The best aircraft in the world

[Holliwood]

F-104 rules!!
Still the best aircraft in the world in my opinion!! :lol: :lol:

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/331356/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/491643/L/

http://www.aeronautica.difesa.it/vc.asp?i=/Gallery/Images/galVel4927-4.jpg
http://www.aeronautica.difesa.it/vc.asp?i=/CPA/Images/galVel4927-2.jpg

http://www.aeronautica.difesa.it/vc.asp?i=/UCSMA/Images/galVel4714-2.jpg

http://www.aeronautica.difesa.it/vc.asp?i=/UCSMA/Images/galVel4605-2.jpg
http://www.aeronautica.difesa.it/vc.asp?i=/UCSMA/Images/galVel4605-8.jpg



FABIO
P.S. someone could explain me how post photos on the forum? THX!

[Seoulstriker]

nice job on the pictures! woot woot

most of them don't work, though. :(

[Frens]

ciao fabio, fai così:

metti la url della foto tra queste due scritte

[erazer76]

http://members.chello.nl/n.a.boomgaard/d-8063.jpg

[BlackRain]

Lockheed F-104 Starfighter

http://kom.aau.dk/~august/images/d2.jpg


http://members.home.nl/noor.luijkx/northam/nasa811.jpg

[Holliwood]

GRAZIE!!

ehehe i see many estimators of the "SPILLONE" as in italy is called F-104!


Fabio

[hood]

From the forum rules:


3. Don't post threads with TITLES IN ALL CAPS.

Please fix the subject line.

[DeltaWhisky58]

One of my pix - BAF Base Kleine Brogel, 18 Jun 03.......
http://www.btinternet.com/~robdw/TF-104G.jpg

[cold0]

Ragazzi, auguratevi di non vivere vicino a una base aerea che ospita ancora questi affari.... Ne ho visti venire giù un bel po' con gli anni, qualcuno anche in città :D :D :D

[Haiw]

We don't speak spaghetti... :roll:

Anyway, what's so special about that old piece of junk? Even we dumped it for the F-16 :P

[SILENT SCOPE]

Ohh I love Italian F-104s! Beautiful pictures!

[Groove]

more of them crashed than landed :(

[BlackRain]

Anyway, what's so special about that old piece of junk? Even we dumped it for the F-16 :P

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Your statement is like saying, "What's so special about that old <insert anything> piece of junk".

The context is that the F 104 is like a Mercedes Gull Wing. Sure it's old and out of date, but it has a classical style all of it's own. And, for god's sake, it was a trend setter.

Some examples:

* On December 6, 1963, the first NF-104A set an unofficial world altitude record of 118,860 feet for aircraft taking off under their own power.
(The official record at that time was 113,829 feet, set by the Mikoyan/Gurevich Ye-66A, an experimental version of the MiG-21 Fishbed.)

* Later, the same NF-104A flown by Major R. W. Smith reached an altitude of 120,800 feet.

* The F-104 was the first operational interceptor capable of sustained speeds above Mach 2 and was the first aircraft ever to hold the World Speed and Altitude records simultaneously.

Name a hand full of military jet that can accomplish this today let alone 40 years ago.

Accident ****e? Hardly, Inexperienced and Poorly Trained Pilots

A total of 2580 of all Starfighter types were produced, making the aircraft one of the most important Western postwar military aircraft.

However, in the mid-1960s when the Starfighter first entered service in significant numbers, the aircraft was involved in a large number of accidents.

Because of the high accident rate, the Starfighter became a controversial aircraft and there were charges that the aircraft was an intrinsically flawed and dangerous design.

However, in retrospect, the Starfighter was not intrinsically any more dangerous to fly than lots of other military aircraft of the day, and the high accident rate can be blamed more on inadequate and insufficient crew training rather than on any flaw with the basic design.

You have a lot to learn grasshopper!

[BlackRain]

http://www.starfighters.nl/germanyII/da-102.jpg

[BlackRain]

http://www.starfighters.nl/belgian/FX52KB81.jpg

[anonymous individual]

http://www.starfighters.nl/belgian/FX52KB81.jpg

Stunting

[ibstolidude]

The one taking you home...

Or dropping the package your buddies sent with that contains "home brew".

[berkal]

Has anyone seen the final scenes of the seminal movie "The Right Stuff" showing Chuck Yeager attempting the altitude record aboard an F-104? The scene is beautifully and masterfully intercut with scenes showing a Texan Fan Dancer. The sound is amazing throughout.

[He219]

http://www.aafo.com/gallery/week/0326_extra/enlarge/03-26-02_4.jpg

http://www.aafo.com/gallery/week/0326_extra/enlarge/03-26-02_3.jpg
STARFIGHTERS OVER MEMMINGENBERG

http://www.aafo.com/gallery/week/03-26-02_1.jpg
Larger (http://www.aafo.com/gallery/week/032602_1-1024.jpg)

http://www.bredow-web.de/Luftwaffenmuseum/Kampfjets/TF-104_G_Starfighter/STARFIGHTER_TF.JPG

http://www.bredow-web.de/Luftwaffenmuseum/Kampfjets/Starfighter/F-104_G_Zell_3.JPG

http://www.bredow-web.de/Luftwaffenmuseum/Kampfjets/Starfighter/F-104_G_Zell.JPG

http://www.bredow-web.de/Luftwaffenmuseum/Kampfjets/Starfighter/a_F-104_G_Zell_Bombe.jpg
1 MT Hydrogen Bomb, B-43 ^

These puppies used to fly so low over the Swabian glacial valleys that they blew out people's windows throughout the 70's. I remember investigating two Luftwaffe F-104 (http://www.bredow-web.de/Luftwaffenmuseum/Kampfjets/Starfighter/starfighter.html) fuselages at a scrapyard outside of Augsburg. They probably came from Fuerstenfeldbruck ...

;)

[Merik]

Isnt Greece replacing their 104s with the Eurofighter? What do you guys think of that?

[He219]

Has anyone seen the final scenes of the seminal movie "The Right Stuff" showing Chuck Yeager attempting the altitude record aboard an F-104? The scene is beautifully and masterfully intercut with scenes showing a Texan Fan Dancer. The sound is amazing throughout.
How about the real thing?
;)

http://www.bredow-web.de/Luftwaffenmuseum/Kampfjets/Starfighter/F-104_Geschichte/Zusatztriebwerk.JPG

http://www.bredow-web.de/Luftwaffenmuseum/Kampfjets/Starfighter/F-104_Geschichte/Zusatztriebwerk_2.JPG

Am 6. Dezember 1963 bescherte die NF-104A den USA einen inoffiziellen Höhlenweltrekord von 36.229 m. Der Rekordstand in dieser Zeit bei 34.695 m, gehalten von einer MiG Ye-66A, einer Experimentalausführung der MiG-21. Kurz darauf stieg Major R.W. Smith mit der gleichen NF104A sogar auf 36. 901 Meter.

Am 10. Dezember 1963 verlor „Chuck“ Yeager in einer zweiten NF-104A in einer Höhe von 31.800 m die Kontrolle über die Maschine, als sie sich bei einem Anstellwinkel von 28 Grad aufgeräumte. Die Steuertriebwerke zeigten keine Wirkung und das Flugzeug ging in ein Flachtudeln über. Nach 13 Umdrehungen, nun schon in gerade noch knapp 3.400 m Höhe, betätigte der Pilot den Schleudersitz, nach der 14. Umdrehung schlug die Maschine auf dem Boden auf und explodierte.

http://www.bredow-web.de/Luftwaffenmuseum/Kampfjets/Starfighter/F-104_Geschichte/f-104_geschichte.html
(Sorry for the German. I already had the site up)


And this ain't Sam Schepard (http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/theatre_dance/Shepard/shepard.html) either...
;)

http://www.check-six.com/images/Crash_Sites_images/NF-104/NF-104-yeager-2_72.jpg

http://www.check-six.com/images/Crash_Sites_images/NF-104/NF104-762grd1.jpg
^This is the one that crashed

http://members.lycos.co.uk/derekhorne/cey1.JPG

http://members.lycos.co.uk/derekhorne/cey3.JPG

http://members.lycos.co.uk/derekhorne/cey2.JPG

http://members.lycos.co.uk/derekhorne/cey4.JPG

http://members.lycos.co.uk/derekhorne/Nf104.JPG

http://members.lycos.co.uk/derekhorne/cey5.JPG

http://www.check-six.com/images/Crash_Sites_images/NF-104/NF-104-then-now_0074a.jpg

http://www.check-six.com/images/Crash_Sites_images/NF-104/NF104-crash-site-air.jpg

More info on the Crash of Chuck Yeager's NF-104A (http://www.check-six.com/Crash_Sites/NF-104A_crash_site.htm)

[Haiw]

Am 6. Dezember 1963 bescherte die NF-104A den USA einen inoffiziellen Höhlenweltrekord von 36.229 m. Der Rekordstand in dieser Zeit bei 34.695 m, gehalten von einer MiG Ye-66A, einer Experimentalausführung der MiG-21. Kurz darauf stieg Major R.W. Smith mit der gleichen NF104A sogar auf 36. 901 Meter.

Am 10. Dezember 1963 verlor „Chuck“ Yeager in einer zweiten NF-104A in einer Höhe von 31.800 m die Kontrolle über die Maschine, als sie sich bei einem Anstellwinkel von 28 Grad aufgeräumte. Die Steuertriebwerke zeigten keine Wirkung und das Flugzeug ging in ein Flachtudeln über. Nach 13 Umdrehungen, nun schon in gerade noch knapp 3.400 m Höhe, betätigte der Pilot den Schleudersitz, nach der 14. Umdrehung schlug die Maschine auf dem Boden auf und explodierte.

On december 6th 1963 the NF-104A of the US flew an unofficial altitude world record of 36.229 meters. The record at this time was at 35.695 meters, held by a MiG Ye-66a, an experimental version of the MiG-21. Shortly hereafter Major R.W. Smith even managed to get up to 36.901 meters with the same NF104A.

On december 10th 1963 "Chuck" Yeager lost control of a second NF-104A at an altitude of 31.800 meter, while gaining height at 28 degrees. The steering controls showed no reaction and the plane went in a stall. After 13 turns, now already dropped down to 3.400 meters, the pilot ejected, after the 14th turn the machine hit the ground and exploded.

[Dmitri]

What is the current world record? I mean for like a fighter plane

[He219]

What is the current world record? I mean for like a fighter plane

The Mighty Mig-25 (http://www.wvi.com/~lelandh/mig25.html) Foxbat held that destinction with an altitude record of 118,898 feet, but the YF12A and SR71 had the ability to sustain both height and speed. On November 20, 1965 an A-12 Blackbird exceeded Mach 3.2 and a sustained altitude of 90,000 feet. A stripped down, highly modified Soviet Mig-25 did break some of the Blackbirds records, however the SR-71 regained those records in July, 1976. Almost all SR-71 Blackbird Reconnaissance Aircraft are now in Museums throughout the United States, having flown for 32 years with the distinction of being the "The highest flying and fastest air breathing aircraft in the world".

"High Flight"
Altitude in Horizontal Flight: 85,135, SR-71A. World Absolute and World
Class Altitude Record for Horizontal Flight - 85,135 feet, surpassing the previous record of 80,257
feet set by a Lockheed YF12A in June of 1965.
SR-71 flown by Capt Robert C. Helt, Pilot and Major Larry A. Elliott, RSO.

"Fast Flight"
Speed Over a Straight Course (15-25km): 2,193.167 mph SR-71A. World Absolute and World Class
Speed Record over a 15/25 Kilometer Straight Course - 2,193.167 MPH surpassing the previous
record set by a Lockheed YF12A Interceptor prototype in June 1965.
SR-71 Flown by Capt. Eldon W. Joersz, Pilot and Major George T. Morgan Jr., RSO

"Desert Trek" (Two Records Set)
Speed Over a Closed Course (1000km): 2,092 MPH
World Absolute Closed Circuit Speed Record over a 1000 Kilometer Course 2,092 MPH, surpassing the previous Absolute Speed Record of 1853 MPH and the World Class Speed Record of 1815 MPH set by a Russian Mig-25 Foxbat in October, 1967.
SR-71 flown by Major Adolphus H. Bledsoe, Jr., Pilot and Major John T. Fuller, RSO.

--------------

March 06, 1990
SR-71A #61-17972

West Coast to East Coast of USA (National Record-Speed Over a Recognized Course): Coast to Coast Distance: 2,404.05 statute miles...Time: 1 hr 07 min 53.69 secs...Average Speed: 2,124.51 mph
Los Angeles To Washington D.C. (World Record): Distance: 2,299.67 statute miles...Time: 1 hr 04 min 19.89 secs...Average Speed: 2,144.83 mph

St Louis To Cincinnati (World Record): Distance: 311.44 statute miles...Time: 8 mins 31.97 secs...Average Speed: 2,189.94 mph

Kansas City To Washington D.C. (World Record): Distance: 942.08 statute miles...Time: 25 mins 58.53 secs...Average Speed: 2176.08 mph

------------
http://www.wvi.com/~lelandh/spd_run001.html

[bison]

how effective was that rocket for assisted takeoff? oh, by the by, wasn't the starfighter ****e to sliding during sharp turns(making a lot of leeway) and not terribly manuverable?

still a marvelous piece of machinery.

[Russian Texan]

Mig 25 (entered service in 1966)

When the US Air Force began developing the XB-70 bomber capable of delivering nuclear weapons to the Soviet Union while traveling at Mach 3 at altitudes over 70,000 ft, the Soviets started planning a new super-fast, high-altitude interceptor. Though the XB-70 project was eventually abandoned, the MiG-25 program continued, eventually producing the fastest fighter in the world.

The MiG-25 is designed only for high-altitude fight and has correspondingly terrible low-level performance and dogfighting characteristics. Although reconnaissance and defense suppression variants of the MiG-25 were developed, the aircraft's range of applications has always been limited.
As a result, Mikoyan Gurevich later designed an improved MiG-25, the MiG-31, with improved low-level performance for use in more common attack fighter roles. An interesting note is that the first air-to-air kill of the Gulf War is believed to be a US F/A-18C Hornet shot down by an Iraqi MiG-25 on 17 January 1991.
It also the fastest, once it was clocked by USAF at mach 3.2. Mig airspeed indicator is redlined at 2.8, anything above that leads to the engine burnout.

Mig 25 (total of 500 deployed) and later Mig 31(150 deployed) became one of the key components of the Soviet PVO (it is a separate branch of the russian military that is responsible for the airdefense)

Note the size of the engines
http://www.incredible-adventures.com/migs_gallery/L_side25.jpg

http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/airdef/mig-25-DNSN8809538_JPG.jpg
Mig 31 ( info from FAS website)
The most capable Russian air defense interceptor aircraft, the FOXHOUND has a multiple-target engagement capability and was the first Soviet fighter to have a true look-down, shoot-down capability. The key to the MiG-31's effectiveness is the SBI-16 Zaslon fixed phased array antenna radar, codenamed 'Flash Dance' by NATO, which is said to be the world's most powerful fighter radar. The new Soloviev D-30F6 engine was specified for the MiG-31 in order to improve range, the key performance parameter for which an improvement over the MiG-25 was demanded. By 1987 over 150 FOXHOUNDs were operationally deployed at several locations from the Arkhangelsk area in the northwestern USSR to the Soviet Far East. The FOXHOUND is dedicated to the homeland air defense mission. The FOXHOUND carries the long-range AA-9 air-to-air missiles, and can engage 4 different targets simuitaneouly with the M-9.

The wings of the aircraft are high-mounted and swept-back with square tips and a negative slant. There are four underwing pylons. There are two turbofan engines in the fuselage. There are rectangular and diagonal cut air intakes on sides of the fuselage. The exhausts extend beyond the tail plane. The fuselage is rectangular from the intakes to the exhausts and has a long, pointed nose. The aircraft has a bubble canopy. The tail fins are back-tapered with angular tips and canted outward. The flats are swept-back and tapered and mid- to low-mounted on the body.

In 1992 the Chinese reached agreement with the Russian Federation to buy 24 MiG-31 Foxhound long-range interceptors. The MiG-31s were expected to be assembled at a newly set-up factory in Shenyang, with production at a rate of four per month expected by 2000. The last aircraft was to be delivered by the year 2000. According to some reports the agreement included a license to build as many as 700 aircraft, and some projection envisioned that at least 200 would actually be deployed by the year 2010.


The first stage of tests of the upgraded MiG-31BM high-speed multifunctional long-range jet fighter were completed in mid-1999. The main difference between the MiG-31P (Foxhound, according to the NATO classification) and the new MiG-31BM multifunctional air strike system is that the latter is capable of destroying both air and ground targets. The designers and manufacturers of the MiG-31 hope that the new modification will result in international sales. The upgraded MiG-31BM is fitted with a powerful onboard computer system and a radar with a phased array which will allow the pilot to simultaneously activate the air-to-air and air-to-surface missile fire modes. When working with air targets, the MiG-31BM is capable of intercepting up to 24 targets simultaneously.

http://www.zap16.com/images/374.jpg

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/images/mig-31-DNST9202246_JPG.jpg

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/images/mig-31-DDST8911769_JPG.jpg

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/images/mig-31a.jpg[/img]

[Seoulstriker]

He219,

and we all know that the blackbird was retired to make way for the Aurora. ;)

[He219]

Seoulstriker: *shhhhhhhh*
;)


how effective was that rocket for assisted takeoff? oh, by the by, wasn't the starfighter ****e to sliding during sharp turns(making a lot of leeway) and not terribly manuverable?

still a marvelous piece of machinery.

The previous article writes of German-American experiments under Lockheed in California, 1963. It was merely a feasibility test for launching fighters with damaged runways. It worked, but the costs proved prohibitive.

http://www.bredow-web.de/Luftwaffenmuseum/Kampfjets/Starfighter/F-104_G_Zell_21.JPG

Im not an expert to answer your second question, but the F-104 is a Mach 2 fighter. An F-4 could out-turn it and also the Mig-25.

[He219]

You mentioned the XB-70, Russian Texan. Coincidentally it was an F-104 Starfighter piloted by Joe Walker that collided into the Valkyrie's starboard wingtip and caused the crash ...

http://www2.interceptor.com/~thumper/xb2/s-closeformation.jpg

http://www2.interceptor.com/~thumper/xb2/close-closeformation.jpg

http://www.labiker.org/xb70/contrails.jpg

In just 76 seconds, 2 men, and one of the greatest planes ever built were gone.
http://www.labiker.org/xb70.html

[Russian Texan]

It's a shame. I think "Valkyrie" could have made a great bomber.

http://www2.interceptor.com/~thumper/xb2/in-flight.jpg

I know it doesn't sound right but I, in a way, miss the Cold War. Look how many breakthrough designes and technologies it gave us: B2, F22, etc they all are products of US vs USSR. Nowadays aircraft industry basically lives of its Cold War research.

[ExtraT]

Has anyone seen the final scenes of the seminal movie "The Right Stuff" showing Chuck Yeager attempting the altitude record aboard an F-104?

Funny thing - just watched the entire movie a couple of days ago. The whole movie in general, and this scene in particular is completely full of crap. Not to mention disrespectful to Chuck Yeager.

[cold0]

An interesting note is that the first air-to-air kill of the Gulf War is believed to be a US F/A-18C Hornet shot down by an Iraqi MiG-25 on 17 January 1991.

..... and it was the only victory for a Iraqi Fighter. It is a very famous case because the downed Navy pilot, Speicher, is believed to be captured alive by Iraqi and took prisoner for almost ten years.

Rick Atkinson, in his book "Crusade: The Untold Story of the Persian Gulf War" (pg 47), mentions that Speicher was downed by a MiG-25 that slipped through the AWACS gap. The MiG-25 was speculated to have seen the flash of the HARM fired by Speicher and then closed to kill him with a missile which presumes he had a visual on him and used an IR missile.

In "No One Left Behind" Written by Amy Waters, the author writes that the MIG pilot was a russian major attached with IqAF.

[Russian Texan]

In "No One Left Behind" Written by Amy Waters, the author writes that the MIG pilot was a russian major attached with IqAF.

Now, how would he know that? :)
"Freelancer" maybe, but "attached" no because Russia, if I recall correctly, had no problems with GW1.
It is said that Mig 25 has a "jam proof" radar that pretty much burns through all ECM but the drawback is that it can't distinguishe targets below 1600ft, it all looks like clutter to it.

[UkrainianAmerican]

In "No One Left Behind" Written by Amy Waters, the author writes that the MIG pilot was a russian major attached with IqAF.

Now, how would he know that? :)
"Freelancer" maybe, but "attached" no because Russia, if I recall correctly, had no problems with GW1.
It is said that Mig 25 has a "jam proof" radar that pretty much burns through all ECM but the drawback is that it can't distinguishe targets below 1600ft, it all looks like clutter to it.I was 4 at the time, but I think Russia was vocally against the Gulf War.

[cold0]

I don't have book; I have just read the engagement in a Border Shop in US a year and half ago.
I don't remember the name of russian pilot but there were a brief interview with him (anyway, he could be a poser); I remember the he complained about the russian military "top brass" that, in his opinions, consider him and other pilots like "cannon fodders" and the outcome of the battle in the skies over Iraq could be the same even with russian pilots in the cockpit of iraqi fighters.

Anyway, the book is quite popular in US so it's not difficult to find.

For the specific engagement it is clear the Capt. Speicher had not idea of the incoming MIG; probably he didn't received any warning by RWR or he was to focus in launching the HARM agaist a Iraqi SAM and didn't hear the warning of another Navy pilot that had tried, for 2-3 times, an head-on engagement against the Foxbat. The Foxfire radar and his frequencies are well know so it's difficul to think that the MIG-25 could lock the Hornet without warning from the RWR (in the other engagements in the IIGW the Foxfire emissions were detected cleary by the american fighters).

[AOCBravo2004]

Has anyone seen the final scenes of the seminal movie "The Right Stuff" showing Chuck Yeager attempting the altitude record aboard an F-104?

Funny thing - just watched the entire movie a couple of days ago. The whole movie in general, and this scene in particular is completely full of crap. Not to mention disrespectful to Chuck Yeager.

Not as disrespectful as it was to the late Virgil "Gus" Grissom. Never have I seen such a great mans reputation tarnished.

George

[2Sheds_Jackson]

The Starfighter is one of my all time faves, though it did develop somewhat of a bad reputation.

Some guys are lucky enough to own one!

http://www.classicjets.org/pictures/cjms1041-c.jpg
Mark Sherman's CF-104


http://www.landspeed.com/boeing.jpg
And of course the North American Eagle land speed record car - which hopefully will not set any altitude records. http://www.landspeed.com/

You can also check out Scott Vetter's F-104A under construction at http://www.mif-104.com/ - the pics were too big & slow to post here...

[Russian Texan]

I was 4 at the time, but I think Russia was vocally against the Gulf War.

Actually USSR was almost neutral. It was against the war because it colud possibly produce more problems than solve, but at the same time didn't use its veto power in the security council.
It is hard to make a case of war not being justified when someone invades a sovereing country for oil. Granted the opposing side was defending its interests in the region but Saddam started it.
Overall the didn't care or do much because those were the last days of the USSR and there were plenty of internal problems/issues to pay attention to.

[Russian Texan]

I don't have book; I have just read the engagement in a Border Shop in US a year and half ago.
I don't remember the name of russian pilot but there were a brief interview with him (anyway, he could be a poser); I remember the he complained about the russian military "top brass" that, in his opinions, consider him and other pilots like "cannon fodders" and the outcome of the battle in the skies over Iraq could be the same even with russian pilots in the cockpit of iraqi fighters.

Anyway, the book is quite popular in US so it's not difficult to find.

That is the key, the supposed participation of soviet pilots in the airwar is something that spices up the book and increases its sellability :)

There are couple of reasons to question his credibility:

#1 If anything like that have happened it would be exposed in the press, especially russian press. You can't even imaging the amount of bashing soviet/russian military recieved from its own media durign and after USSR break up. Trust me, if soviet pilot flew that Mig - that would be made public justl like soviet pilots during Korean War. The decission to send soviet pilots to the Persian Gulf had to be made at the very top and there would be to many people involved into process, something would have leaked.

#2 During GW1 soviet "top brass" had so many things going on that sending pilots somewhere wasn't their concern. In 1991 "top brass" was divided into two parts: one was busy making money by selling everything and anything (including jet fuel), another part was trying to save country form internal chaos.

It appears to me that the "russian pilot" is another V. Suvorov, looking to create a sensation and make money off of it.

[BlackRain]

[quote=Dmitri]
March 06, 1990
SR-71A #61-17972

West Coast to East Coast of USA (National Record-Speed Over a Recognized Course): Coast to Coast Distance: 2,404.05 statute miles...Time: 1 hr 07 min 53.69 secs...Average Speed: 2,124.51 mph
Los Angeles To Washington D.C. (World Record): Distance: 2,299.67 statute miles...Time: 1 hr 04 min 19.89 secs...Average Speed: 2,144.83 mph

St Louis To Cincinnati (World Record): Distance: 311.44 statute miles...Time: 8 mins 31.97 secs...Average Speed: 2,189.94 mph

Kansas City To Washington D.C. (World Record): Distance: 942.08 statute miles...Time: 25 mins 58.53 secs...Average Speed: 2176.08 mph


This is the unclassified release made for public consumption as a testament to this incredible platform. This record was broken in secret many times prior by the SR-71 series. On a side note, the pilot is a proud alumni of my college.

[cold0]

Anyway, Russian Texan, I have just reported what was written in the book "No One Left Behind". Overall the book is interesting and the military part is well written (well, I have read only that part).

The story of "bad russian pilot flying Iraqi MIG" isn't so much advertised, and even the author speaks of the possibility that the pilot was russian.

For the MIG-25 Foxbat, it was the best fighter that the Arab air force have had during the 1975-2000 period and it was a tougher opponent than the much glorified MIG-29. It's unmanovrable but with a powerful radar (with not a great rage but very resilient to ECM) and very fast so it was very difficult to intercept and in some engagement (against US and IAF figthers) had evade incoming missiles using only its top speed and acceleration.

Regards,

[Russian Texan]

I am not saying it couldn't happen, I just do not find it very plausible due to the reasons mentioned previously.
Also you can't compare MIg 25 and 29 because those are two absolutely different aircraft with different missions/roles. One is a high speed/high altitude interceptor and another one is a fighter.

[cold0]

I haven't compared them but their results against western fighters in a determinated period. Many factors could have determinated the results of these air-to-air battles (pilots, air forces ect.) aganist different air forces (mainly USAF, US NAVY and IAF) :P

Regards,

[mustamato]

This is were MiG-21´s end up. Took these pics outside a swedish mall,
I think it was bought when the Russians withdrew from DDR or Poland,
and it was left behind. Had to reduce the size of the pictures, so the
quality is kinda crappy, but you get the general idea.

http://img11.photobucket.com/albums/v33/mustamato/mig1.jpg

http://img11.photobucket.com/albums/v33/mustamato/mig2.jpg

http://img11.photobucket.com/albums/v33/mustamato/mig3.jpg

http://img11.photobucket.com/albums/v33/mustamato/mig4.jpg

Anyone that even knows what kind of version this might be?