Italeri F-104G Recce

Art. No.: 510001296
Art. Description: 1:72 F-104 G "Recce"

The model is a replica of the F-104G aircraft, also known as "Recce." The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is one of the most famous fighters in aviation history and has one of the longest service durations: its story began in the late 1950s and continued for some air forces until the mid-2000s.

Its unique airframe with a slender fuselage and very little wing surface made this aircraft ideal as an interceptor. Thanks to the thrust of its afterburning turbojet engine J79-GE-11A from General Electric, it could exceed Mach 2.2 with an excellent climb rate. However, it was not very maneuverable and difficult to control.

The F-104G Starfighter was manufactured under license by several European aviation companies. From the mid-1960s, it became the standard interceptor for many NATO countries, including Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Greece, and Turkey. Its armament was essentially the same as in earlier versions, featuring a 20-mm Vulcan cannon and the option to mount air-to-air missiles, bombs, or additional fuel tanks under the wings to extend the aircraft's range.

For traditional interception duties, the F-104G was therefore equipped with a special external reconnaissance pod "Orpheus," which provided excellent operational results.