Feather Duster I and II programs

Ed Rasimus wrote in message . ..
Juvat wrote:
Minor correction - The 435th/479thTFW was at George AFB. However us
Zipper pilots at Homestead read the same books. Mainly, Boyd, Riccione
and Rutowsky - I was squadron weapons officer 1964-1966 and got
'double attack' adopted. The way I sold it was describing it as 'fluid
four' with no wingmen. We normallly flew in pairs anyway. Since we had
28 F104As looking at 125 MiG 21s down in Cuba, pairs maximized
flexibility. We also had a comprehensive combat crew training program
to get new pilots up to flight lead as soon as possible. This of
course made 'double attack/loose deuce' eminently practical. FWIW a
program similar to 'Featherduster' was flown in 1968 with the Dash 19
104As as players. I had gone over to the 'dark side' by then (F4s) but
two of my very good friends went out to Edwards and flew against the
MiGs. No contest; the Dash 19 was unattackable in high cruise by the
MiG 17 (M 0.95) and the MiG 21 couldn't sustain energy in maneuvering.
FWIW using takeoff/maneuvering flaps (limit 550/1.8M) the 104A could
out-turn the F4. Corner velocity was around 425 IAS.
FWIW I was a 104 flight examiner and IP/maintenance test pilot in the
F4.
Walt BJ