[Al B.]

Re: Tomcats

They're also being phsaed out of the fleet. For instance, VF-41, the "Black Aces," that just returned on the Big E have flown their Tomcats for the last time. They're switching to F-18's.

[Goldi-Lox]

I work on the program. They will be in service until 2010...unless another "transition plan" is signed to extend their service life. We just found a way to add another 2000 hours to the fatigue life. We got a "Golden Hammer" last year for that one.

For the life of me, I can't understand why they are being replaced with ratty F-18s. Most of the pilots I've spoken to say there's no comparison. The Tomcat is the pilots choice. The F-18 is run by computer, the pilot is "along for the ride," but the Tomcat is pilot controlled...all the way.