US Navy to Retire the F-14 Tomcat.

[TheMightyFavog]

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=24037

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.”

(snip)

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.

(snip)

“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.”



:cry: :cry: :cry:

[Dem2theMax]

1. I have the most wonderful ski hat

with 'Tomcat' written on it -- given to me by an F-14 pilot I met while running a chair lift years ago in Mammoth Lakes, CA. He was the worst skier, had me laughing my head off as he'd come down the slope. You could see him coming because of the hat. I picked on him so much that by the end of his 'ski' week, he gave me the hat!
I always hoped he was better with that plane than he was with skis. :)

[Archae]

2. The F-15 Eagle kicks it's ass.

USAF here...:-)

[BlueCollar]

3. oh reallllllllly?

and on what basis do you make that claim?

(Navy here)

[Archae]

4. Ok...

The F-15 climbs at a near vertical angel, is far more maneuverable, and shot down FAR more planes than then the F-14 2-seat slow-poke.

PPBBLLYTT!!

[TheMightyFavog]

5. Yeah...

But can the F-15 carry the Phoenix AAM?

I didn't think so.

[Archae]

7. The Phoenix is obsolete.

n/t

[lpbk2713]

6. Climbing at a vertical angle isn't such a big deal.

I saw F-8's do it in afterburner 35 years ago.