wrote in message
oups.com...
You can get statistics on each individual plane in terms of accidents
per hour.

http://afsafety.af.mil/ is the main page
You probably want this page
http://afsafety.af.mil/AFSC/RDBMS/Fl...aft_stats.html

This is the website where you file FOIAs to get crash information. Lots
of sleaze-bags on the net charge for this information.

Shrub flew the F-104. It is really an intercept aircraft, so it
wouldn't be likely to see a dog fight, especially in Alabama. In
Shrub's favor, while it would be the plane of choice to fly in the
theater if you didn't want to see action, the F-104 was a deathtrap
compared to other aircraft, strictly from an operational standpoint.

SNIP

As stated elsewhere, the Pres flew deuces, not zippers.

I don't think any of the century series or their Navy contemporaries could
be considered a deathtrap. Perhaps the most notorious jet of the 50's -
60's was the F-7 Cutlass which combined peculiar flying qualities with
unreliable systems (electrical and hydraulic).

The Navy had a particularly tough time with operational accidents when they
flew relatively underpowered jets off straight deck carriers (more mishap
than combat losses in Korea). Angled decks and the next generation of
aircraft helped there, although the F-8 was particularly unforgiving around
the blunt end of the boat and had the distinction of the highest mishap rate
of any aircraft in the angled deck era.

As to the issue of timidity or cowardice, it can be found in any avocation
or profession. Frequently the individual is unaware of his/her (it's a coed
world these days) shortcoming until the pressure is on. As an example,
while Duke Cunningham was doing his thing on May 10, 1972 another squadron
aircraft was making a beeline for feet wet.

R / John