designed.

[@hankhenry9199]

This a low speed pass (he has his flaps down). I would love to see a low pass of the 104 at Mach 2+. I know there aren't many places where you could still do this, hopefully there is at least one, perhaps over open water. My father flew this aircraft, LOVED it, and said you never heard a 104 driver call it a "widowmaker". He considered it the best he ever flown and he (Capt. Clifford John (Hank) HENRY, RCAF) had flown everything from WW2 to the Cold War. The aircraft was not dangerous nor difficult to fly, but as with any high performance aircraft it took a high performance pilot and top maintenance to make it work well. Dad did say that you had to be thinking a long ways ahead of this aircraft. Many were lost due to maintenance errors and pilot error. The weather and theatres where it was used also contributed to it's losses. But all in all no 104 pilot would give it up willingly.

[@cougar231000]

But it has the higher fatal accident rate among all....Don't get me wrong, the f-104 is my favourite aircraft ever. I live in grosseto, italy, and we have an american military base called 4th stormo. We were the first mlitary base in italy to receive the eurofighter in 2004 and since then the f-104 were still operative to that year. i've been seeing and hearing the f-104 all my lifetime. In late 90's, when i was like 8 or 9 my father used to take me to a spot near the airstrip to see them pass 40 feet above my head at night time, so i'm in love with this machine. But from 1990 to 2000 we had 8 crashes with 2 fatalities. One time when trying to land it, the pilot lose control and eject himself, so the airplane kept on flying for 2 miles, heading for the city and luckily it crashed in a parking lot destroying only a car and an empty storehouse with no people involved. Three years later another one, after landing, the pilot wasn't able to stop it, so it continued on its path to the end of the airstrip to crash into the barbed wire and landing on the street immediately after, hitting a passing car and crashing 1km away in the fileds surrounding he area...the pilot got trapped and died in the barbed wire, and they had to take him off.......

[@sotis1756]

THE flying coffin..

[@vancouveride]

@@cougar231000 According to the book by D. Bashow the high crash rate amongst the German AF was related to their inexperience with complex aircraft. The Luftwaffe was disbanded after the war and ended up going from propellers to advanced jet fighters. They lacked the depth of experience that the former allied countries had, both in maintenance techs and pilots. They missed 2 generations of aircraft. Perhaps something similar happened with the Italian AF. The book also mentions that Canada's experience with the 104 was no worse than than their experience operating the F86 even given that the F86 was used as a day fighter and the 104 was operated as a low level all weather bomber. I think if you look at how the 104 was operated it becomes pretty clear that there probably should have been more accidents. They would fly at 100 feet at 800kts in instrument conditions flipping plastic overlays onto a primitive radar system to navigate. Normal people are not going to do that for very long without crashing. To say that the job was unforgiving is an understatement. Also the plane would climb at 50,000 feet a minute so you could easily climb too high and die as well as fly too low and die. I believe that the plane itself was comparable to other aircraft of the day for reliability.

[@vancouveride]

@@sotis1756 Don't you mean "The Aluminium Death Tube" ?

[@FundyBay66]

@@cougar231000 I remember watching night formation in afterburner at Gioia del Colle in the early 80's - beautiful sight

[@franknowakowski3103]

A friend flew them. Always mentioned it was a fairly easy jet to fly, just keep it above 200 kts.

[@796andy2]

as per Dad , "its a nice bird... just gotta watch your ass"

[@michaelagnew7493]

@@796andy2 God bless your Dad

[@onblock7]

I had to come back and watch this again, what a missle of a jet lol! Great jet and the engines just had a nice roar to them while passing over, yet so smooth.

[@troyh3628]

Considering how touchy the Starfighter is to say I'm impressed by the pilot's skills would be an understatement.

[@jeffreylindsey1757]

The old but great coke bottle design. F-104 The flying stovepipe! The wings look more like rocket fins. Sweet....

[@MH-WM]

Man....that sound gives me goosebumps! That's what the greatest generation brought to the table, the sound of freedom! 😊🇺🇸

[@Giacomoperti]

The F-104 was designed for one purpose: reach altitude quickly and intercept incoming bombers. At this, it was (and is) unexcelled.

[@williamwilson6499]

Loud as hell too. German pilots back in the mid 70's used to buzz us when we were doing maneuvers and the roar was deafening. 2nd Bn 30th Inf 1st Bde.

[@cliffberry1900]

Just gorgeous!

[@Brian-pz3wh]

At Hahn Air Base in Germany in 1979 I would get off work at my TabVee 5 where my ECM shop was and I'd walk down to the sheet metal repair shop near the transient alert pad to wait for my buds to get off work so we could go get some brats, schnitzel, pommes frites and lots of beers. While waiting for them to get off work, a couple of F-4E Phantom II's would often line up on the runway, go full afterburner and start their take off roll. Far enough off axis not to get any exhaust, the sound energy would wash over you and your entire body would vibrate. I could actually feel my insides moving in response. Fun memories. Base is gone now, a civilian airpark. Memories....

[@bobsage4963]

"Low?!" [laughs in Buccaneer] Seriously though: lovely aircraft, nice video 😊

[@pushitgently001p]

 still well respected after all these years!!!

[@luigigorrini444]

In the eighties and nineties I used to go to Grosseto's 4° Stormo at runway's end and they flew really low and fast :-))))

[@richard4840]

That’s awesome. The F-104S was a phenomenon. 😎

[@kevinmalone3210]

Chuck Yeager tried to break a high altitude record in the F-104. Tom Wolfe gave a detailed account of it in his book, The Right Stuff. He was fortunate to get out of that one alive.

[@maddogmcrae]

The was at Toronto's Pierson Airport during the Airshow weekend. That actually was a restored CF104. The Canadian-built ones were the best!

[@4124301]

The unmistakable whistle sound of a 104

[@terifarley4770]

Love the F-104! & the F-8!

[@brucemeligan3287]

I saw an F-8U demo at an airshow at Kindley AFB, Bermuda in 1962. VERY impressive to this 8 year old. Also saw Svetkoffs 104s do a demo at MacDill in Tampa much later in life. My two all time favorite fighters.

[@kelharper7971]

I love how everyone harps on the F-104 for "so many crashes" and ignores the fact that basically 33% of all Bf 109's ever built were wrecked in takeoff or landing accidents. Yet I don't see anyone complaining that "it was a piece of shit" or a "dangerous aircraft" because of it. That's far, far more than F-104s crashed in landing or takeoff!

[@raynus1]

Ex-RCAF bird. Very pretty.

[@ErnestoTani]

the f-104's a classic!

[@iowa61]

I believe that's the case. I was told by an F-104 pilot, that "clean" the F-104 is still quicker than a "clean" F-16. So many variables though, and hardly scientific. They're both fast.

[@aaron8862006]

Definitely a word! Parasite drag (including form drag, interference drag, wave drag, etc) and Induced drag are like counterparts.

[@OberserverDeLaFaune]

"The report estimated that the F-104 was 70 ft to the side of, and 10 ft below, the fuselage of the XB-70. The report concluded that from that position without appropriate sight cues, Walker was unable to properly perceive his motion relative to the Valkyrie, leading to his aircraft drifting into contact with the XB-70's wing. The accident investigation also pointed to the wake vortex off the XB-70's wingtips as the reason for the F-104's sudden roll over and into the bomber." -Wikipedia

[@CommoMike]

My uncle flew the F104 way back when, you have to remember the times when it went into service, cold war.

[@comradeboris]

gotta love the manned missile

[@brtshstel]

J-79 turbojets made that howling sound. F-4s, B-58s, and A-5s also made that sound when they flew.

[@scottkarana]

Some Bf-109s also had devices attached so that when they dove, they would make screeches. Lucas took various inspirations from WWII, and that's just one. ;)

[@Name-ps9fx]

❤️ the scream!

[@maddogmcrae]

@denmalski It is like a sixties muscle car. It can go fast in a straight line, but it couldn't corner. Still gotta love it!

[@srussert28]

Some days I can still smell the jet fuel from being buzzed from the low passes

[@Calnickel]

Compression lift exists, but that is not what is happening in this video. Compression lift uses high pressure generated from shockwaves to lift the aircraft. It was only used on the XB-70 at high speed and altitude. Ground effect happens at 1-1.5 wing spans from the ground and captures the high pressure air under the aircraft and reduces wing tip vortices.

[@md902A]

Strauss: Yes, it's very nice. But we need a plane for bombing, straffing, assault and battery, interception and reconnaissance. Not just a fairweather fighter! Salesman: Well, that's ok. We can make some modifications. It'll cost a little extra, but it's worth it. Just look at the shape of this beauty. Look, I tell you what we'll do. We'l redesign the plane, right? And instead of just calling it the F104, we'll call it the F104G. Strauss: G? Salesman: Yeah, eh, Herr Minister - G. G for Germany

[@GALM1CIPHER93]

thats one hell of a leaf blower... I bet the neighbors would mind the gas one after that

[@waltersteenvoorden]

I once had an F16 pass over me at aprox 15 metre's that was awesome!

[@williamsimmons152]

It had an unmistakable scream.

[@okrajoe]

F-104 flying fast and low.

[@Mega12AX7]

I love this plane, I want one 🤯

[@mcearl8073]

You can get one for free. Just go to Germany with a shovel.

[@dwainashton7043]

He has his flaps down.

[@knucklehead0202]

Another incredible piece of aviation history, they look and sound badass, as well as being insanely fast.

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

About double the height of Ray Hanna in a Spitfire. That's impressive for a jet!

[@charliecharlie58]

it has a sound of its own.

[@crazygood150]

"The Missile witha Man in it"or "The Widow Maker!"

[@gpdude22]

Agrred. Depended on what they were trying to use it for.

[@mikecimerian6913]

It is in this role as strategic fighter bomber that the F-104 earned it's widow maker reputation. This bird has no flight surfaces :-)

[@onblock7]

Oh yeah, coming from prop planes in 42 to this here! FASTTTTTTT.

[@allgood6760]

Sleek and chic!.. awesome!

[@tritop]

Great fighter jet

[@Maxum97SeaDoo91]

NASA used these as chase planes for a number of years if memory serves correct. This plane looks fast and wicked just sitting there when viewed front on. Only one looking more BadAss (my opinion) in the same view was a B-58. Saw one on the ground at Wright-Pat when I was much younger at their open house. They had her all polished-up and a pilot giving a presentation. Even let us touch it! I'd give my eye teeth to be able touch one (a flyable one) again....

[@bugmoto]

Rick Svetkoff crossed the pilot picket line at Continental in 1983. Once a SCAB, always a SCAB- it's for life. he's hoping everyone has forgotten. He's wrong.

[@javacup912]

Nice low pass! Should caught the rear end with another camera angle.

[@ziegle9876]

This is still the nicest jet.

[@chaosad09]

any lower they could have attached a mower deck on it and cut the grass. LOL. I think the the F-104, and the F-101 are the most beautiful planes ever built.

[@denmalski]

@Giacomoperti they were designed for one purpose but they excelled at another, the 104 is still one of the fastest aircraft on the deck, in fact the low level high speed record is still held by a 104, So it was great as a one pass haul ass nuclear strike bomber. one bomb, one time ,one target. No wings meant no parasitic drag. & the high wing loading meant it couldn't turn well but it wouldn't be rocked by turbulence either. it was rock solid as long as you wanted to go fast & str8

[@MrLuvOldies]

In its time,the US Air Force F-104 Starfighter held the World Speed and Altitude Records.

[@plimthing]

Not convinced by the low level award! Buccaneer would have flew underneath that!!

[@FundyBay66]

yes there is lots of room there, but at red flag at least 1 CF104 escaped an F-15 by flying under a Buccaneer and the F-15 cross locking on the Buccaneer!

[@dundonrl]

the Missile with a man in it...

[@EnsembleTheatre]

Cool - Well done - Tha's low! Peace ;)

[@wesleyp47]

One Bad Ass Jet....

[@Ignignokt5150]

The heat just dumping from the airframe is brutal .

[@MrBen527]

Nice vid!

[@hankhenry9199]

From the engine.

[@DG121480]

I think it will be here in titusville this weekend! TICO Warbirds Airshow.

[@OberserverDeLaFaune]

"The USAF summary report of the accident investigation stated that, given the position of the F-104 relative to the XB-70, the F-104 pilot would not have been able to see the XB-70's wing, except by uncomfortably looking back over his left shoulder. The report concluded that Walker, piloting the F-104, likely maintained his position by looking at the fuselage of the XB-70, forward of his position."

[@richarddrum9970]

A rocket with wings.

[@a320nick]

Er, was that an aeroplane that just went over head? I heard on of these make a sonic boom at about 3 or 4,000ft, it was one big lump of noise!!

[@s.tranger1074]

They used to be called "Flying Coffins"!

[@marcusdenning1649]

Kelly Johnson strikes again

[@DG121480]

Sure he has! They need to land sometime!

[@johnbenton4488]

That's why the earth is round. So you can tell an F104 is flying. (another clue: the u/c is retracted)

[@Savak22]

It was REALLY low, what a brilliant machine.

[@StanleyKu]

Still the coolest jet! It sure was sweet in "The Right Stuff"!

[@earthtruthhunters1642]

The Widow Maker

[@chavisievert]

im buying one of those tomorrow!

[@Lionforever1860]

One of the beautifullest planes. I love this flying rocket. I mean the "Vikings" flying these plane today? Greeds Lion

[@Lhenry-pf5zn]

Dad flew them in the RCAF. Best to keep these irreplaceable Starfighters away from the ground!

[@jhghyyjkjjutyutyu]

Niceee!

[@Anoushirwan]

Amazing piloting to fly the "Widowmaker" at such low speeds so close to the ground !!!

[@hankhenry9199]

Most of the 104 pilots were bachelors.

[@796andy2]

nah , as per Dad "its a nice bird ... just gotta watch your ass" still have his mach duece pin !!

[@DG121480]

I'll give it a try... First time for everything!

[@onblock7]

I thought the F14 was designed for the same thing but off an aircraft Carrier! Haul ass to high altitude quickly and intercept soviet Bombers before they hit the fleet! F-104 yes it was great and I love it! But it has been surpassed since then as far as that goes. I see it was over Mach 2 in 1954 though so yeah it was far ahead of it's time, but others have passed it since of course! DAMN that thing was fast for the 50's. Phantom was fast as well, man both ahead of their time.

[@brucerideout9511]

Flaps now really fly it

[@Hiristis]

Holy crap,that was low!!

[@talonproductions]

440 Knots at 15 feet. Fun day that was....

[@Stormchaser2be]

DAMN lol..u know hes low when u can see his jets shadow on the ground lol

[@swaguel]

I bet you forgot you wrote this! There are so many people here who wrote comments from 13-5 years ago, crazy

[@komepollass]

@w3rw0lf Spain operated a handful of f104s (under lease) and had no losses.

[@Hamring]

is it just me or is this the exact same location as the famous spitfire low pass vid? it has that same bump the shadow crawls over.

[@garypeatling7927]

Brilliant but the spitfire one impossible to beat 4ft from bottom of prop to ground insane

[@sergeant_salty]

one of the many beautiful planes I'll never see fly....born too damn late..

[@natakkids3156]

one of the earliest uploaded videos.

[@gamer_kid_naz4942]

I was 3 when this was uploaded and now I'm 18

[@chaghar]

mannnnnnn. I would love to fly in those aircrafts.Its in our blood I think bcause we hauman beings have always wanted to fly and then finally in the past cntury we have made this our long dream a reality. by the way did u notice all that heat comming out of the back of the aircraft? that was awesome.

[@Strideo1]

F-104 starfighter! Sweet!

[@Standard_Aussie]

It would be crazy if you replied

[@amayami]

Mind the big rocks!

[@Ofotherworlds]

@Polaris688 The problem with the F104 was always its lack of maneuverability. It would still work great at intercepting bombers- provided the bombers were unescorted or that the F104s were accompained by more manuverable fighters to engage the bomber's escorts. The Italian Air Force only retired the F104 in 2004! But in the wars between India and Pakistan Pakistani F104s were outclassed in a dogfight by Hawker Hunters and Mig-21s.