The F-104 Starfighter was one of the most fascinating aircraft of the Cold War era in Europe. Several European air forces operated the aircraft, with Germany alone having 916 Starfighters in its inventory. The General Electric J-79 engine howl was unique and filled the European skies for many years. This book covers Starfighter pilot training in the US, weapons training in Italy and Portugal, NATO competitions, technical specifications and the controversial accident issues in the 1960s. With over 220 images, many unpublished outside Germany, this book, the second volume of two covering the Starfighter in German service, provides a dynamic look at this versatile multi-purpose aircraft in service with the Luftwaffe and Naval Air Wings. AUTHOR: Klaus Kropf can look back on almost ten years of Starfighter flying service with 1,900 hours on the aircraft. After basic flight training in Texas, he underwent Starfighter training at Luke AFB, Arizona, from June 1971 to February 1972. This was followed by Europeanisation at Jever and several years as an F-104G fighter-bomber pilot with JaboG 31 'B' at Norvenich. At the end of 1980 he moved to the Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment at RAF Cottesmore, UK, where he was stationed for three years as a Tornado instructor pilot. Though his flying activities with the Starfighter ended many years ago, his bond with this aircraft remains strong to this day. His first book, Deutsche Starfighter, published in 1994, and he has continued to publish on aviation subjects to this day. 220 colour photographs
