Tomcat flys last combat mission

[seventwo]

http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=22325
Way to go Dick Cheney!:clap:

[B757300]

In this case, one really can't blame Cheney.

It was fully expected that the F-14 would be replaced by some kind of stealth aircraft as the F-22 is replacing the F-15 and F-35 is replacing the F-16/F/A-18. Then the Soviet Union fell and the budgets dried up.

Hindsight is always 20/20. Foresight is not.

[Chris@YYZ]

so just like that the Tomcats have been taken out of carrier ops?

[Top_Gun]

I believe they are the last active unit. Everything else has already transitioned to the Hornet.

The LAST flight of the Tomcat out of Oceana will be a week or two after the Oceana Airshow :(.....
from the ICAS boards.

VF-213 and VF-31 will be the last two VF squadrons.
They will deploy on USS Theodore Roosevelt together (rare in recent
years to have two Tomcat units onboard a carrier) late this year and
will retire on their return to Oceana sometome in April 2006.
From what I've heard VF-31 The Tomcatters will be the last official F-14
squadron which is kinda fitting.

[Chris@YYZ]

:( so once the Tomcatters F14s are gone, no more Carrier based F-14s?

[Top_Gun]

no more F-14's period, land or carrier based.

There are some Hornet units which are land based. Only Tomcat's that will be left are gate guards or the graveyard at DM.....

[Chris@YYZ]

no more F-14's period, land or carrier based.

There are some Hornet units which are land based. Only Tomcat's that will be left are gate guards or the graveyard at DM.....

damn, that sucks :(

[Top_Gun]

Tomcat closing ceremonies are Sept 20-23

http://www.tomcat-sunset.org/

VF-31 will conduct a ceremonial last flight Friday morning (Sept 22)

[FlyingPhotog]

Hopefully some museums will buy a bunch and keep them flying like all the other older warbirds.

[YYZPICS]

Hopefully some museums will buy a bunch and keep them flying like all the other older warbirds.

Unforuntaley none will be flying after because due to the training and qualifications needed annually by pilots.

[seventwo]

Unforuntaley none will be flying after because due to the training and qualifications needed annually by pilots.
...and concerns over parts falling into the iranians hands. Uncle sam doesnt want thier tomcats in the air.

[Chris@YYZ]

Unforuntaley none will be flying after because due to the training and qualifications needed annually by pilots.

awwwwwwwwwww :( :(

[medic1]

Hopefully some museums will buy a bunch and keep them flying like all the other older warbirds.

I am still keeping my fingers crossed that somehow a couple will find their way into a heritage flight of some sort. Sad to see such a great aircraft go...

[Crunk415balla]

It was going to happen sooner or later, its a great aircraft IMO. I saw one at an airshow a few years ago and it was a lot bigger then I thought it would be.

[Irfan]

Bye. :( My favourtie naval fighter airplane. They should give them to another country's airforce or something.

[Chris@YYZ]

Bye. :( My favourtie naval fighter airplane. They should give them to another country's airforce or something.

no, they can give them all to me, I'll put them in a good home. :D


Bruno, want a cheap F-14 for your front lawn? :p

[Irfan]

If me, it will be my everyday "car". :p

[uy707]

Bye. :( My favourtie naval fighter airplane. They should give them to another country's airforce or something.

This would be a bad/poisonous gift as the aircraft is pretty sophisticated and requires lots of maintenance. Probably not a good idea for airforces accustomed to F5s or even F16. These airforces would also have to set up the position of radarist/gunnery engineer from scratch.
Alain

[MaxPower]

no more F-14's period, land or carrier based.

There are some Hornet units which are land based. Only Tomcat's that will be left are gate guards or the graveyard at DM.....

How come they'de never modified or come up with a a newer batch of the tomcats ?

[YYZPICS]

How come they'de never modified or come up with a a newer batch of the tomcats ?

The JSF and super hornets are your answer.

[seventwo]

Yup, the cold war is over and money is more important than capibility. Its a same such a nice aircraft has to go but theres not much that can be done now. At least the cat gets a partial replacment, the A-6 got none at all.

[gocaps16]

How come they'de never modified or come up with a a newer batch of the tomcats ?

They did. Back when the F-14s were new, they flew the F-14A series with TF30 engines which had a lot of problems. In the mid 80s, the Navy began modifying the F-14s to the F-14B/D series or the "Super Tomcats" which maintenaince was 50 times easier then the F-14A series and less manpower. But still the Super cats requires at least "50 maintenaince hours per 1 flight hour." On average, just for an engine overhaul and complete build up will take half a month per engine for the F-14B/D series. I'm talking with 3-4 crews per 8 hour shift, we're looking at 24-32 maintenance hours per shift, so it cost so much to keep them airworthy. I'll be sad to see them go.

Regards,

Kevin - Felix Rules!

[seventwo]

Kevin - Felix Rules!
I saw that in you sig before (think it was your sig), were you a part of the Tomcatters at some time?

[MaxPower]

They did. Back when the F-14s were new, they flew the F-14A series with TF30 engines which had a lot of problems. In the mid 80s, the Navy began modifying the F-14s to the F-14B/D series or the "Super Tomcats" which maintenaince was 50 times easier then the F-14A series and less manpower. But still the Super cats requires at least "50 maintenaince hours per 1 flight hour." On average, just for an engine overhaul and complete build up will take half a month per engine for the F-14B/D series. I'm talking with 3-4 crews per 8 hour shift, we're looking at 24-32 maintenance hours per shift, so it cost so much to keep them airworthy. I'll be sad to see them go.
Oh holy mogly! I didnt know it required that much of manhours on those engine overhauls !

Did they only modified the cats once since the mid80's (from F14A's - F14B/D's) ???

[Top_Gun]

Did they only modified the cats once since the mid80's (from F14A's - F14B/D's) ???

seems like it,
http://www.f-14association.com/history.htm

I wasn't sure myself.