Navy's Tomcats on Last Tour

Associated Press ^ | Oct 30, 2001 | CHRIS TOMLINSON

[Mr170IQ]

Whatever happened to "Not one pound for air-to-ground?"

[IcommGen]

Also the most advanced piece of military equipement ever given to another country. Still can't believe we gave those to Iran. More advanced then most of the stuff we give the Israelis.

[ThinkingMan]

Indeed, when the Tomcats sit in the carrier's hangar below the flight deck, crews place oil pans underneath them to catch leaking hydraulic fluid, a problem mechanics can do little to stop on the old planes.

I worked on them for a few years as a plane captain for VF-1 on the U.S.S. Ranger- we always said if they aren't leaking, they must be empty. I hate to see those birds go. Nothing compares to seeing one going off the end of the carrier at night with the afterburner blazing.

[hchutch]

Stupid. Thank you, Bill Clinton. We gotta hope that nobody sells the bad guys any Tu-22M3 Backfires... oh, too late, the Iranians may have at least a dozen.

[newzjunkey]

Navy Brat Bump!

I sure miss all those F-14's that used to fly out of (then) NAS Miramar (former home of Top Gun) in San Diego.

[jordan8]

Thank God the Navy doesn't fly these anymore, or the State Department would die of apoplexy!

[Poohbah]

We gotta hope that nobody sells the bad guys any Tu-22M3 Backfires... oh, too late, the Iranians may have at least a dozen.

But Iran doesn't have the targeting assets necessary to make the Backfires as capable as they theoretically are.

Read Seapower and Space by Norman Polmar.

[cayuga]

Whatever happened to "Not one pound for air-to-ground?"

I think that was the war-cry for the F-15 Eagle. The F-14 had dumb bomb capability built in from the start. It just wasn't used much until the A-6s were gone.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Last of the Gunfighters. France finally retired their Crusaders a few years ago.

[Valin]

Question, what happens to the Phoenix missile?

[RedWing9]

Great question! No other plane in service can carry a missile with a 100+ mile range.

There must be some feeling in the upper brass that they are no longer worried about intercepting threats farther than around 50 miles out.

[dighton]

F-14 power-up at night -- large jpeg.

[Dukie]

Cmdr. Roy Kelley, said he will miss the plane he has flown for the last 15 years and still the world's fastest and most maneuverable fighter plane.

While the F14 is certainy a wonderful aircraft, I believe that the F15 has the edge in flat out speed (~Mach 2.5 ). I'd be interested in your take on the agility of the Tomcat as compared to the F16 or F/A18.

[dighton]

[Yougottabekidding]

What is the price of the new "Super Hornet"? (F-18F)

[Goldi-Lox]

I work on the F-14 Tomcat Program. It is an impressive and excellent aircraft. The reason that it is being phased out is that while in production, DICK Chaney had the tooling destroyed due to a hissy fit he had with a VIP at the company. He was Defense Secretary, and on a personal vendetta, and had production halted. We'd have a lot more of the Tomcats, and in better condition except for him. He damaged our fighting strength on a whim, and I hate him for it. I will never forgive him for allowing his personal vengence come before the good of the country.

[ThinkingMan]

What a beautiful shot! I can smell the JP5 and the salt air from the desk I am driving here in South Dakota.

[Cool_V]

The Diamondback's commander, Cmdr. Roy Kelley, said he will miss the plane he has flown for the last 15 years and still the world's fastest and most maneuverable fighter plane.

Of course not including the F15 or Soviet fighters.