F-104G ( FX45 as “D-8030” of the Royal Netherlands Air Force)

  Aircraft manufacturer Lockheed managed to produce the best design: the Starfighter. The first prototype was released in 1954. The aircraft was revolutionary! By then, there was more knowledge in the fields of aerodynamics, production techniques, and electronics, allowing for the construction of more powerful engines and significantly improving flight performance. The aircraft were lightning fast and could climb to higher altitudes. Its appearance was also spectacular. With an elongated fuselage and small, thick wings, it looked like a rocket. And when it flew, you could hear the wailing sound of the engine, allowing you to recognize it even before seeing it. Incidentally, the American Air Force did not use the Starfighters for very long. In the 1960s, they were replaced by newer models. Europe also had to replace its jet fighters during this decade and opted en masse for the Lockheed F-140s. The first one in the Netherlands landed at Twenthe Air Base in 1962; the last time an F-104 took off in the Netherlands was in 1984. A statue of this type of jet fighter stands in a meadow along the Ringweg in Oosterland. It is freely accessible and makes it fun to take a close look at such an air force aircraft!