VF-31 Tomcatters. Kicking ass and taking names since 1935. Second oldest fighter squadron operating in the Navy today
Posted on 08/27/2004 2:25:34 PM PDT by swilhelm73
ONBOARD USS JOHN C. STENNIS, Sasebo, Japan — The U.S. Navy’s meanest, fastest and most agile fighter jet, nearing retirement, is deployed in the western Pacific Ocean for the last time.
The Grumman F-14, which entered military service in 1972, also is a movie star. At least for aviation aficionados, it upstaged actors including Tom Cruise in the film “Top Gun.”
Pilots flying the F-14s are from Fighter Squadron Three One, or VF-31, from Virginia Beach, Va. The VF-31 Tomcatters, also known as the “Felix the Cat” squadron, now are embarked on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis.
The ship and squadron already have taken part in Summer Pulse ’04 and Rim of the Pacific ’04. They left Sasebo Wednesday for PASEX, an upcoming communications exercise with other nations in the region, said Stennis spokesman Lt. Corey Barker.
After this summer, the Tomcatters are to deploy once more from the U.S. East Coast, then head to the great aircraft retirement home in the desert, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Ariz.
“It’s still the best fighter jet in the world,” said Lt. Andrew McLean, a VF-31 Tomcatter with three years’ experience at the F-14 controls. “It was built during the Cold War when the Soviet Union was our major military threat. It’s one of the last aircraft built intended to have overwhelming force, and they built these jets without cutting edges … the best engines were put in them, the best radar, the best missiles … It was designed for fleet defense, and did its job well,” the pilot said.
The squadron’s jets sport logos depicting Felix the Cat holding a bomb with a lit fuse. The unit has flown F-14s for 24 years, including the current version, the F-14D Super Tomcat.
Cmdr. Aaron Cudnohufsky, squadron commanding officer, said the Tomcat rightfully has become an American legend — and not just because of the film.
“I like to compare the F-14 to a Harley-Davidson,” Cudnohufsky said. “There are a lot of airplanes out there. But none have the beauty and grace of the Tomcat. Every time I am in the aircraft, I am in awe. It looks fast just sitting there.”
The Tomcatters’ command master chief, Master Chief Petty Officer Tom Gall, called being part of a Tomcat squadron an honor. Even after 25 years in the Navy, he said, the plane’s aesthetics still leave him awestruck.
“The Tomcat just looks sharp,” Gall said. “It’s mesmerizing to watch it fly. Especially as it sweeps its wings back and goes in for the kill. I’m quite certain that many people will miss it when it is gone.”
Throughout its long career, the F-14 has performed many different missions, Gall said, making it “a true workhorse of naval aviation ... air supremacy, or ‘dog fighting,’ to reconnaissance and putting bombs on target.”
The Navy has moved to the F/A-18 Super Hornet, more a multipurpose jet praised for its versatility, rather than the F-14’s pure speed and maneuverability in a dogfight.
“Today, we’re all seeking to do more with less, so with the new jets, there are some compromises,” said McLean, whose pilot call sign is “Lick.” “They are still great, but the F-14s were built as fighters and they were the best fighters.”
The pilot said eventually VF-31 would transform into a squadron of F/A-18s, airplanes he’s had the opportunity to fly.
The F-14, he said, “is more like what you think of as a muscle car ... they have this sort of aura about them ... the F-14s are like that.”
“With the Super Hornets, you kind of get that ‘new car smell,’ like with a new Mercedes. It’s got power, but not overwhelming power, and has a lot of the luxury items and amenities,” he added.
“And the F-14s, being older, tend to take more maintenance. You’ll have Super Hornet guys working 9-to-5 shifts, when our guys are regularly working 12-hour shifts and longer just to keep the Tomcats working at top level,” he said. “But when both planes are up and running at the top of their game, there’s a lot of things the Super Hornet just can’t replace that the Tomcat can do.”
McLean said many lessons learned flying the F-14s “I’ll be able to take with me when I begin flying the Super Hornet.”
Having worked almost exclusively on the F-14s for 16 years, Chief Petty Officer Scott Hadley, an aviation structural mechanic, said he believes retiring the storied jets, even if they’re showing their age, is “the worst thing they could do in naval aviation. Absolutely.”
From the Tomcatters’ Ready Room aboard the Stennis, he said, “There’s nothing out there that can match it right now as far as capability … plus, it’s truly a gorgeous aircraft.”
But Hadley also admitted the jets are aging. “They’re getting crippled, and it’s hard to get parts.”
Still, the F-14D Super Tomcats that the squadron’s pilots fly go faster than Mach 2. They’re still the fastest fighter jet on the carrier.
“A Super Hornet can’t even get close to us,” Hadley said. “Not only is it effective, it’s just gorgeous; it’s artwork. So we carry that pride.”
VF-31 Tomcatters. Kicking ass and taking names since 1935. Second oldest fighter squadron operating in the Navy today
The 'Cat will be missed, sorely.
The best jet fighter known to man.
John Kerry in his first Senate run in 1984 proposed canceling this plane's budget (and the F-15 and the F-16 and the B-1 and the B-2).
Right, china is war gaming several taiwan scenarios, assuming US is the opponent. China isn't yet where the Soviets were, but they are catching up.
They have been a real asset for many years.
If we're still here in Sept (waiting on husband's orders after, get this, Navy Class A Aircraft Mechanic school) we're going to the NAS Oceana air show. Always a great show and the kids love seeing the planes up close.
The F-14 has been the stuff of legends.
That's exacly why..the radar was obsolete the day the plane went into service..because in order to track all the missiles, the plane had to radiate..making it a nice big target..
The Phantom is ugly. although it's predecessor, the F-101 Voodoo was a real beauty.
The most beautiful plane ever was the Spitfire.
Like the F-16...I don't think the 14 will go away so quickly.
I'm sure some will be held for reserve.
Those birds have served their country well.
Some of them could be used for recruiting. You let some young man or woman sit in that cockpit...and they may be even more inclined to go after the goal of flying.
They may even study harder in school. Even if they decide later to do something else when they get out of school, at least they had a push.
I was at an air show at in Fort Worth (old Carswel) and saw a thing of beauty.
They did a fly by with 2 P-51s and a Hornet.
Two P-51s just off the wing of the Hornet as they went by.
I tried to take a picture....BUT HAD RUN OUT OF FILM.
So I'll just have to keep that image in my mind.
I BEG YOUR PARDON!
Take it back or I'll be forced to send you numerous pictures of my favorite jet until you find one you like...
Also the last in a long line of Grumman navy aircraft.
Sad to see Grumman gone, my uncle spent 30 years with them and my brother quite a few, including the LM.
Long Island NY, where there were once many great aircraft companies has gone suburban.
Warning...objects in mirror are closer than they appear
Highway to the Danger Zone
Ride into the Danger Zone
Headin' into twilight
Spreadin' out her wings tonight
She got you jumpin' off the track
And shovin' into overdrive
Highway to the Danger Zone
I'll take you
Right into the Danger Zone
You'll never say hello to you
Until you get it on the red line overload
You'll never know what you can do
Until you get it up as high as you can go
Out along the edges
Always where I burn to be
The further on the edge
The hotter the intensity
Highway to the Danger Zone
Gonna take you
Right into the Danger Zone
Highway to the Danger Zone
Hint: It took a Demon to get a Phantom. It takes a Hornet to get a ???????
"you can accomplish the same mission with less angst"
Not to mention that your unmanned fighters can do ariel manuevers no manned aircraft could even dream of.
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