The US Navy Says Goodbye to the Tomcat

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Thursday September 21, 2006 @02:47PM from the off-into-the-wild-blue-yonder dept.

jonerik writes "Though it's not being widely reported, this week marks the end of the line for the F-14 Tomcat in US Navy service. First flown in 1970, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat was easily one of the world's most powerful, advanced, and deadly aircraft for many years, capable of flying at Mach 2.3 and firing its half-dozen Mach 5 AIM-54 Phoenix air-to-air missiles at targets as much as 100 miles away. Having been gradually replaced during the last several years by the newer F/A-18E/F, the last of the aircraft in US service will be officially retired on Friday, September 22nd in a ceremony at Virginia's Oceana Naval Air Station. However, at least a few F-14s will continue to fly for a few more years: Iran — which took delivery of 79 aircraft before the overthrow of the Shah — still flies the plane, though only a small number (perhaps ten or twenty) are believed to still be in service due to a lack of spare parts and attrition."

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Re:Weapons by Andy+Gardner · 2006-09-21 20:41 · Score: 1, Flamebait

I don't know if you've noticed, but there are still well-armed enemies out there.
True, but only because the west arms them...
Re:And so marches on the.... by Opportunist · 2006-09-21 20:50 · Score: 0, Flamebait

Well, then you should be damn glad that you have a cowboy like GWB as a prez now, he'll make sure that the stats for today's military hardware doesn't look so crappy.

Honestly. I'm quite happy if the stats look bad simply because there was no need to use them.

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We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Re:Thank God by Simon+Garlick · 2006-09-22 00:42 · Score: 0, Flamebait

Oh oh oh Tom Clancy fanboi ejaculation imminent UNF UNF UNF

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