[R-390] G-8 Summit Security...

[Dan Arney]

I worked on the F-104 at GE flight test at Edwards in 56 as an ET on 
photo panels and FM/FM telemetry. Neat plane it was then known as "A 
Rocket with a man in it. After the Germans got it is when it picked up 
its name as a Widow Maker. My friend Bill Kelly was a Lockheed VP of 
sales to the  German and Italian Air force. He says that the biggest 
percentage of 104 deaths were German Flt Sergeants with a lot less 
flight experience than the Officer cadre.

The CF-104 was assembled by Canda-Air under a set aside program,  very 
little difference between the planes. The 104F had a few mods. that were 
primarily in the cockpit I understand.

My friend Herman "Fish" Salmon was the test pilot on it and while firing 
the Gatling gun at over mach 2 it ingest casings from the shells and it 
came unglued at FL410. He did/was ejected and several days later was up 
and about but a few months before he had his act all back together.
If I remember correctly they zoomed it to 102 or 104,000 feet where it 
stalled then flamed out and took over 50,000 feet to get a restart and 
in control.
Not  a plane for the weak hearted. HiHi.

Hank
KN6DI