916 Starfighter

F-104 NASA Dryden aircraft fleet April 11, 1975

showing: NASA 811 F-104N, NASA 820 F-104A (modified G), NASA 812 F-104N, NASA 819 F-104B and NASA 818 JF-104A.

Even on a day when there were no research or support flights scheduled, Center pilots would find a reason to fly the Starfighter. Such was the day of April 11, a Friday in the year of 1975. The previous day it had rained and now,
although cloudy, the sky was clearing. It was an ideal setting for an airborne photo mission. One young enterprising pilot, Gary Krier, recognized the "knock of opportunity" and seized the moment. Quickly he organized and obtained approval
to fly the mission. By 8:30 a.m. you could look out at the DFRC staging ramp and see five blue-and-white Starfighters all in-line and ready for the mission at hand. At 9:15 a.m. the first Starfighter was airborne, followed in rapid order by
the remaining four aircraft. The fifth Starfighter became airborne at 9:35 a.m.
During the mission the aircraft were flown in several different formations with the photographer in the T-38 photo chase busily photographing. It was a photographer's dream come true. The mission also included formation fly-bys to the
delight of the Center's employees. The mission lasted just over an hour. Participants in this operation were: Fitz Fulton/Ray Young, flight-test engineer (F-104-819 [303]), formation leader, Bill Dana (F-104 [811]),
Tom McMurtry (F-104 [812]), Einar Enevoldson (F-104-818 [961]), Gary Krier (F-104-820 [790]) and Don Mallick and photographer Bob Rhine in the T-38.