The US Navy Says Goodbye to the Tomcat

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."

Comments

Thank God

[hcob$]

that we won't have to think of Tom Cruise anymore when we see one of those planes flying!!!

Not to mention we won't have to think of "Danger Zone", "you've lost that loving feelin'" (when he sings it), and we won't have to think of Navy training jets as MIGs anymore!

Re:Thank God

[martin-boundary]

On the other hand, with all the remakes and sequels that Hollywood is making, we might just see a new movie about a cocky Iranian F14 pilot who temporarily lost faith in Allah and later recovered it through the help of his fully veiled and covered but nevertheless assumed sexy flight instructor.

Tomcat

[RuBLed]

I believe Jerry mouse had it his way this time, poor Tomcat.

On a related note:

Last time I checked, our country only had 4 italian training jets for our air defense. Maybe they're going to donate those things :)

Anyone else think Apache?

[GeorgeFitch3]

At first I thought the Navy was dumping Apache Tomcat! :) http://tomcat.apache.org/

Re:Anyone else think Apache?

[thechronic]

ha, seriously, my first thought was the Navy dumped Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes...I watch way too much E! Channel...

Yay

[Frankie70]

They have moved from Apache & Tomcat to IIS & ASP.NET.

Reading between the lines...

[Lord Aurora]

...only a small number (perhaps ten or twenty) are believed to still be in service due to a lack of spare parts and attrition.

Yeah, not having enough attrition is a big problem in the Tomcat business.

On a more serious subject, were these the ones with the foldy wings? Man, I have a Micro Machine that I'm somewhat sure is a Tomcat and the wings amaze me every time I play with it.

Er, you know. Every time when I used to play with it. Because...I'm too old for Micro Machines now...of...course...

Re:I bet some hydraulic techs are happy about this

[GrahamCox]

Murphy states the bad actuator is the last one you test

Well, yeah - because once you've found the bad one you don't test any more, right?

Re:I bet some hydraulic techs are happy about this

[z3d4r]

so test the last one first

Re:I bet some hydraulic techs are happy about this

[Dun Malg]

There is still nothing as capable for our needs in a single plane as the F111

No mention of the F-11 is complete without my favorite F-111 story:
As a money saving "common aircraft" plan shared between the Air Force and Navy (like the F-4 before it) the F-111 was originally intended to also fill the role of fleet defense fighter for the Navy (a role later filled by the F-14 instead). There was exactly one carrier landing in an F-111, by a test pilot early on. Due to poor low speed handling, heavy weight, and large size it was nigh impossible to land safely. The pilot was asked afterwards "if you had the choice between the F-111 and any other airplane for making a carrier landing, which would you choose?" His answer was, famously, "Any other airplane".