[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.

[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.