F-104 STARFIGHTER

The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter,is a single-engine supersonic interceptor aircraft that served with the USAF from 1958 to 1969 and to ANG until 1975.The C model served also in VietNam war.
A modification set result in the G model wich won the NATO competition for a new fighter bomber in the early '60. Italian Air Force was the late F-104 user's.Time to see some pics from my collection wit some italian Starfighter at Grosseto AB,Italy.

A TF-104G caught on taxiway at Grosseto AB in June 2003.
Nell'immagine sopra,vediamo un TF-104G ripreso in rullaggio a Grosseto nel giugno 2003.

A close-up front view of an italian F-104-ASAM.
Scatto ravvicinato per questo F-104 ASAM.

Note the open canopy on this F-104,in a sunny summer day at Grosseto AB.
Dato il calore estivo non era raro vedere effettuati i rullaggi col canopy aperto.

note the slender fuselage and the small frontal area of the aircraft,a very difficult target for enemy planes.
La piccola sezione frontale del 104 , lo rendeva un bersaglio ostico ai caccia nemici specie in caso di ingaggio frontale.