"Ditch" wrote in message
...
Certainly the F-104 was an aeronautical marvel. It was an incredible
achievement. But give me an F-22 (or for that matter, an F-15, or -16)
and I'll promise to mort the Zipper long before the merge--even before
he knows there is going to be a merge.

This reminds me of my good friend who was flying F-15's at the time out of
Eglin. He was thinking of applying for an exchange tour with the Italians
to
fly F-104s, which we both agree is about one of the coolest things built.
I was encouraging him to go for it but then he brought up a good
point...he
goes "John, I would kill to fly a -104, but I sure as hell wouldn't want
to
take one into combat these days!"

It's the equivilent to bringing a knife to a gunfight.