FPP220 - Launching a Satellite From an F-104

Well, this is great.

Let's get into the F-104.

I mean, what a platform.

And I, I would say, you know, starting off here, why is the F-104 still the right platform for the missions you're pursuing?

Because technically it's a rocket, because it has more thrust than lift.

They used to call it the man and the missile.

As you know, the wings are extremely short on the F-104.

But regardless w- what anyone says, the aircraft is designed in the '50s, the last ones were built in the '80s, it is still, has almost all the entire world records.

Highest altitude assisted, highest altitude unassisted- Speed record for a manufactured aircraft.

Still has the highest rate of climb.

We can outfly anything in a straight line today.

The aircraft has no upper limit.

We don't go above Mach 2.02, but you can technically fly the plane apart.

Sometimes you can fly fast, the guys like it when it comes back because the plane's immaculately clean.

Other times they come back and the paint's started peeling.

So there's a fine, [laughs] fine limit there.

But you can fly the aircraft until it falls apart.

And the thing is, with smart weapons, you didn't have to get as close.

So the fighters actually, their performance got less because with smart weapons, you did not have to intercept your opponent.

You could be further away.

So something that in the past that had to go Mach 2, now can go Mach 1.6 fully loaded, and they launch the weapons from a distance.

So it is the best aircraft.

I cannot say any more about it.

It is just a great aircraft.

Yeah.