Dawes Posted January 21, 2018 Posted January 21, 2018 How was Italy's experience with this last-of-the-line F-104? Was it considered effective for it's mission(s)?
shep854 Posted January 22, 2018 Posted January 22, 2018 A quick google search found this:http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/f104_33.htmlStrictly technical, no personal accounts
RETAC21 Posted January 22, 2018 Posted January 22, 2018 Not by the 90s, but with Eurofighter delayed they were modernised as nothing else was on the pipeline to improve reliability, eventually being replaced by Tornados and F-16s until the EF-2000 came into line.
Ariete! Posted February 13, 2018 Posted February 13, 2018 I don't have a first-hand perspective, just what was written in the Italian defense media.it was considered a relatively cost-effective measure since local aero industry was already tooled up for F-104G.It doesn't seem as if anyone considered it a great plane.More controversial was the upgrade to F-104 ASA, with more advanced missiles, etc., at a time when the 104s were really becoming obsolete and rahter old machines and the rest of NATO had long re-equipped with more modern systems.
Burncycle360 Posted February 13, 2018 Posted February 13, 2018 It's ironic I think that the advent of things like HOBS / AIM-9X and reliable medium ranged missiles (AIM-120) could have gone a long way to making it a viable platform even today against contemporary threats.
GARGEAN Posted February 13, 2018 Posted February 13, 2018 It's ironic I think that the advent of things like HOBS / AIM-9X and reliable medium ranged missiles (AIM-120) could have gone a long way to making it a viable platform even today against contemporary threats.You can take any ancient plane with adequate flight characteristics, put neatest toys on it and it will be effective. See MiG-21-93(was pretty okay for 90s). Put AESA on it, arm with R-77-1 and Izdelye 760 with HOBS - and it would beat most F-15/16 out there.
Dawes Posted February 14, 2018 Author Posted February 14, 2018 Seems like it would have made an adequate interceptor for peacetime scrambles (to visually identify bogies, etc.).
Perun Posted March 23, 2022 Posted March 23, 2022 Did Italians have any F-104's stored or all that existed was used in units, at the end of 1980s
RETAC21 Posted August 21, 2023 Posted August 21, 2023 (edited) 12 minutes ago, Perun said: Does anyone have bombardment tables for F-104 Like this: https://www.starfighters.it/pdf/AER_ASAM.pdf? Edited August 21, 2023 by RETAC21
Mike1158 Posted August 21, 2023 Posted August 21, 2023 There must be some around still. https://theaviationist.com/2023/05/01/almost-20-years-since-its-last-flight-former-italian-air-force-f-104s-asa-m-flies-again-in-florida/
Perun Posted August 21, 2023 Posted August 21, 2023 2 hours ago, RETAC21 said: Like this: https://www.starfighters.it/pdf/AER_ASAM.pdf? I didnt find them in this interesting book, but thanks mate
RETAC21 Posted August 21, 2023 Posted August 21, 2023 32 minutes ago, Perun said: I didnt find them in this interesting book, but thanks mate You probably looking for this: https://web.archive.org/web/20220827131232/https://www.alternatewars.com/SAC/SAC.htm But it's missing the F-104G
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