Hard Light and Lightning Fast  
            -  The F-104 Starfighter Afterburner,  by Ike Sweesy

"Gospel 1, you are cleared for takeoff - unrestricted climb to Four Zero Zero.

Outboard goes the throttle (singular!) and I'm rolling for a Mach II run through the blue skies of southern Arizona.

The masculine 'hard light' of the 'Zipper' AfterBurner of the Dash Eleven J-79 engine was both distinctive and well-known around Luke AFB, Arizona in the late '70's.  German students and American and German IP's filled the air with this ''zero-knot boom' every 'work' day starting at 0705. This January morning, it was a particular pleasure as it threw me back into my seat with the extra thrust from the unusually cold Arizona air.  And without the tip tanks' weight and drag, my clean F-104 Starfighter was through 150 knots in no time and I almost overshot the 170 knot lift off.  Yesterday's takeoff speed was a whopping  227 knots.   For that mission, I had the Dart-Tow rig and three bags of gas  - fun, but sluggish with everything hangin' out.   I must confess that I'm really enjoying this now, and I let the clean jet rapidly accelerate just 50 feet off the runway (I'm sure the Captain SOF doesn't care - and Lt Cols don't take the 6 a.m. SOF* tour).  At 400 Indicated, I snatch the stick back and the Zipper rockets into thin air, afterburner clearly visible opposite the early morning winter sunrise behind me.  Light glints off of the polished silver wings.  This old 1950's technology restricts me to a mere 60 degree climb angle instead of straight up, but enjoying the view outside the cockpit I really can't tell - and don't care.

As the ground falls away behind me a smile comes to my face as I think of Hauptmann (Captain) Harry Fisch, one of our German F-104 Instructors. A couple of years earlier he had been tasked for an F-104 vs. F-15 takeoff demo of that impressive 'new technology' airplane and engines for some civilians and Generals. Well, it seems Harry 'defueled' the Zipper to about half gas and had the mechanic remove the bomb dispenser, pylons, and tip tanks - anything with excess weight and drag.  Side by side, both planes released brakes, and the F-15 pilot did a quick takeoff, but a slow 250 knot climb which really isn't very impressive for such a huge airplane. It was vertical and that's truly impressive, but 60 degrees nose up for the Zipper wasn't much different when craning your neck from the ground.  At 10,000 feet the F-15 pilot rolled out and flew off slowly - plainly visible to everyone. With his 'half gas' Starfighter, Harry was off the ground in no time also, but he accelerated to 400 before the end of the runway while the F-15 was climbing. Then Harry snatched the stick into his lap. That tiny Zipper just rocketed into space and Poof - disappeared!! The civilians were clapping and cheering but the Generals just scowled. One General muttered something to the Wing Commander.

        Harry was grounded for about 2 weeks after that    - but it was worth it!

                -    remembered by Ike Sweesy,  Zipper IP

* SOF  = Supervisor of Flying  - a 'responsible' officer in the Control Tower.   

For other Aviation and Fighter terminology go to:  http://www.fighterpilots.net/glossary.htm