[hyair]

Dear All - I choose to start with the F-104 because it was the first real mach 2.0 fighter in the world. The first prototype flew in 1954 and the type entered service with the US airforce in 1958.
The plane which was desined by Kely Ghonson the genius designer was developed from the lessons of Korea war and was to have a speed and rate of climb out of this world. A mach 2.2 and 40k feet per min climb. At the begining mach 1.5 was achie ed with J65 engine but when the J79 was available it become a mach 2.0 fighter.6
The F-104 became one of the most controversal plane ever.
The service in the German airforce was very p8roblematic with many crashes and it was called the widow maker !
It was tried in Vietnam with poor results and wasn't credited
with any kill against Mig's.
The only successful version was the Italien F-104 S with 8k J79 engine and ability to carry two Sparrow missiles.
The model is from Wilhelmshavener in scale of 1:48.

Yair