Lockheed F-104G Starfighter – 26+30, JG.32 Bavaria, Luftwaffe 1983

Hobby Master 1/72 scale HA1033: Lockheed F-104G Starfighter 26+30, JG.32 “Bavaria”, Luftwaffe, July 1983. Low production run of only 250 models.

Length 9.25 inches      Wingspan 3.75 inches

Lockheed F-104G 26+30 c/n 9182 completed its maiden flight on April 29, 1965. The aircraft was delivered to JaboG 36 on August 4, 1965. In April 1970 the aircraft was heavily damaged but after two years of repairs was returned to JaboG 36. In late 1973 the aircraft was assigned to JaboG 31 and eventually went to JaboG 32 on April 26, 1983. 26+30 was given a special paint scheme marked as “Bavaria” to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of JaboG 32 on July 26, 1983.

The F-104 Starfighter was a revolutionary design with short razor-sharp wings. It was shattered speed and rate of climb records that still are impressive today. This extremely high speed earned the plane the nickname “The Missile With A Man In It”. Because of financial considerations 15 or more countries purchased the F-104. The Starfighter flew with the USAF in 1958 and the last airplane was decommissioned in Italy in 2004.