Was F-104 a good fighter?

Was F-104 a good fighter?

The F-104 had good acceleration, rate of climb, and top speed, but its sustained turn performance was poor.

How good was MiG 21?

The MiG-21 is the most-produced supersonic fighter of all time. Still going strong after 60 years of service, the rock-solid MiG-21 supersonic fighter gained a fearsome reputation despite its lackluster combat record. The Fishbed is the most-produced supersonic fighter of all time, with 11,496 manufactured.

Is the F-104 bad?

The issues were in two areas. First, the speeds that the F-104 had to fly for approach and landing very high – much higher than the earlier jets – and went very fast, especially for an inexperienced pilot flying in seriously bad weather. In fact 61 German F-104s had crashed, with a loss of 35 pilots by mid-1966.

What missiles did the F-104 carry?

Armed with a six-barrel M-61 20mm Vulcan cannon it served as a tactical fighter and, equipped additionally with heat-seeking Sidewinder missiles, as a day-night interceptor. The USAF procured about 300 Starfighters in one- and two-seat versions.

What is the landing speed of the F-104 Starfighter?

Built by Lockheed, the aircraft was originally built to battle the MiG-15 but its thin wing was notoriously finicky at low speeds,unforgiving at higher speeds and featured high takeoff and landing speeds of at 170+kts.

What kind of aircraft is the F-104 Starfighter?

Lockheed F-104 Starfighter. The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is a single-engine, supersonic interceptor aircraft which later became widely used as an attack aircraft.

Why did the F-104 have a radical wing design?

The F-104 featured a radical wing design. Most jet fighters of the period used a swept-wing or delta-wing, which provided a reasonable balance between aerodynamic performance, lift, and internal space for fuel and equipment.

What happened to the MiG-21 and the F-4 Phantom II?

After the Vietnam War, both the MiG-21 and the F-4 Phantom II continued to be exported to several other air forces in the world. They even met each other again during the Yom Kippur War in 1973, which pitted a coalition of Arab countries, led by Syria and Egypt, against Israel.

Why is the MiG-35 not included in the fighter jet list?

Two promising Russian aircraft, the MiG-35 and Sukhoi Su-47 Berkut will also not be included, as there is not enough reliable information available about their performance and no assurance that they will ever go into service with any air force. The aircraft included are: What makes a good fighter?