F104 in the late 1950s - no competition. Tofferi won the TAC gunnery
meet back then in a C-model. Here's a tale I got second hand from an
'enemy' pilot. He was flying a MiG21 against USAF fighters in a
serious test back in the late 60s. He saw and engaged an F4 - only as
he closed he saw a F104a (Dash 19 engine) zoom straight up off the
F4's wing - it had been hiding on the wing of the F4 and his GCI
controller of course never knew it was there. He told me he thought
'Aw s--t!" and now he had to fight both an F4 which was diving in and
under him and a 104 he'd just lost sight of. BTW the 21 pilot was a
Edwards test school graduate and when I knew him he was 737 chief
pilot for Air Florida. One of my good friends (squadron mate) was
flying the 104. That guy told me they could run both the 17 and 21 out
of gas and stay out of danger while doing it. At full mil in the
Zipper the 17 couldn't stay with them. .97 on the deck in mil (1.05 at
25000) and the ability to climb away from either aircraft while
sustaining 4G was very handy. FWIW a straight wing will always have
better fuel numbers than any swept wing - and the deltas are fuel hogs
with G's on.
Walt BJ