Ok, I can't swear that I saw this on the Military Channel, but I DID finally get to see a show I've been whining to see for a long time.

It was a genuine, hour-long, show on just the Osprey.

I must say I'm quite impressed. It would appear that they've worked [most] of the bugs out of it and according to the show, they're planning to deploy (If they haven't already) a number of them to Iraq and Afghanistan.

This was a great show, and hope they show it again. Maybe they can show it in place of one of those unrelated COPS shows. I think our old buddy Mac was on it, but not certain.

They even discussed the bugs and disasters that plagued this aircraft during development. This was not an "all rosy" show.

Unfortunately, all new type aircraft undergo some glitches during development, some more than others.

I recall being in the 4th grade at the tender age of about 9 or 10 (1960)and being out at recess when we heard this unusual noise. Looking up, an F-104 Starfighter was flying WAY LOW and was having control problems. I want to believe he saw the school from that low altitude and fought to keep control until he had safely cleared it, after which he safely ejected. A short distance away a giant fireball erupted. The Teachers fought to get us all back inside while we were all watching "something neat."

It was only after school on the bus ride home that we passed the crash site, and realized that a good friend's home had been demolished and his Mother and Sister had been killed. The fire was out, but in the smoldering debris only one part of that aircraft was intact; that distinctive T-tail.

I'm reminded of that almost daily as I pass the Air Force Museum (now referred to as the U.S. Museum of the Air Force) here in Riverside [OH]. Sitting prominintly in the corner for all to see, with a pipe shoved up its exhaust pipe, is that haunting F-104. It reminds me that progress sometimes comes at a high price.

One thing good, the Museum is one of the largest attractions in the USA, drawing people from all over. Unfortunately, depending on which direction you're coming in from, EVERY suburban community has signs saying "this way" which naturally takes you through their area and can add lots of time to get there. As a cop, when someone would ask directions, I'd first ask if they were Military (we have Wright-Patterson AFB here). If yes, I'd say, "just follow this road until you see the F-104 in the air with the pipe sticking out." If not, I'd change F-104 to "the plane with the T-tail in the air with the pipe sticking out.

I haven't done much research on the 104, other than it was called "the missle with a man in it" and was also known as a "Widowmaker." Either way, I don't believe it stayed in service very long.

Bob