Tomcat flys last combat mission

[seventwo]

http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=22325
Way to go Dick Cheney!

[B757300]

In this case, one really can't blame Cheney.

It was fully expected that the F-14 would be replaced by some kind of stealth aircraft as the F-22 is replacing the F-15 and F-35 is replacing the F-16/F/A-18. Then the Soviet Union fell and the budgets dried up.

Hindsight is always 20/20. Foresight is not.

[Chris@YYZ]

so just like that the Tomcats have been taken out of carrier ops?

[Top_Gun]

I believe they are the last active unit. Everything else has already transitioned to the Hornet.

The LAST flight of the Tomcat out of Oceana will be a week or two after the Oceana Airshow .....
from the ICAS boards.

VF-213 and VF-31 will be the last two VF squadrons.
They will deploy on USS Theodore Roosevelt together (rare in recent
years to have two Tomcat units onboard a carrier) late this year and
will retire on their return to Oceana sometome in April 2006.
From what I've heard VF-31 The Tomcatters will be the last official F-14
squadron which is kinda fitting.

[Chris@YYZ]

so once the Tomcatters F14s are gone, no more Carrier based F-14s?

[Top_Gun]

no more F-14's period, land or carrier based.

There are some Hornet units which are land based. Only Tomcat's that will be left are gate guards or the graveyard at DM.....

[Chris@YYZ]

no more F-14's period, land or carrier based.

There are some Hornet units which are land based. Only Tomcat's that will be left are gate guards or the graveyard at DM.....

damn, that sucks

[Top_Gun]

Tomcat closing ceremonies are Sept 20-23

http://www.tomcat-sunset.org/

VF-31 will conduct a ceremonial last flight Friday morning (Sept 22)

[FlyingPhotog]

Hopefully some museums will buy a bunch and keep them flying like all the other older warbirds.

[YYZPICS]

Hopefully some museums will buy a bunch and keep them flying like all the other older warbirds.

Unforuntaley none will be flying after because due to the training and qualifications needed annually by pilots.

[seventwo]

Unforuntaley none will be flying after because due to the training and qualifications needed annually by pilots.

...and concerns over parts falling into the iranians hands. Uncle sam doesnt want thier tomcats in the air.

[Chris@YYZ]

Unforuntaley none will be flying after because due to the training and qualifications needed annually by pilots.

awwwwwwwwwww

[medic1]

Hopefully some museums will buy a bunch and keep them flying like all the other older warbirds.

I am still keeping my fingers crossed that somehow a couple will find their way into a heritage flight of some sort. Sad to see such a great aircraft go...

[Crunk415balla]

It was going to happen sooner or later, its a great aircraft IMO. I saw one at an airshow a few years ago and it was a lot bigger then I thought it would be.

[Irfan]

Bye. My favourtie naval fighter airplane. They should give them to another country's airforce or something.