F-104 STARFIGHTER Flies Again Over Italy, Awesome J79 Howl!

Footage of F-104 Starfighter ground test run and flying. TF-104GM Starfighter returns to Italy at Italian Air Force Centenary Airshow, Manifestazione Aerea del Centennario dell'Aeronautica Militare at Pratica di Mare 2023.

Aircraft was plagued with technical problems throughout the weekend, so there was only one flight at the airshow.

Piloted by @PiercarloCiacchi

[PaddyPatrone]

Aircraft was plagued with technical problems throughout the weekend, so there was only one flight at the airshow.

[mjw]

That 4-plane flyby is one of the best combination of the old and the new that I have ever seen.

[dennispetty]

My pop used to pilot this aircraft among many other back in the day.. F104..f105.. F4.. Then onto SR71.. Proud guy..ace..

[ericq]

I always find it hard to explain to people why this is such an incredible aircraft to witness in person. Its shape, the sounds, the speed, the fact that you can actually feel it pulling air from around you if it's close enough....

[dongorney]

I grew up in Palmdale California, where the F-104s were flight tested. My neighbor was Lockheed test-pilot Glenn Reaves, and got to watch one of his training flights with the German pilots from the Lockheed control tower. It was such a beautiful plan, and the J79 howl made it unique. Good times.

[trintella]

As their flight surgeon in the 60ies I was fortunate to get a ride to 50k and a speed of Mach 2. Once on the ground I was treated to a throw in the near by creek!! What a fraternity to join!!

[Helicopterpilot]

No words can describe how much I love this jet!

[spankymcduff]

My father had over 1000hrs flying CF104 and the CF104d. I inherited his flight log book. He also bailed out of one in 1964...( bird strike )

[corjp]

OMG the howling of the engine... it brings back soooo many memories... when I was on holidays in the southern part of The Netherlands and saw and heard the famous F 104... chills down my spine.

[SunshineStateVet]

What a sound! What an incredible aircraft!

[chuckbrasch]

In 1962 I worked for NASA at Edwards AFB on the X-15 project. I remember the scream from those F-104's. They were used as chase planes during the test flights of the X-15.. Gives me 'shivers' now when I hear them....cool video!

[bakkerem]

Didn't know there was still one flying. ! Thanks for posting ! In Holland they actually used that howl as a weapon in 1977, when forcing an end to a train hijacking. 6 Starfighters made a low pass. It scared the shit out of the hijackers, so special forces could utilize the confusion to go in. 3 Minutes later their job was done.

[MiniBuster]

I remember the Starfighter often used to fly past my home, when I was a kid. It was like looking at airplane from the future. I think the Starfighter is the reason I love airplanes, and still have to look up EVERY time I hear an airplane. :)

[BasedF-Pilot]

I got to see Italian F-104's fly when I was in Cervia AB for a while. Really cool to see.

[Music-pqcm]

… and entered service just 13 years after WWII ? Pretty amazing how quickly technology developed in such a short period of time.

[louischadaris]

The F 104 is one of the most beautiful planes ever

[johnbaligrodzki]

Was just at the Palm Springs Air Museum. They have an F104. Had never seen one in person before. Could not believe how small it is. The wings are tiny! And incredibly thin airfoil section. An incredible tech achievement to get everything into such a small package to do its job. This video is excellent!

[rickfoss]

I worked on the F-105 stationed at Nellis. We often had 104s come in. I always stopped what I was doing to watch and listen. It's great that one is flying again. I wish we could say the same for a F-105. Maybe one day.

[JohnJohansen]

As a kid I had the opportunity to experience both the 104 and the Saab 35 Draken, since the Danish airforce had them both.
From the 104's i saw some exciting high speed chasing. A lot of these above mach 1.
I also had the pleasure to watch two Saab 35 Draken playing war over my local fjord for several minutes.
They were performing cobras, and other outstanding manoeuvres.
- What great things to observe, 👍🙂

[getoutofthetimetrap]

The star fighter was built to intercept high altitude bombers during the Cold War its rate of climb from take off was unmatched, basically like launching a rocket as well as its rate of speed, not very maneuverable but wasn’t designed for dogfights.