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."

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!

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/ [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...

Stupid Reporter

[MadMorf]

The link below goes to a story that claims the F-14 was a formidable opponent for MIGs in Vietnam:

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID =/20060919/NEWS/609190338&SearchID=73257582885024/ [theledger.com]

The Grumman F-14D Tomcat is a twin-engine, two-seat supersonic airplane that in the years since the early 1970s was the Navy's primary fighter. Its battles with Russian-built MiGs over Vietnam made both planes famous.

Clearly he confused the F-14 with the F-4...

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...

Stock up on them now

[BeeBeard]

in case you need parts later!

Re:I bet some hydraulic techs are happy about this

[Exsam]

and Murphy states the bad actuator is the last one you test.

Yes, because after you find the bad one you're going to stop testing.

Re:Tomcat

[Anonymous Coward]

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

Not strictly true - we also have the entire Australian Air Force... ;)

Grammar Nazi...

[Riktov]

I wasn't aware that the Hornet or the Intruder were capable of carrying(?) laws or regulations. The word you're looking for is ordnance.

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

I'm thinkin' your site name is appropriate

[Infonaut]

Surely only a Devil's Advocate could invoke Axe body spray, a Navy dress uniform, and The Song That Must Not Me Sung all in one sentence without being struck dead by lightning.

I will briefly lament it's passing by wearing Axe body spray, putting on a navy uniform, and going out to bars to sing "She's Lost that Lovin' Feeling" to women who won't sleep with me.

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".

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.

Re:Thank God

[balloonhead]

I just heard some sad news on talk radio - US naval plane the F14 tomcat was found dead in its Maine home this morning. There were not any more details. I'm sure everyone in the Slashdot community will miss it - even if you did not enjoy flying it, there is no denying its contributions to popular culture. Truly an American icon.

The last F-14 flight

[Hoi Polloi]

To celebrate the flying of the last US F-14 it will be flown by Tom Cruise from Norfolk VA out to a carrier in the Atlantic. However the plane will only carry enough fuel to get it out a hundred miles out over the sea and will not have a functioning ejection seat. The carrier will also move during his flight to an undisclosed location. Fare thee well Tom!

Re:Thank God

[sammy baby]

I recall reading in an air and space smithsonian magazine article over 10 years ago about how the Russians had developed an air-to-air missile that could fire backwards at a pursuing aircraft. Is there any chance that the newer Russian fighters have this capability? Then again, where the heck do they get the money to buy these things, I can't imagine that they have very many...

The USSR had aircraft which could fire rear-facing missles from as far back as the eary eighties. There was an exhaustive documentary [imdb.com] on the subject which I highly recommend.

Just remember that you need to "think in Russian."