The f14 tomcat

[Pagani]

The end of a era sad to see it retire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6Ci2aMUnfk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKojLYYlgeg

[Samckitt]

I thought they retired them 3 or 4 years ago. Because I was ticked because they were flying one in to an airfield near Peru Indiana to go on display & I missed it. I was thinking it was the F-14.

[Code Red]

yup sept 2006 was the last time they flew

[WS6]

Those were really cool planes. It's hard to believe it was designed in the 60s.

[SPECWARSQUID]

Awesome aircraft.

My uncle was a F-8 driver during Vietnam and eventually transitioned to the Tomcat. He was the CO of VF-111 (Sundowners) on their first cruise with the F-14 in 79-80 aboard the recently retired USS Kittyhawk.

It's still commonly thought that the D models were retired a fews years too early in favor the Washington back dealing to bring the Super Hornets up on deck. And that the Super Hornets are not superior to all the Tomcat's capabilities. But what is, is. What's killing me is that because of the possible Iranian interest in spare parts and the knee-jerk reaction from the government they are chopping up all the A models. Not leaving the any for future museum and monument donations. There is a horrible vid on youtube of it.

Regardless one of my all time favor aircrafts.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[LateNight72]

Pilot or Aviator (depends), not driver.

[69stang]

I thought they retired them 3 or 4 years ago. Because I was ticked because they were flying one in to an airfield near Peru Indiana to go on display & I missed it. I was thinking it was the F-14.

I thought I read or heard something about that also at the Grissom air park museum (think that's what its called). I used to be stationed there, lived in Peru in the late 80s.

[Spiffav8]

The last of the Cats has been gone for a few years now. Super neat aircraft! Lived way beyond what it was designed for and never reached its full potential. It was always my favorite to watch at the airshow...especially late evening flights.

Those videos would have been O.K. if it wasn't for the Top Gun music, which is way over done if you ask me. Here's one of the best mixed I've seen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqyI04WDZlQ

[Samckitt]

I thought I read or heard something about that also at the Grissom air park museum (think that's what its called). I used to be stationed there, lived in Peru in the late 80s.

Yep that is where, I couldn't remember the name of it. I live in Noblesville & was working in Kokomo at the time.

[SPECWARSQUID]

Pilot or Aviator (depends), not driver.

Never a "Pilot" in the NAVY. "Naval Aviator" or "(type) driver" are commonly used.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[LateNight72]

Never a "Pilot" in the NAVY. "Naval Aviator" or "(type) driver" are commonly used.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

Understand that its Aviator for the Navy. That's why I used the "depends".


Never heard driver though, ever. And neither did Google?

[Damn True]

Never a "Pilot" in the NAVY. "Naval Aviator" or "(type) driver" are commonly used.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

Coast Guard Aviator. Present.

[LateNight72]

Coast Guard Aviator. Present.

UH-60? HH-65? Or... ?

[Spiffav8]

Understand that its Aviator for the Navy. That's why I used the "depends".


Never heard driver though, ever. And neither did Google?

"Driver" is pretty common lingo for pilots. I'm referred to as a 75 driver all the time.

[Damn True]

UH-60? HH-65? Or... ?

Zee dauphin.

[Spiffav8]

Zee dauphin.

Nice!

[mikedc]

F-14s were pretty much the muscle cars of 20th century fighter planes.


When I was touring the Tucson storage facility last year, those things still seemed to stand out a little larger than life even among so many other equally prestigious aircraft at the site.

[LateNight72]

"Driver" is pretty common lingo for pilots. I'm referred to as a 75 driver all the time.

Thanks for the clarification. Sorry to Spec, for trying to correct something I didn't fully know about.


(I'm just a Pilot-wannabe right now, got to finish my BSME first, get some fly time, then apply...)

[LateNight72]

Zee dauphin.

~image removed~

Nice piece of machinery. Where were you stationed? I seem to remember something about Alabama in one of your posts a while back?

[Damn True]

No there is another guy here on the board that is a CG reservist at CG ATC Mobile.

I was stationed at CGAS Brooklyn, NY and CGAS Barbers Point, Hawaii.