24+73 restored at Erding (update)

News from Southern Germany, thanks to Hubert Peitzmeier and Torsten Praulich (Photos).

The F-104G Starfighter "24+73" has been preserved at Erding Air Base on a pole since the 70s after having finalized a wonderful career as the RF-104G-1 prototype "EB+121" in the USA.
Since that moment it was repainted again in 1982 (as "80+58"), in 1996 (as "24+73") and 2009 finally it was taken off its pole again.
Due to the quality of the paint and technical structure of the aircraft it was completely restored from bare-metal.
They applied a high quality glossy paint and markings and a special art colored tailsection.

It is on its pole again to be guarding the base for hopefully many years to come and still as "24+73" although sadly the digits are a bit smaller then originally used.

Photos tanks to: Torsten Praulich.

Note : Late October 2023 the aircraft was installed on a new pole near the WIWeB buildings in Northern Erding. See picture here taken in November 2023 by Renate Schmidt.