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Why did the f104 have such small wings?
The wing’s leading edges were so thin (. 016 in, 0.41 mm) that they were a hazard to ground crews. The thinness of the wings required fuel tanks and landing gear to be placed in the fuselage, and the hydraulic cylinders driving the ailerons were limited to 1-inch (25 mm) thickness to fit.
What is the most maneuverable US fighter jet?
F-22 Raptor Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is number one our list of top ten fighter jets in the world. It is super stealthy and is virtually invisible to radar. F-22 is extremely advanced twin-engine aircraft having super maneuverability. F-22 Raptor was inducted into the US Air Force in 2005.
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.
How many F-104s did the Luftwaffe have?
At its peak in the mid-1970s, the Luftwaffe and Marineflieger operated 11 F-104 wings. The variant delivered to the Germans was designed F-104G (with G for Germany) and it was not not the simple daylight fighter but an all-weather, ground attack version which was 2,000 pounds heavier than the original F-104 with the same engine.
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.
How many F-104 Starfighters were shot down by Germany?
In Western Europe, Germany bought 916 F-104s from the US but they quickly realized that they had made a serious mistake when buying faulty stars. During use from 1970 to 1991, 292 out of 916 Starfighter were shot down, killing 115 elite pilots.