Tomcat sunset

[toad]

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/8452/catblogging060310thumb15or.jpg

The long talked about last Deployment of the F-14 has come. Friday at NAS Oceana the last remaining deployed (22) Grumman F-14 Tomcats of VF-31 and VF-213 squadrons came home....

This wasn't meant to be a picture thread, there have been several about the retirement of the F-14. But I'm going to include a few as a salute to the old cat because it played such a huge role in US Naval Aviation. Lets not post a ton of pics, but make comments on what a huge role it played.

This is now a thing of the past...
http://img472.imageshack.us/img472/6843/vf32s12kq.th.jpg (http://img472.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vf32s12kq.jpg)

Tomcat break...Grim Reapers & Swordsmen
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/2730/tomcatbreak14ra.jpg

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/8906/oceanaflyin117dg.th.jpg (http://img403.imageshack.us/my.php?image=oceanaflyin117dg.jpg)
The last Fly In evoked some strong emotions...at least in Hamton Roads. I know there were a lot of folks who worked hard to keep those AC flying. And I know that like the F-4, A-6, A-7 etc... its hard to see them go. But they take more and more and more time and money to keep up.

And at some point you have to take that money and effort and stop applying it to our past...

...and apply it to our future.


Good job...

[toad]

US Navy Squadrons who flew the F-14

VF-1 Wolfpack 14 Oct. 1972 1 Oct. 1993
VF-2 Bounty Hunters 14 Oct. 1972 2003
VF-11 Red Rippers mid 1980 early 2005
VF-14 Tophatters July 1973 Oct. 2001
VF-21 Freelancers early 1984 Jan. 1996
VF-24 Renegades Dec. 1975 Aug. 1996
VF-31 Tomcatters Aug. 1980 Sept 2006
VF-32 Swordsmen July 1973 Oct 2005
VF-33 Starfighters June 1981 24 Sept. 1993
VF-41 Black Aces April 1976 Oct. 2001
VF-51 Screaming Eagles May 1976 16 Feb. 1995
VF-74 Be-Devilers early 1983 28 April 1994
VF-84 Jolly Rogers June 1976 late 1995
VF-101 Grim Reapers late 1975 Sept 2005
VF-102 Diamondbacks mid 1981 March 2002
VF-103 Jolly Rogers (former Sluggers) early 1983 early 2005
VF-111 Sundowners mid 1976 16 Feb. 1995
VF-114 Aardvarks early 1976 28 Jan. 1993
VF-124 Gunfighters 1972 30 Sept. 1994
VF-142 Ghostriders late 1974 March 1995
VF-143 Pukin' Dogs late 1974 early 2005
VF-154 Black Knights early 1984 Sept. 2003
VF-191 Satan's Kittens 4 Dec. 1986 Sept. 1988
VF-194 Red Lightnings 1 Dec. 1986 Sept. 1988
VF-201 Hunters Oct. 1986 Dec. 1998
VF-202 Superheats March 1987 9 July 1994
VF-211 Checkmates 1 Dec. 1975 Sept. 2004
VF-213 Black Lions early 1976 Sept 2006
VF-301 Devil's Disciples Oct. 1984 11 Sept. 1994
VF-302 Stallions April 1985 11 Sept. 1994
VF-1285 Fighting Fubijars 1980 (?) 1994 (?)
VF-1485 Americans 1980 1994 (?)
VF-1486 Fighting Hobos 1980 early 1990s
VX-4 Evaluators late 1972 30 Sept. 1994
VX-9 Vampires late 1994 June 2004

Some were dis-established, and some were transitioned to the new F/A-18 squadron designations.

The end of one era...the start of another.

[pegasus]

a great looking fighter to!!

[Greek soldier]

It's a pitty these planes will end up to scrap... It was the only US aircraft I loved so far. :( :(

[Minjin]

I love the Tomcat...might have to do more drawings...

[LordHalbert]

They dont have to scrap the planes, they can sell em.

[Limeyfellow]

Its more than the Tomcat thats going to be retired too. The older pilots with the skills that are too old to switch over to another platform, the mechanics that spent their whole service on the F14, many other specialists that will be put out to pasture. Its always a shame when a plane goes out of service.

[Greek soldier]

They dont have to scrap the planes, they can sell em.

And you think the US DoD will allow this?? If such, it will be a marginal number. Take the exampple of the SAAB J-35 Draken. How many belong to private citizens? AFAIK it is 3.

[LordHalbert]

And you think the US DoD will allow this?? If such, it will be a marginal number. Take the exampple of the SAAB J-35 Draken. How many belong to private citizens? AFAIK it is 3.

They can and have sold Tomcats to other countries.

[Greek soldier]

You mean Iran? Do they still fly- better, can they fly them??

Which country you thing is going to buy such planes, designed some 3 decades ago? And let's say they buy 60. The country will be then obliged to buy some 30-40 other just for spare parts.

[toad]

Most will sleep peacefully in the warm desert of Arizona... at Davis Montham, like the 100 A-6's and the A-7 SLUF's mothballed there. Those that are just too skanky to fly out will get put on static displays or loaded onto a barge to make a reef off the outerbanks.... just like the A-6.

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/8384/reef218sx.th.jpg (http://img376.imageshack.us/my.php?image=reef218sx.jpg)

[Greek soldier]

^^Agreed. Yes, some "Tomcat" lovers with big pockets might ask to have 1 for their collection, but it is up to the US DoD to decide for that.

[CG51]

Nice toad....It's a damn shame, it has always been my favorite bird of the modern era (post recip)...

[punchinout]

man its like losing a member of my family, its the plane i've wanted to fly since the age of 3, but i'll never get the chance too....unless i win the lottery or somethin maybe i could buy one.....or not, damnit.

[c62]

its hard to see them go. But they take more and more and more time and money to keep up.

I remember walking through the hanger bay(on the Indy) and seeing all the drip pans underneath the T-cat. (VF-21/154) The planes were a mechanical nightmare, unlike the F-18.

wikipedia says "Because of its popularity, and long service life, the Navy is attempting to place as many of its retired F-14's on public display as possible. Consequently, aircraft mothballed at the Davis-Monthan "Boneyard" will be retained for as long as possible while homes are found for them." Good info there.

[JQ24]

I'm sad to see this aircraft retire from its decades of service. This is the jet that actually got me interested in military aircrafts after seeing Top Gun. Well things come and go and I'll never forget this beauty (Plays Top Gun theme & Kenny Loggins' Danger Zone for a farewell).

[Sneeker]

:bash: nm im dumb
didnt read the first part

[annihilation]

I remember walking through the hanger bay(on the Indy) and seeing all the drip pans underneath the T-cat. (VF-21/154) The planes were a mechanical nightmare, unlike the F-18.

wikipedia says "Because of its popularity, and long service life, the Navy is attempting to place as many of its retired F-14's on public display as possible. Consequently, aircraft mothballed at the Davis-Monthan "Boneyard" will be retained for as long as possible while homes are found for them." Good info there.


I hope all of them find good homes! They are great planes and when I was young I wanted to be a fighter pilot just to fly an f-15.