End of an Era the Retirement of the F-14 Tomcat

I know that it is fairly common knowledge that the F-14 will be retired soon by the US Navy. I want this threas to be sort of a tribute to the Tomcat. Any pictures, links or stories that you may have please post. I am going to start this with a link to VF-32's site. VF-32 has a special meaning for me because in 1984 they gave me a ride in one of their Tomcats. Ever hear the saying "the funnest thing that you could do with your clothes on"? Well an F-14 ride has got to be in the top five.

VF-32 Swordsmen

I have some photographs and stuff that I will add as soon as I can get them scanned.

To the worlds best naval interceptor ever made, I salute you;

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[edit on 21/9/2005 by Mirthful Me]

Originally posted by cyberdude78
To the worlds best naval interceptor ever made, I salute you;

Hell yes, my friend. This was easily one of the best aircraft ever designed. I really hope they don't entirely retire it. I would really like to see them stack it with new tech, maybe a lil bit of stealth, and better performance. Definitely the best interceptor around the globe.

Why doesnt USAF just use F-14A instead of F-14D? anyways this babey saved our asses and will probably do it again for the last time, they'll be retired probably in next 3-5 years.


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[edit on 21-9-2005 by NR]

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[edit on 21/9/2005 by Mirthful Me]

[edit on 21-9-2005 by NR]

*Double Takes*

You mean, the TomCat IS retired. And there ALOT more threads on the retirement of the Tomcat, actually not too long ago.

Shattered OUT...

There are still a couple of squadrons out there. The official retirement date is 2006. Several squadrons are just transitioning to the Super Hornet.

* VF-1 Wolfpack (Disestablished September 30, 1993)
* VF-2 Bounty Hunters (Redesignated VFA-2 with F/A-18F July 1, 2003)
* VF-11 Red Rippers (Redesignated to VFA-11 with F/A-18F in May, 2005)
* VF-14 Tophatters (Redesignated VFA-14 with F/A-18E December 1, 2001)
* VF-21 Freelancers (Disestablished January 31, 1996)
* VF-24 Fighting Renegades (Disestablished August 20, 1996)
* VF-31 Tomcatters (Active; scheduled for redesignation to VFA-31 with F/A-18F in 2006)
* VF-32 Swordsmen (To be redesignated VFA-32 with F/A-18F on October 1, 2005)
* VF-33 Starfighters (Disestablished October 1, 1993)
* VF-41 Black Aces (Redesignated VFA-41 with F/A-18F, December 1, 2001)
* VF-51 Screaming Eagles (Disestablished March 31, 1995)
* VF-74 Bedevilers (Disestablished April 30, 1994)
* VF-84 Jolly Rogers (Disestblished October 1, 1995)
* VF-101 Grim Reapers (Active Fleet Readiness Squadron; scheduled for deactivation in September 2005)
* VF-102 Diamondbacks (Redesignated VFA-102 with F/A-18F in May 1, 2002)
* VF-103 Sluggers/Jolly Rogers (Redesignated VFA-103 with F/A-18F May 1, 2002)
* VF-111 Sundowners (Disestablished March 31, 1995)
* VF-114 Aardvarks (Disestablished April 30, 1993)
* VF-124 Gunfighters (Disestablished September 30, 1994)
* VF-142 Ghostriders (Disestablished April 30, 1995)
* VF-143 Pukin' Dogs (Redesignated VFA-143 with F/A-18E in early 2005)
* VF-154 Black Knights (Redesignated VFA-154 with F/A-18F October 1, 2003)
* VF-191 Satan's Kittens (Disestablished April 30, 1988)
* VF-194 Red Lightnings (Disestablished April 30, 1988)
* VF-201 Hunters (Redesignated VFA-201 with F/A-18A January 1, 1999)
* VF-202 Superheats (Disestablished December 31, 1999)
* VF-211 Fighting Checkmates (Redesignated VFA-211 with F/A-18F October 1, 2004)
* VF-213 Black Lions (Active; scheduled for redesignation to VFA-213 with F/A-18F in 2006)
* VF-301 Devil's Disciples (Disestablished December 31, 1994)
* VF-302 Stallions (Disestablished December 31, 1994)
* VX-4 Evaluators (Disestablished September 30, 1994)
* VX-9 Vampires (Currently operates F/A-18C/D/E/F, EA-6B, AV-8B, & AH-1)

en.wikipedia.org...

LOL ,the F-14 was and always will be a Naval Weapon (and one of the best) !The F-14 was conceived in a shootout with General Dynamics and Grumman,types GD =F-111 ,GR =F-14 ,Both really won ,But the F-14 will
always have that AirCraft Carrier nostalgia..REP.

There is a retired Navy Captain, Dale Snodgrass behind an effort to purchase 16 retired F-14s from the Navy.

Private Tomcat Squadron

Captain Snodgrass was the pilot of this F-14 and contrary to the caption he wasn't grounded.

THE MOVIESTAR (F-14) WILL LIVE FOREVER.............TOPGUN

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[edit on 22-9-2005 by Jezza]

[edit on 22-9-2005 by Jezza]


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[edit on 4-10-2005 by pantha]

Originally posted by cyberdude78
To the worlds best naval interceptor ever made, I salute you;
[edit on 21/9/2005 by Mirthful Me]

Hell, the F-14 is the world's best interceptor, period! For it's time it was truly unmached. In retiring the F-14 the US military is loosing an amazing capibility. I still don't understand they are getting rid of the best air defense fighter and interceptor ever built. The F-14 made the US Navy Fighter Weapons School (A.K.A. Top Gun) world famous. It became the standard of excllence for fighters!

Don't get me wrong, the F-15, F/A-18 (and according to some the F-16) are good planes in their own rights. However, none of them could touch the F-14 Tomcat.

Tim
Tim

Oh yes, the F-14 is most definatly the best interceptor out there (possible exception with F-22). Supposedly in wargame practices, F-14's had the tendancy to shred F-15's. As we know the F-14 is an exceptional long range fighter, and pilot reports indicate that F-14's were also exceptionally deadly up close. I guess the movable wing concept really payed off.

And let's face it, nobody like Top Gun because of Tom Cruise, the only reason people liked it was for those sweet sweet F-14's.

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[edit on 4-10-2005 by pantha]

Originally posted by JIMC5499
There is a retired Navy Captain, Dale Snodgrass behind an effort to purchase 16 retired F-14s from the Navy.

Private Tomcat Squadron

Captain Snodgrass was the pilot of this F-14 and contrary to the caption he wasn't grounded.

For some reason this picture kept failing. This will fix that.

That is one crazy flt by! Props on finding that pic

For our viewing plessure:

Originally posted by vertol
The F-14 was conceived in a shootout with General Dynamics and Grumman,types GD =F-111 ,GR =F-14 ,Both really won

- No, this is simply not true and is completely far off of the mark.

The F111B & F14 were not contemporaries 'shooting it out'.

The F14 was Grumman's response to the colossally overweight disaster (despite the many 'crash' weight saving programs) that the cancelled F111B project turned out to be.

The F14 was fortunate (and speeded along) by being able to draw on much of the developmental and groundwork the F111B had done (engines, radar and missiles, for instance).

Many believe the root of the problem was with the whole concept of 'commonality' that was at the heart of the 'TFX' program.
It is rare for what is basically a single plane type to genuinely be able to tackle both land and sea based missions.

Check the dates.

There are those who see the F111B as doing little more than delaying the F14 by 6yrs or so........and swallowing almost $380million dollars (in 1962 - 68 money).

Here are some pics...










It's a hell of a plane... So sad it will be replaced...

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[edit on 4-10-2005 by pantha]

I'm going to cry...

There's nothing like those photos of the F-14 strapped down and parked. I love those head on shots. Reminds me of an Eagle standing in front of you saying, "Try me... I dare ya... B***h."

Yes , now the enemy of America will be happy because a US navy's Palladium was killed by American themselves.

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[edit on 4-10-2005 by pantha]

If I am not mistaken, the F-14 was the inspiration for the fighter jet-bot machines in the 1st season of the popular cartoon series "Robotech"