FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
The 104 had a service ceiling of under 60,000 feet, although modified ones have broke world altitude and speed records. The NF-104 had a rocket motor in the tail, it was supposed to be an "Astronaut Trainer." Here's a BIG photo from Edwards AFB PAO
Here's a great site about the NF-104...
http://www.nf104.com/index.html
In one of my many discussions with Tony LeVier, he once told me the F-104 suffered a similar fate as the P-38 did in Europe. It got a bad rap due to poor pilot transition training, had its mission change several times during it's gestation, and was never operated to its fullest potential. Remember the -104 came from the input of Korean War pilots and their desires in an air-to-air combat aircraft. I've met several Canadian and Marineflieger pilots who loved the -104 and hated to give it up, on the other side I met several pilots who didn't think too highly of it, one of them being Dick Rutan who had some time in it. In his words, "Take off, go real fast, turn, almost stall, land real fast..........
Here's a great site about the NF-104...
http://www.nf104.com/index.html
In one of my many discussions with Tony LeVier, he once told me the F-104 suffered a similar fate as the P-38 did in Europe. It got a bad rap due to poor pilot transition training, had its mission change several times during it's gestation, and was never operated to its fullest potential. Remember the -104 came from the input of Korean War pilots and their desires in an air-to-air combat aircraft. I've met several Canadian and Marineflieger pilots who loved the -104 and hated to give it up, on the other side I met several pilots who didn't think too highly of it, one of them being Dick Rutan who had some time in it. In his words, "Take off, go real fast, turn, almost stall, land real fast..........