The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was a single-engine, high-performance, supersonic interceptor aircraft. An updated Starfighter sold well among the NATO air forces of Germany, Canada, and Italy: these high-speed fighter-bomber variants continued in service until the mid-1980s. The later-model Starfighter versions gained a reputation as a “flying coffin” and “Witwenmacher” (Widowmaker) for their high accident rate. In Germany and Italy alone, more than 400 airplanes were lost in accidents.
The background is close to where I live, and was taken by me. Digtal artwork.