The Final F-14 Tomcat Flyby

**wabpilot** · 24 Oct 07,, 18:43

Originally Posted by Adalwolf

Does anyone know why the Tomcats were retired? Last I heard they were still one of the best fighters out there...

I'll quote myself from a report I wrote a long time ago: "Our boys flying our planes can beat their boys flying their planes every time. The problem is our boys flying our planes cannot always beat our boys flying their planes."

**Bluesman** · 24 Oct 07,, 20:45

Originally Posted by wabpilot

I'll quote myself from a report I wrote a long time ago: "Our boys flying our planes can beat their boys flying their planes every time. The problem is our boys flying our planes cannot always beat our boys flying their planes."

HAH! Priceless.

**Adalwolf** · 26 Oct 07,, 10:03

Originally Posted by TopHatter

Unquestionably an outstanding fighter, especially the F-14D.

Several reasons for their retirement, two biggies were:

Money (it's a rather expensive and time-consuming beast to maintain)

Age (the Navy awarded the VFX contract to Grumman in January 1969)

Thanks for the info. That is kinda what I was thinking. Its a shame they were retired, they are such beautiful aircraft!

**~~Rossiman~~** · 11 Nov 07,, 07:46

Even to this day i still think the f-14 tomcat is a sexy beast, and the hulk paint job they did at a airshow was simply awesome i will try to find the link =)

**gunnut** · 13 Nov 07,, 08:32

Stolen from airliners.net

Photos: Grumman F-14D Tomcat Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

All twenty two Tomcats from VF-31 and VF-213 return home to Oceana after the final Tomcat combat cruise. This sight will never be repeated again.

**Jimmy** · 13 Nov 07,, 22:47

Hello new wallpaper!

I cant imagine how much work the maintainers had to put in to make that possible.

**gunnut** · 13 Nov 07,, 22:52

Originally Posted by Jimmy

Hello new wallpaper!

I cant imagine how much work the maintainers had to put in to make that possible.

At least they'll be happy to know they don't have to fix them after this flight.

**reve893** · 14 Nov 07,, 19:19

I am a senior in High School and I was planning to join the Naval Academy just so I could pilot the F-14 Tomcat. Ever since a kid I loved that plane. For those of you that had the chance to fly that beauty I admire and envy you. Great link that reminds us all of the great Era.

**wabpilot** · 14 Nov 07,, 19:30

Originally Posted by reve893

I am a senior in High School and I was planning to join the Naval Academy just so I could pilot the F-14 Tomcat. Ever since a kid I loved that plane. For those of you that had the chance to fly that beauty I admire and envy you. Great link that reminds us all of the great Era.

If you want to fly, don't go to the Naval Academy. Most of its graduates do not enter aviation. Most Naval Aviators are NROTC.

**Officer of Engineers** · 14 Nov 07,, 20:22

Originally Posted by wabpilot

If you want to fly, don't go to the Naval Academy. Most of its graduates do not enter aviation. Most Naval Aviators are NROTC.

*** Eyes wide open *** Really, Commander? I was under the impression that it is recommended that you learn how to fly before joining the military in order to become an aviator. I know the competition is that tough but this is a 1st that NROTC would have a leg up.

**Blademaster** · 14 Nov 07,, 20:56

I am guessing the reason is that because the Naval Academy primarily teaches engineering skills and avaitors don't really need engineering skills to to fly a plane. He does need to take some aeronautical engineering classes and some mathematical classes but that's it. Thus, most graduates who graduate from the Naval Academy are either immediately grabbed by the submarine branch or aircraft carrier nuclear propulsion branches, or maintenance branches.

**Jimmy** · 15 Nov 07,, 01:48

In the USAF, the Academy does get the lion's share of pilot slots. Well, they get first shot at it. Followed by ROTC, and OTS is used as the valve to control the overall number of newly commissioned officers (and within several career fields).

Having a private pilot's license counts for pretty much nothing for us. I dont know why, but that definitely seems to be the case.

**wabpilot** · 16 Nov 07,, 17:43

Originally Posted by Officer of Engineers

*** Eyes wide open *** Really, Commander? I was under the impression that it is recommended that you learn how to fly before joining the military in order to become an aviator. I know the competition is that tough but this is a 1st that NROTC would have a leg up.

In our service, prior pilot training is not highly valued. The official position is we would only have to train out the bad habits before training someone to fly the navy way. I am not sure I completely agree with that. During the Viet Nam war we were running short of SNAs, so we took some from the USAF's training command. They were all sent to the USMC, but they worked out quite well. So, I think that other training organizations can produce competent pilots.

I should also add that when I was flying in the airlines, I saw pilots from civilian backgrounds, the USAF and some foreign military training. There are lots of good training pipelines out there, not just the USN's. Although, it strikes me as being the best.

Our academy has a lot of demands on its graduates, aviation being just one. There are a lot more surface and submarine warfare people than there are aviators. Thus, few of graduates of the USNA end up in aviation. Far more NROTC grads do. The USAFA is different. Aviation is all they are about. So, most of their student aviators come from the USAFA. Both systems work. But, if someone wants to fly navy, they he or she is better off going NROTC than USNA.

**BMF12** · 29 Nov 07,, 18:53

Love the Tomcat, as everyone does......such an elegant brute..........have to love it! I was wondering if there was anyone on the Board that has flown in a Crusader, or piloted them when they were in service..........love them also...
..Thanks

**Repatriated Canuck** · 30 Nov 07,, 05:33

I used to love being a little kid around them at the airshows. My dad did security at one in Abbotsford when I was a kid and I got a much better look at them than everyone else as I would be there by dawn and sometimes I got lucky and the pilot would be there. They are always nice to little kids when the crowds are not there and would let me in the cockpit and show me around.

It's also how I discovered you can scratch the paint off an F117 IIRC. It was 17 years ago after all. They had armed guards around them all day but I got there before even the guards did.