I will certainly miss the cat. The super-bug hardly measures up to the last of the brutes.
Before I get flamed for the above, I am refering to the “beauty” of the tomcat - I suppose the bug has increased capabilities in most mission forums even though it pains me to admit it.
The twin tailed cat joins a list of other legendary aircraft that have passed into retirement. The SR-71, A-7, A-6, A-4, F-111, F-4, B-58, B-47 and all the Century Series, just to name a few of the jets and not even starting on the prop jobs. The Tom Cat is in marvelous company.
Am I that far out of the modern world? Is this THE last Tomcat squadron? Will there be no birds for special missions? None in the reserve squadrons? The latter probably would make no economic sense, I suppose, so the answer to that would be obvious. It was different when the F-8 went from the fleet to the Naval Reserve units. It was a relatively cheap aircraft to operate. And, compared to the F-14, so was the Phantom. But why did the Bombcat get such a short life? Was it an interim plan all along? Sure was an expensive one if so. Someone please enlighten me on the fate of the F-14. My heads been stuck in the Cold War history books for too long and I’m out of step with the world as it really is now.
TOM
While I agree it is a damn shame for these babes to go to make room for less capable aircraft (for the mission profile - long range air superiority), but now maybe the Iranians can get spare parts for their defunct fleet - Tongue in cheek, folks.
What good is the Phoenix or any other Beyond Visual Range Missle if the ROEs won’t let the pilots use it? We put so D _ _ _ many airplanes in the area in each strike package that firing a missile at something that has not been eyeball ID’d as a bogie is just begging for a friendly fire shoot down. AWACS certainly helps, but is not the end all , cure all for BVR problems. Yes the Tomcat is a fantastic airplane, but it is also 30 years old and getting pretty tired, even with SLEP and few other life changing programs. Can a 30 year old plane keep up with the latest thing aeronautical technology has given the bad guys to use? Much lower RCS and Super Cruise alone give a pilot a tremendous advantage. Let’s not put our pilots out there in harm’s way with anything less than the absolute best. Especially not just for the sake of sentiment.
H3 Nav,
You and I think alike… [:D]
Seriously, now I’m feeling old… [V] I remember when the 'Cat was brand new…
Hats off to those who both flew the lady and kept her in service!
It is sad, yes, and some may call it a mistake… but it’s an old airplane and an expen$ive airplane to keep in service, both in dollars and man hours.
I’m not happy to see the Tom go, but although I think that the Deltas have some years left, I’d have to say that it’s pretty much time… and that’s coming from as big an F-14 fan as there ever was… [V]
I am glad that I was fortunate to see the Tomcat flying one last time at the Las Vegas airshow in November… they said it would likely be their last demonstration flight ever. [BH][V]
I was able to grab a few good shots of the flight with my camera though and here are a few of my last shots of F-14s at an airshow. [bow]
It stinks saying goodbye to my favorite airplane, but alas, the time has come.[sigh]
