OT / Goodbye F14 Tomcat

Yes. In fact, my mother's cousin was once a squadron commander for one of the Mirimar Tomcat squadrons that participated in the movie.

Stephen Bierce

I think Rick Nelson's plane was a DC-3.

Bill Banaszak, MFE Sr.

I got one of those F-14 kits around somewhere. Its part of the "Final Countdown" combo set of the F-14 and a box scale Nimitz. Never got around to building it.

RLM

I thought I read somewhere that a pair of retiring F-14 were being given a send off by a pair of F-18. The F-14 had to slow down for the -18s to keep up. Story is probably a bunch a hooey but it would be funny if it were true. From stuff I read, the F-18 replacement is nowhere hear as capable as the -14. The -14s mostly being retired because of the expense of its upkeep, mostly related to the swing-wing mechanics. That may be wrong, too.

RLM

In a sling under a UH-1. Yeah, yeah, yeah.....

:-)

RLM

F-14s cost a mint in maintenance man-hours/flight hours, both because of old systems and because Hornets and Superhornets have a lot of maintainability tricks built into them. I'll miss the old Turkey a lot. She was one truly impressive bird. Just offhand, the F-15 is approaching retirement- will it inspire the same affection as the Tomcat?

Well, I for one would miss them. I've seen them perform at airshows and the effect was darn near orgasmic. Besides, they look neat. :)

Bill Banaszak, MFE Sr.

I don't think that a dedicated interceptor *is* required. Almost every conceivable war scenario posits the US and allies fighting a technologically inferior enemy in a confused battlefield. Beyond Visual Range (BVR) engagements were specifically banned over Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. Every kill had to be visually identified. When using a BVR missile, that required the use of the "eyeball/shooter" tactics, where one aircraft makes a visual ID while a second hangs back and makes the kill. What is the use of that when the "eyeball" aircraft could make the kill itself with a Winder or ASRAAM or the like?

I'm surprised that the UK MoD is still funding developement of the Meteor BVRAAM... but then again, knowing the waste that occurs, maybe I

My first was the Airfix kit, which I finished in VF-1 Wolfpack markings. That was over thirty years ago! Oddly enough, I have a Hasegawa kit and a set of CAM decals for early VF-1 markings, all ready to go when I get the urge to build another F-14. I seem to be making a habit of revisiting marking schemes that I built decades ago.

Finally...

I'll bet that Sabre could turn inside a Mig-21 all day long...the Mig pilot was probably under armed and over confident.

They're ALL Hornet drivers now...

F/A-18E/F.

When an F-14 can mount and employ HALF the variety of A/G weapons that an F/A-18 can, then a Tomcat will be HALF as capable as a Hornet, and

Yes, and more if what I hear from the crews is any indication...they don't call it "ego-jet" for nothin'...

And don't forget that the Tomcat just ain't no strike-figher, no matter how many LGBs they've delivered. Mission, folks...MISSION.

..."neat" don't win wars...

(snip)

Not *just* yet. VF-31 will transition to the SuperHornet over the next few months so I'd imagine you'd see a few hops in F-14's. Official delpoyed flights are gone but training hops shouldn't be ruled out. Any word on keeping any Tomcats around for aggressors or any other use in ANY capacity?

Frank Kranick