Author Topic: The Widowmaker flies again after 33 years...  (Read 2864 times)

Offline GScholz

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The Widowmaker flies again after 33 years...
« on: September 28, 2016, 01:04:51 PM »
The CF-104 Starfighter was retired in 1983 in RNoAF service when it was replaced by the F-16. For the last decade a small group of enthusiasts here in my hometown have been working on the last surviving example in Norway to get it flying again. Earlier today No. 637 made its first flight in 33 years, with F-16 pilot Eskil "TAZ" Amdal at the controls. Affectionately known as "Vestfjordoksen" - "The Vestfjord-bull" because of the distinct bellowing sound of the J79.



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Offline 68falcon

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Re: The Widowmaker flies again after 33 years...
« Reply #1 on: September 28, 2016, 01:08:31 PM »
 :aok
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Offline Brooke

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Re: The Widowmaker flies again after 33 years...
« Reply #2 on: September 28, 2016, 01:43:05 PM »
The F-104 is an interesting plane.

Offline Nypsy

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Re: The Widowmaker flies again after 33 years...
« Reply #3 on: September 28, 2016, 01:44:20 PM »
 :aok

Offline Nypsy

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Re: The Widowmaker flies again after 33 years...
« Reply #4 on: September 28, 2016, 01:48:13 PM »

Offline Chalenge

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Re: The Widowmaker flies again after 33 years...
« Reply #5 on: September 28, 2016, 01:57:16 PM »
I love that jet. It and the Hustler are my favorites.
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Offline Ripsnort

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Re: The Widowmaker flies again after 33 years...
« Reply #6 on: September 28, 2016, 02:01:38 PM »
We had a J79 that would fire up in building next to us that was transformed into a natural gas (or perhaps propane) burner. It was used to an emergency generator and they would fire it up now and then to make sure it worked.

That thing even customized with all sorts of vented exhaust was loud!

Offline Oldman731

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Re: The Widowmaker flies again after 33 years...
« Reply #7 on: September 28, 2016, 03:26:47 PM »
I love that jet. It and the Hustler are my favorites.


Agreed.

Some of the TV stations used to show this as the last thing before they shut down for the night:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTms_G1yYPc

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Offline Devil 505

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Re: The Widowmaker flies again after 33 years...
« Reply #8 on: September 28, 2016, 03:37:40 PM »
I've always loved the F-104 because of it's scene in The Right Stuff.



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Offline GScholz

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Re: The Widowmaker flies again after 33 years...
« Reply #9 on: September 28, 2016, 04:05:51 PM »
Yes it's my favorite jet fighter as well. I have three aviation related framed paintings on the wall of my home-theater/gaming room. All feature the Starfighter. I've had them since I was a kid (air force brat).
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Offline icepac

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Re: The Widowmaker flies again after 33 years...
« Reply #10 on: September 28, 2016, 05:58:52 PM »

Offline BuckShot

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Re: The Widowmaker flies again after 33 years...
« Reply #11 on: September 28, 2016, 06:16:30 PM »
The 104 looks fast while standing still. I like the ol' Delta Dart for the same reason.

As a kid, I asked my dad how the Starfighter can fly with those tiny wings.

He said "lots of power and speed. You could fly a sheet of plywood if you had an engine powerful enough and a way to keep it angled right." He was a physics and chem teacher.
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Offline GScholz

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"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."

Offline Guppy35

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Re: The Widowmaker flies again after 33 years...
« Reply #13 on: September 28, 2016, 07:25:38 PM »

Agreed.

Some of the TV stations used to show this as the last thing before they shut down for the night:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTms_G1yYPc

- oldman

Holy flashbacks to childhood Batman!   Loved that.  Used to stay up just to see that 104 and hear that Spit pilots poem :aok
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Offline MiloMorai

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Re: The Widowmaker flies again after 33 years...
« Reply #14 on: September 29, 2016, 12:45:42 AM »
A USAF F-104 busted out all the windows and did other damage to the new (then) Ottawa terminal on a low flyby at M1+.