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+--- Thread: F-14 Final Flight in U. S. service... (/showthread.php?tid=20397)
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F-14 Final Flight in U. S. service... - Carnos Jax - 10-11-2006
I can't believe that those of us who normally keep up with these things missed this....today is the one week anniversary of the final flight of the F-14 Tomcat in U. S service. It was a trip to the aircraft graveyard (think that's the informal name for it) in Arizona.
Does NASA or anyone else still have one flying? I think the Iranian ones are still flying though.
Re: F-14 Final Flight in U. S. service... - Don Kiyoti - 10-11-2006
Aside from the Iranians, that's it for the F-14. I don't think any will be preserved in flying condition, either.
Re: F-14 Final Flight in U. S. service... - New.Dad - 10-11-2006
Iran has F-14???
Re: F-14 Final Flight in U. S. service... - Panopticon - 10-11-2006
Actually, the F-14's flew their final deployment (Official Service) flights on March 10, 2006. http://forums.macresource.com/read/1/61242/61242#msg-61242 The aircraft of VF-213 Blacklions and VF-31 Tomcatters squadrons had their weapons systems and other 'special' equipment removed @ NAS Oceana and NAS Norfolk before being flown to the AMARC facility (Davis-Monthan AFB, Phoenix) http://www.dm.af.mil/ However, the AMARC F-14s are not being scrapped. They could be made combat ready if needed in the near future.
One F-14 from VF-211 was sent to Texas for firefighter training two years ago.
http://www.amarcexperience.com/AMARCArticleF14ARetirement.asp
A formal retirement ceremony was held in September at NAS Oceana.
Trivia, the Main Gate for Oceana is on "Tomcat Blvd." in Va. Beach!
The Iranians have NO spare parts. It's reported they cannibalize their damaged F-14s for major components and engine parts. Not very reassuring maintenance protocols for a Tomcat driver, heh?
Re: F-14 Final Flight in U. S. service... - Don Kiyoti - 10-11-2006
At the risk of this turning political, we sold them F-14s back when they were the Good Guys. The order was placed in 1974, the planes began being delivered in 1976, and the Shah was overthrown in 1979. They got 79 of the 80 aircraft they purchased.
Re: F-14 Final Flight in U. S. service... - Carnos Jax - 10-12-2006
But man, are those Iranians resourceful with those Tomcats. Though one of my favorite aircraft, it was a maintenance hog. Their ability (though somewhat limited) to keep them in the air has been impressive.
Re: F-14 Final Flight in U. S. service... - Racer X - 10-12-2006
I think they are down to a few dozen potentially flyable airframes at best, and they have never gotten any of the upgrade packages.
We embargoed their arses and they haven't had any spares except what they could scrounge on the black market, and that is some pretty slim pickens, as there isn't any market for them but us or Iran, and anything they buy must be stolen US property.
Re: F-14 Final Flight in U. S. service... - Paul F. - 10-12-2006
potentially flyable airframes is right...
One estimate I read a few years ago was that less than a dozen are "combat ready", and maybe 10 more are OK for "display" flights, but are missing many non-critical parts making them not really combat ready.
And F-14 "A" models are no match for later revision F-14's, much less the F/A-18's the Navy flies now.
Re: F-14 Final Flight in U. S. service... - Paul F. - 10-12-2006
Oh, and I seriously doubt that any of the retiring F-14's is going to be scrapped totally for quite a few years...
I visited Davis-Monthan once, about 10 years ago... they keep retired aircraft in "reactivatable" condition for a VERY long time after they are pulled from service.
When I was there, they had dozens of F-4 Phantoms (retired in the mid 80's), and more B-52's than I could count (the B-52 isn't retired, but they were keeping ones built in the early 50's at Davis-Monthan).
They also had F-8 Crusaders (the plane my father flew for the Navy), and they were retired in the mid 70's!
By now, the F-8's and F-4's are probably gone... But the F-14's will be "subject to recall" for a decade or so...
Re: F-14 Final Flight in U. S. service... - Thrift Store Scott - 10-12-2006
I saw a program on the History Channel (maybe) recently where the remaining stock of airworthy F-4s are being refurbished and used for target practice. On the program they showed a whole row of F-4s still in "mothballed" condition.
The F-4s hold a special place in my heart because they were the fighter jets I saw go over my house at supersonic speed on a daily basis during the Vietnam war, then skim the treetops on the return trip to the airport. However, with their slab-sided fuselage and flat airflow splitters ahead of each engine air intake, their radar signatures must be both huge and unmistakable...and excellent for airborne target practice.
I suppose when they run out of F-4s in this role, they'll start using F-14s.