Lockheed F-104 Starfighter: Yellow (Yellow Series) Paperback – April 19, 2015

Excellent reference book on the F-104. Lots of photos and detail info with an emphasis on Nato types. Some detail on USAF models but the USAF didn't use them that long. Interesting info on the F-104 Vietnam service. I didn't know that did that well in close air support. Highly recommended for modelers.

Superb history of the Starfighter, even mentioning the three aircraft used by the US Navy in the late fifties and early sixties. Photos are fantastic, with many never before seen by me.

This is the 36th book in MMP's Yellow Series. While the trade dress is the same, the book (and presumably the series) is now published in the 8-1/4" x 11-3/4" (European A4) size. The page count is higher than any previous book in this series at 176, square bound between card covers. Color predominates throughout the book as befits an aircraft that flourished when color photography was becoming the standard, not the exception.The book is quite outstanding and very informative. I think even long time F-104 enthusiasts will learn something new. The layout of the book is quite straightforward. We have chapters on the development of the F-104 and its major variants, broken down into three major groups, the early models that saw service the the USAF, the NATO F-104G (and its close relatives the CF-104 and F-104J), and the ultimate F-104S. The decisions of the various nations buying the F-104 are discussed at some length.We then get chapters describing the service of the aircraft with each individual operator including NASA and Starfighters Aerospace, the combat record of the F-104, special versions of the F-104, a technical description, specifications, an all too brief flying qualities summary, and production. The combat record is broken down by war/incident from the Quemoy crisis in 1958 to Operation Allied Force against Serbia at the turn of the century. Outstanding are the use in Vietnam and action during the Indo-Pakistani Wars. The technical description is supported by diagrams of the fuel and hydraulic systems while the production tables are rounded out by two very useful production flowcharts which do much to clarify the complex F-104 work sharing.Finally, we have a long section ("In Detail") featuring close up photography of preserved examples and drawings from the contemporary technical manuals. A bibliography ends the book.The text and photos are complemented by 9 pages of line drawings at 1/72nd scale and 26 pages of color profiles (and a few plans).Complaints are minor. I would like to have seen other versions get the full six view treatment with line drawings (or at least more plan views) but only the F-104G actually does. The record breaking N104RB record breaker might have warranted mention. The authors are also not consistent in the way they refer to the F-104s competitor, the Grumman F11F-1F Supertiger which was also powered by a GE J79 engine.In conclusion, the book is highly recommended. The various MMP series devoted to aircraft seem to have become indistinguishable; this book could have been published in the Orange or White Series.

The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter garnered itself several nicknames during its rather long (40+ year) life:The Missile With a Man in It was probably the nicestThe Flying Coffin and The Widow Maker followed.The F-104 followed the tradition of the most successful fighters of the second world war which was to take the most powerful engine available and around it wrap the smallest possible airframe. The design came from Kelly Johnson and his famous Skunk Works. He visited Korea in 1951 and was told by the pilots that what they wanted in a follow on airplane from the F-86 was speed and altitude. Kelly Johnson gave them what they asked for. The F-104 could hold a constant Mach 2+ speed, and set both time to altitude and absolute altitude records.The problems that the plane had were two fold, maybe three fold. First the engine was a state of the art brand new design and not terribly reliable. The engine tended to fail a lot during or just after takeoff. When the engine failed the very small wings gave it a gliding capability somewhat like a rock. The final problem was the ejection seat which ejected downward, fine if you were at altitude, but if you were on the ground or just taken off and lost the engine -- The Widow Maker. Between a third and a half of the planes built were lost in crashes.This book follows the standard concept of this publisher with a good bit of the history and use of the plane, along with a huge number of photographs and detailed drawings. This includes a lot of photographs taken for this book of the details of aircraft currently preserved.

This has to be THE best F-104 Starfighter book out there in my opinion, at least at this point in time. The text is very informative and easy to follow, the photos are great and the color profiles outstanding. If you are into making model aircraft and are wanting to make a nice looking F-104, don't do it without this book!What would I do to improve it.......? Print a hard back version and maybe add even more color profiles as there are so many great 'special' schemes out there!

An excellent modellers reference to the Starfighter and up to Mushrooms usual high standard. it's worth noting that this book is in A4 format, not the usual A5 size, so may look out of place on your bookshelf, but don't let that put you off, it's well worth the read.

Mistakes can be found here and there.The book is far from flawless.There are some good pictures though.

ロッキードF-104に関しては自衛隊の使用機だったし、昭和ガメラシリーズ等でお馴染みの機体でしたが世界の傑作機 世界の傑作機 (No.103) 「F-104 スターファイター」 、 世界の傑作機 (No.104) 「ロッキード F-104J/DJ “栄光"」 で既に取り上げられていました。私的には充実した内容でしたので紹介しておこうと思います。　本文の構成をお知らせすると下記の通りです。・開発の経緯と米空軍の調達状況　6頁・欧州に於けるF-104選定の経緯と調達状況　4頁・カナダのF-104選定の経緯と調達状況　2頁　・日本のF-104選定の経緯と調達状況　1頁・F-104の事故率の高さとロッキードスキャンダル　計3頁・最後の量産型F-104Sの概要と調達状況　3頁・運用国（米、カナダ、西独、蘭、ベルギー、伊、日本、デンマーク、ノルウェー、トルコ、ギリシア、スペイン、パキスタン、ヨルダン、台湾、NASA等）での運用状況　35頁・F-104の実戦歴　6頁・F-104の特殊改造機（JF-104、NF-104A、F-104G　ZELL、F-104CCV）5頁・F-104G、Sの仕様説明（機体、武装、装備に関する解説）5頁・F-104各型の要目、生産数と製造番号、生産体制　等説明　10頁・胴体、主翼、着陸装置等の細部写真及びマニュアルからの抜粋イラスト（全体写真5頁含み）　55頁本文にもモノクロ写真、カラー写真等視覚資料は添えられていますが、各型の1/72線図、塗装の参考になるカラーイラスト（側面中心で状況により上下面）34頁が用意されています。　欧州の選定で重要な役割を果たした西独空軍ではワルター　クルピンスキー少佐がグラマンF-11F、ダッソー　ミラージュⅢとの比較試乗を行った話や事故でのパイロットの生存率を高める為に射出座席をより低高度での射出が可能なマーチンベーカー社製の座席に変更する対策を（自身もMe262の着陸事故で重傷を負った）ヨハネス　スタインホフ将軍が採用する等馴染みの名前が伺えます。　その西独空軍は当初F-104の採用に積極的では無く、英国の迎撃機（奇妙なことに英国はドイツにF-104と同性能のBAC　ラントニングの存在を秘匿して開発中のSR177を提案し、その機体が開発中止になり、西独の選択肢が狭められました）に関心があったという点、またカナダのCF-104は当初核爆弾の運搬手段として運用だけだったという点と他の運用国にも核爆弾の運用能力を持った国があるのは興味深い話です。　また実戦でも印パ戦争中パキスタン最強のF-104でしたが、当時の武器管制装置はルックダウン能力が低い弱点をついて夜間に低空で侵入するインド空軍のキャンベラ爆撃機の迎撃に苦労した話は興味深いです。最後にロッキードのスキャンダルですが西独では当時の国防大臣と与党、蘭では王族まで巻き込んでF-104の採用ロビー活動が問題になったものの、同じような急転直下のF-104の採用に至った日本ではF-104よりも旅客機のトライスターの採用問題に話が行ってしまったのは当時のモヤモヤ感が思いだされました。　それからグラマンF8Fベアキャットにも通じるのですが、小型の制空戦闘機という機体は米国では成功しないというのも本書で改めて感じました。 世界の傑作機 (No.103) 「F-104 スターファイター」世界の傑作機 (No.104) 「ロッキード F-104J/DJ “栄光"」