Aviation Republic on MSN

292 Crashes and a $22 Million Bribe: The Scandal That Doomed Germany’s F-104 Fleet

West Germany chose the F-104 Starfighter over superior designs like the Buccaneer for its multi-role flexibility, marking the ...
Hosted on MSN

Mach 2, 100,000 Feet, 2,000 Crashes: The F-104’s Record-Breaking Rise and Fall

The F-104 Starfighter shattered records with its rocket-like climb, and then shattered reputations with a 30% crash rate. This episode chronicles its Mach 2 achievements, world altitude records, and ...