Goodbye F-14

[Akira 0]

F-14 Retiring

Quote[/b] ]F-14s heading to aircraft graveyard

By Greg Tyler, Stars and Stripes

Pacific edition, Friday, August 27, 2004

ONBOARD USS JOHN C. STENNIS, Sasebo, Japan — The U.S. Navy’s meanest, fastest and most agile fighter jet, nearing retirement, is deployed in the western Pacific Ocean for the last time.

The Grumman F-14, which entered military service in 1972, also is a movie star. At least for aviation aficionados, it upstaged actors including Tom Cruise in the film “Top Gun.â€

Pilots flying the F-14s are from Fighter Squadron Three One, or VF-31, from Virginia Beach, Va. The VF-31 Tomcatters, also known as the “Felix the Cat†squadron, now are embarked on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis.

The ship and squadron already have taken part in Summer Pulse ’04 and Rim of the Pacific ’04. They left Sasebo Wednesday for PASEX, an upcoming communications exercise with other nations in the region, said Stennis spokesman Lt. Corey Barker.

After this summer, the Tomcatters are to deploy once more from the U.S. East Coast, then head to the great aircraft retirement home in the desert, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Ariz.

“It’s still the best fighter jet in the world,†said Lt. Andrew McLean, a VF-31 Tomcatter with three years’ experience at the F-14 controls. “It was built during the Cold War when the Soviet Union was our major military threat. It’s one of the last aircraft built intended to have overwhelming force, and they built these jets without cutting edges … the best engines were put in them, the best radar, the best missiles … It was designed for fleet defense, and did its job well,†the pilot said.

The squadron’s jets sport logos depicting Felix the Cat holding a bomb with a lit fuse. The unit has flown F-14s for 24 years, including the current version, the F-14D Super Tomcat.

Cmdr. Aaron Cudnohufsky, squadron commanding officer, said the Tomcat rightfully has become an American legend — and not just because of the film.

“I like to compare the F-14 to a Harley-Davidson,†Cudnohufsky said. “There are a lot of airplanes out there. But none have the beauty and grace of the Tomcat. Every time I am in the aircraft, I am in awe. It looks fast just sitting there.â€

The Tomcatters’ command master chief, Master Chief Petty Officer Tom Gall, called being part of a Tomcat squadron an honor. Even after 25 years in the Navy, he said, the plane’s aesthetics still leave him awestruck.

“The Tomcat just looks sharp,†Gall said. “It’s mesmerizing to watch it fly. Especially as it sweeps its wings back and goes in for the kill. I’m quite certain that many people will miss it when it is gone.â€

Throughout its long career, the F-14 has performed many different missions, Gall said, making it “a true workhorse of naval aviation ... air supremacy, or ‘dog fighting,’ to reconnaissance and putting bombs on target.â€

The Navy has moved to the F/A-18 Super Hornet, more a multipurpose jet praised for its versatility, rather than the F-14’s pure speed and maneuverability in a dogfight.

“Today, we’re all seeking to do more with less, so with the new jets, there are some compromises,†said McLean, whose pilot call sign is “Lick.†“They are still great, but the F-14s were built as fighters and they were the best fighters.â€

The pilot said eventually VF-31 would transform into a squadron of F/A-18s, airplanes he’s had the opportunity to fly.

The F-14, he said, “is more like what you think of as a muscle car ... they have this sort of aura about them ... the F-14s are like that.â€

“With the Super Hornets, you kind of get that ‘new car smell,’ like with a new Mercedes. It’s got power, but not overwhelming power, and has a lot of the luxury items and amenities,†he added.

“And the F-14s, being older, tend to take more maintenance. You’ll have Super Hornet guys working 9-to-5 shifts, when our guys are regularly working 12-hour shifts and longer just to keep the Tomcats working at top level,†he said. “But when both planes are up and running at the top of their game, there’s a lot of things the Super Hornet just can’t replace that the Tomcat can do.â€

McLean said many lessons learned flying the F-14s “I’ll be able to take with me when I begin flying the Super Hornet.â€

Having worked almost exclusively on the F-14s for 16 years, Chief Petty Officer Scott Hadley, an aviation structural mechanic, said he believes retiring the storied jets, even if they’re showing their age, is “the worst thing they could do in naval aviation. Absolutely.â€

From the Tomcatters’ Ready Room aboard the Stennis, he said, “There’s nothing out there that can match it right now as far as capability … plus, it’s truly a gorgeous aircraft.â€

But Hadley also admitted the jets are aging. “They’re getting crippled, and it’s hard to get parts.â€

Still, the F-14D Super Tomcats that the squadron’s pilots fly go faster than Mach 2. They’re still the fastest fighter jet on the carrier.

“A Super Hornet can’t even get close to us,†Hadley said. “Not only is it effective, it’s just gorgeous; it’s artwork. So we carry that pride.â€

F-14 was always one of my favorite fighters (interceptor probably being a better description), the "Jolly Rogers" logo and color scheme always being my favorite (80s)

[DB-ERAUPilot 0]

It's a crying shame the Navy is letting the Tomcat go..she'll be sorely missed. I'm still one of those guys that think its a MASSIVE mistake..the super hornet is a capable aircraft but there are many things the Tomcat can do the super hornet can't like carry the phoenix...it may not be needed now but with all these wars and possible wars popping up..who know?

[MontyVCB 0]

shes getting old tho, sad fact its cheaper to invest in new planes like the superhornet and JSF rather than upgrading a 32 year old aeroplane.

[Dauragon 0]

Damn it was my favourite Aircraft of the USA its so beautiful, so sad but everything has an end

[edc 0]

Maybe this'll encourage the development of a replacement for the Phoenix. Maybe an improved/longer-ranged version of the AMRAAM. Kind of OT, but I've actually heard differing opinions on the Phoenix. If I remember correctly it performed wonderfully in tests, but missed its target the only 2 times it has been fired in actual combat.

[Mister Frag 0]

I felt the same way about the A-6E Intruder.

It was a great all-weather attack aircraft capable of hauling more than its own weight in ordnance (and about 5 times what a late-model WWII B-17 could carry), but it became too expensive to maintain, and no replacements for old airframes came out of Grumman.

[Pathy 0]

I'm sure ive heard the Phoenix also has problems with its propellant or something.....like it uses a liquid propellant but it can suffer from hardening and become unusable....or something like that......(i dont know really, all i know is theres a problem along those lines)

Tomcat....great aircraft *I went through the danger zone.....*

[Necromancer- 0]

I felt the same way about the A-6E Intruder.

It was a great all-weather attack aircraft...

Murphy's law of combat:

"All weather air support doesn't function in bad weather"  

On topic:

Something tells me its a bad mistake to de-commission the F-14 as it is truly the fastest carrier-based Interceptor...

For escorting "Airforce One" I would still prefer the F-14 Tomcat over any other carrier-based fighter.

Well ok.. the F-22 Raptor is faster and more manouverable than the F-14 Tomcat, but it isn't carrier-based.  

/me starts winamp and plays "Kenny Loggins - Highway to the Danger Zone"

[BoweryBaker 0]

I don't know why, but its always been my favorite fighter jet too. The beauty, the speed, the capability, the power altogether. It's a masterpiece. If only there was something that could be done.

[Scud 0]

It is not long now till all aircraft will be dumped and replaced by the Lockheed Martin F-35.

One plane fits all, only slight modifications from Navy to Airforce. Cheaper to build, service etc.

[Tovarish 0]

Well ok.. the F-22 Raptor is faster and more manouverable than the F-14 Tomcat, but it isn't carrier-based.

Meet the NATF:

It was considered but killed during the research phase.

[4 IN 1 0]

one of my favorite frighter jet of all time, or through it is going old, but IT IS one of the greatest fighter ever built, the power, the beauty, it still a passion for boys all over the world who growen up in that age.

R.I.P. F14, you are the greatest

[Akira 0]

I'll always have you in "The Final Countdown".

You showed those damn Zero's who was boss!

[4 IN 1 0]

some how in these days i still enjoying "Top Gun" a lot, yes the storylines is stupid and its not updated, but hey~ WHO CARES? after all seeing a muscle car which turns around in coner correctly isnt that bad at all

i just cant think any other better ways to honor this plane then playing "Danger Zone" when its being shoot off from carrier

[ozanzac 0]

Tis a crying shame they prematurely ceased production of the F-14 during the early 90's. It's an airframe that deserved to outlive even the Hornet.

I do wonder what will happen to the 30 odd F-14 D's that were manufactured new? Hopefully, some of those specific airframes will be preserved in airworthy conditions at selected museums.

My favourite desktop pic.

[ran 0]

What made me love the F14 was a trilogy in the Buck Danny comics series.

[-ZG-BUZZARD 0]

Personally, I prefer the F-15 Eagle as THE best-looking airplane there ever was... but navy-wise only, yeah, the Tomcat beats 'em all.

(Especially those Northrop-built F-5 Mig-28s!!! LOL!)

[cobra@pulse 0]

Such a beuatiful plane, such a sad ending.

It needs to be honered...

[drewb99 0]

We better not cheap out & decide to sell all of 'em to some stupid little country, only to have them invade us later and wipe out our entire airforce.

[da12thMonkey 1943]

The F-14's a classic in my eyes, it's quite a shame to see it passing out of service but it had to happen eventually. I've only ever seen one once (well 4 at the same time actually, flying in a diamond formation over a hotel I was staying at in Cornwall) I could just about see them in the overcast sky above me, something I wont forget too easilly.

Does Iran still operate its F-14s or are they unservicable nowadays?

[Balschoiw 0]

I remember playing Afterburner when I was a teen, so maybe it´s time to get rid of it.

Anyway, very versatile and good looking plane. I always liked it.

[red oct 2]

the bright side is now that its going into retirement, you can probaly buy one for civilian use. if your rich that is.

[Cpt. FrostBite 0]

F-14 RULES!!!!

So sad that it now has to go

It's my all-time favorite. None of the newer aircraft have the same bad-ass look. The f-14 looks like a truck on a collision course, the newer aircrafts look more like a porche in the showroom.

The F-14 is also the only aircraft capable of firing the AIM-54 Phoenix Missile, which was desinged for the tomcat. So now this missile will also be gone. The heaviest air-to-air missile will be no longer

[Akira 0]

Quote[/b] ]Does Iran still operate its F-14s or are they unservicable nowadays?

Last I heard they were unusable as they lack the training or the parts.

I got to see one and peek in a cockpit once at an air show (same airshow I got to see the SR71- [1983])

Also if anyone likes the movie "The Final Countdown", the new super edition has some grat interviews with the "Jolly Rogers" pilots that flew for the movie (some hilarious stories too).

[EiZei 0]

Does Iran still operate its F-14s or are they unservicable nowadays?

Are you sure? I recall them having only F-15s.