All but two of the last F-104 "S" models to be withdrawn in October

News Spy Pedro Rodriguez from Guaynabo (PR) sent us a note and a message from the International Starfighter Society to let us know that Italy is about to retire all but two of the last F-104 Starfighters that the country still operates. These aircraft are the last "S" models, equipped with J-79 engines producing 17,900 lbs. of thrust, and were optimized for air-to-air operations.

The event will take place during the well-announced "Raduno Mondiale F-104 e Manifestazione Area" at Pratica di Mare airbase near Rome. The last flights will actually take place in October, but the Italian Air Force will be officially saying goodbye to these venerable and beautiful aircraft at the activity this weekend.

Harry Prins of the International Starfighter Society wrote a message to the membership to notify them of the event.

"The airshow at Pratica on 30 May will be marked by a formation fly-by of nine F-104's (t/o and landing at the base). Furthermore, an F-104 will fly in formation with the Frecce Tricolori in a cloud of Italian coloured smoke. The farewell will be flown in a formation of one F-104, an F-16, a Tornado and a Eurofighter. After several passes the leading Starfighter will pull-up and disappear. The lead is then taken over by the Eurofighter. The F-104 is to be flown by the commander of 4 Stormo."

Prins added that "More than 3000 (ex) F-104 pilots from all over the world will be present. The reunion is in a special hangar, which unfortunately not open to the general public."

In the United States, the last military operator of the F-104 was the Puerto Rico Air National Guard, which operated the "C" and "D" models from 1967 through 1975. Col. Gabriel Penagaricano, USAF (Ret.), was the last commander of the PR Air National Guard to operate the Starfighter.

Asked to comment on this weekend's events, Col. Penagaricano stated that "As the last commander of the PRANG to operate the F-104, the transition to the A-7D was a very sad one for me. I consider it an honor to have been able to accumulate 1,130 hours in the F-104. Aesthetically speaking, it is my opinion that the Starfighter is the most beautiful aircraft in the history of US aviation. It was one of the principal projects of the design genius of Kelly Johnson at Lockheed, along with the SR-71, the U-2 and the T-38. With the retirement of the F-104 from the active inventory of the Italian Air Force, a glorious chapter of military aviation comes to a close."

FMI: http://www.starfighters.nl/Int_f104_society/