Vintage Aviation News

Jordans Altitude Record F 104C 56 0885 AFFTC

INTO THE THIN AIR: F-104 Starfighter World Altitude Records

April 20, 2021 Moreno Aguiari 0

By Stephen Chapis When Lockheed Skunk Works unveiled the XF-104 in 1954, it possessed out of this world looks and performance. In 1958, just months after the F-104A entered service with Air Defense Command (ADC) […]

F-104 Record

December 14, 2016 Moreno Aguiari 4

Fifty eight years ago today, a F-104C piloted by Lt William T. Smith and Einar K. Envoldson from the 538th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, zoomed to 103,395 feet setting a world altitude record. Designed as a supersonic […]

Joint Mission – Helping Homeless Veterans Regain Their Dignity

March 24, 2016 Moreno Aguiari 2

While we at WarbirdsNews have a strong focus on preserving and promoting the history of military aviation, we are equally involved with the human stories behind the history. Keeping that in mind, we also try […]

Robin Olds, The Artist

October 24, 2013 Moreno Aguiari 0

As often does, Colonel Scrappy Johnson sends me emails about facts or anecdotes of his aviation career.The one i received few days ago it’s one of the coolest. Scrappy recalls: “When we had our Red River […]

The Luftwaffe in 1961 by Howard “Scrappy” Johnson, Part 3

October 4, 2013 Moreno Aguiari 0

In the Luftwaffe, pilots are subject to the laws of the civilian courts while flying. When they create a disturbance by low flying or cause damage as a result of a crash or any other […]

The Luftwaffe in 1961 by Howard “Scrappy” Johnson, Part 2

October 2, 2013 Moreno Aguiari 1

To read part one click HERE. After his first emotions of relief subsided, he remembered that his troubles were far from over. He was many miles behind enemy lines confronted by miles of freezing, snow […]

The Luftwaffe in 1961 by Howard “Scrappy” Johnson, Part 1

September 30, 2013 Moreno Aguiari 4

Few days ago we have published an introductory article about Howard “Scrappy” Johnson. Scrappy an article about the Luftwaffe in 1961 when he was an advisor to the West German Air Force, Scrappy wrote this […]

Howard “Scrappy” Johnson,The Fighter Pilot

September 28, 2013 Moreno Aguiari 10

During my research for a book about the pilots who flew F-104 Starfighter I had the privilege to meet Howard C. “Scrappy” Johnson in his house in South Florida. After the visit we became “email-friends” […]

F-104 Starfighter Veterans on the Ongena Touch-Roll-Touch Maneuver

August 14, 2013 Moreno Aguiari 19

You’ve probably seen this video before, Legendary Belgian Air Force Silvers Aerobatic Team member, William “Bill” Ongena performing a touch-roll-touch in a Lockheed F-104G Starfighter, a plane that was infamously difficult to control at lower […]

Howard “Scrappy” Johnson

INTO THE THIN AIR: F-104 Starfighter World Altitude Records

F-104 Record

Joint Mission – Helping Homeless Veterans Regain Their Dignity

Robin Olds, The Artist

The Luftwaffe in 1961 by Howard “Scrappy” Johnson, Part 3

The Luftwaffe in 1961 by Howard “Scrappy” Johnson, Part 2

The Luftwaffe in 1961 by Howard “Scrappy” Johnson, Part 1

Howard “Scrappy” Johnson,The Fighter Pilot

F-104 Starfighter Veterans on the Ongena Touch-Roll-Touch Maneuver

Hawker Typhoon Preservation Group Achieves Major Milestone

AirCorps Aviation’s Piper L-4H Restoration Report – Fall 2024 Update

Mid America Flight Museum Releases Update on B-17G ‘Thunderbird’

Matt’s Gnat: A Red Arrows Jet Restoration Downunder