Posted on 10/01/2005 12:06:14 AM PDT by mcgiver38
End of an Era, the F-14 tomcat makes its final public appearance.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- The venerable F-14 Tomcat took a final bow with a boom at its last air show Sept. 16-18 at Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.
The classic Northrup Grumman fighter jet that rose to prominence in the 1986 hit film "Top Gun" and has worn U.S. Navy colors since its first test flight in 1970 attracted a legion of fans from around the world at its public goodbye.
“It’s basically a bittersweet day for us,” said Lt. Cortney Kinna, an F-14 naval flight officer from Amarillo, Texas. "It was our favorite airplane. I just think it's the sexiest looking airplane out there. It's unique, big, powerful and loud."
Geert Meuris, who lives near Antwerp, Belgium, said he crossed the Atlantic Ocean to see the swing-wing, twin-engine jet fighter shake the skies in a four-ship formation and during a solo tactical demonstration.
“We don't see them very often in Europe,” he said as he stood near the flight line at the fighter's home base. “This is the last chance for us. It’s beautiful.”
Aviators who flew in the Tomcat said it stands alone.
“It had a little bit of a heritage feeling to it," said Lt. Mario Duarte, an F/A-18 Super Hornet pilot who previously flew the F-14 off carrier decks. “It is a cool thing to say that you've done. Everybody associates it with the movie Top Gun, and it's big and it looks great sitting on the ground.”
“The biggest thing about it is the F-14 has such a great identity,” said Lt. Joe Ruzicka, a naval flight officer from Crandall, Texas, who flew in the Tomcat's last public solo demonstration. "People have such a love and affection for it.”
Air crew with Fighter Squadron (VF) 32, the Swordsmen, and VF-101, the Grim Reapers, showed off the jet's capabilities before hundreds of thousands in attendance at the three-day show.
Lt. Jack Tangredi, a naval aviator with the Grim Reapers, put the plane through its paces during one of its solo displays.
“It was awesome,” said Tangredi, a native of Wallingford, Conn. “For me personally, it doesn’t get any better than that. The pinnacle of my aviation carrier.”
Radar intercept officers (RIO) said they will particularly miss the concentrated teamwork needed between the pilot and “backseater” to let the F-14 do its job. Unlike the F/A-18 Super Hornet, one said, pilots do not have the same cockpit controls in the front seat to operate the radar and fire all weapon systems.
“The Tomcat is a RIO's airplane,” said Lt. Tim Henry, a Gettysburg, Pa., native who took his last F-14 flight during the airshow. “It’s sad. I caught myself looking around the cockpit.”
Retired Capt. Phil Grandfield, of Virginia Beach, said he favored the Tomcat over the F-4 Phantom and the F/A-18 Hornet in his 26 years of flying Navy jets.
“I’m most proud of having flown the F-14,” said Grandfield, who has more than 2,000 flight hours in the aircraft and made his 1,000th carrier arrested landing in the jet. “It’s a unique airplane. It’s respected around the world.”
Even so, every F-14 air crew member without hesitation said they are ready to transition to the more modern and nimble Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, the Tomcat's replacement.
Now in the midst of its last cruise with VF-31, the Tomcatters, and VF-213, the Black Lions, aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), the Navy will retire the aging Tomcat from service next year.
I was deployed to the Gulf on four differant occasions and on more than one occasion there was indications that Iranian F-14's were airborne, but we never picked up the radar signal of their AWG-9's. Additionally they never went feet wet....
Dog,
A few parting words??
How do the Iranians obtain replacement parts? Are we so crazy that we allow Grumman to supply and maintain these planes?
I wondered about that too, which was part of the reason I asked. Any idea how many USN F-14 air-to-air kills were made with the Phoenix?
very poor!
through third parties and middle men!
they have a capable ground crew that received its trainings here in the states in late 1970s
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/ships/carriers/stennis/sten-birds.jpg
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/ships/carriers/kitty_hawk/kh-tom402ramp.jpg
Anytime, Baby!
That is one lethal looking airplane. Wow!
I was just about to post the same thing!! I remember when the base got the first ones. Beautiful, they've always been my favorites. To watch those planes in the air is just, for me anyway, a fascinating and awesome experience.
My favorite was when they would do touch and go's at Miramar. I was working at UTC then and I would sit outside at lunch and watch them fly. I loved the sound they made when they would make a sharp bank to the left with the wings swept back - it was a sound like no other. I sure missed it when they left Miramar and the helos came in.
amen.......the end of a fantastic machine!
Oddly enough, The F-14 was one of the few naval aircraft never given to the Marines.
Sad but true.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.