The quest for the worst combat aircraft in history...

[Oberon]

Aah, didn't know about the mod on Yeagers F-104, that explains that. Don't get me wrong, I have a respect for the Starfighter...but it's not a gentle plane, you make a mistake and it will bite your head off. Some aircraft let you get away with little errors...I doubt very much the F-104 is one of them.
I certainly wouldn't call it the worst combat aircraft in history...but it at least deserves to be on the list IMHO.

Oh, and the Lead Sled? Dunno what to make of it...but prefer the Sabre any day.

[Bilge_Rat]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Aah, didn't know about the mod on Yeagers F-104, that explains that. Don't get me wrong, I have a respect for the Starfighter...but it's not a gentle plane, you make a mistake and it will bite your head off. Some aircraft let you get away with little errors...I doubt very much the F-104 is one of them.
I certainly wouldn't call it the worst combat aircraft in history...but it at least deserves to be on the list IMHO.

Oh, and the Lead Sled? Dunno what to make of it...but prefer the Sabre any day.

A lot of the planes designed in the 50s were very dangerous. They were extremely powerful and were basically designed (and flown) by the seat of the pants, since the study of aerodynamics was rudimentary back then. They also lacked many of the standard safety features (like a g limiter) which are now standard.

Piloting any of them was a very dangerous job.

I recall reading the story of an accident which occurred in the mid 50s. The pilot of a jet fighter, I dont recall the model, flew into the air base at 600 knots at a right angle to the landing strip intending to do a sharp left turn at the very end to slow the plane down and land. In the middle of the turn, both wings tore off and the plane crashed. When they found the pilot, he was dead although he appeared unharmed. When they reconstructed the accident they calculated the sharp turn had subjected the plane and the pilot to a force of 180 gs! resulting in instant death.

I personally find the early jet fighters to be extremely fascinating.