Author Topic: Last F-14 takes off (Read 779 times)

rogwar · « **on:** September 08, 2006, 08:13:35 AM »

http://www.navytimes.com/static.php?f=lastF14flight080206.php

Kinda sad....wish they could have moved on with the bomb cat. Yeah the contraversy has been discussed enough.

SFRT - Frenchy · « **Reply #1 on:** September 08, 2006, 09:59:05 AM »

Dang, nice speech/pics.

Bogie603rd · « **Reply #2 on:** September 08, 2006, 10:06:21 AM »

I thought it was already gone, WHY DID THEY HAVE TO TAKE IT AWAY?!?

Maybe the maintenance times...

Nilsen · « **Reply #3 on:** September 08, 2006, 10:07:17 AM »

Nice pictures indeed.

Golfer · « **Reply #4 on:** September 08, 2006, 11:12:43 AM »

that was very well done.

Wolfala · « **Reply #5 on:** September 08, 2006, 11:32:27 AM »

Someone from Grumman pissed Cheney off back in the 90s. Cheney ordered all the F-14 tooling destroyed - effectively killing the F-14's future.

mietla · « **Reply #6 on:** September 08, 2006, 12:02:59 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Wolfala
Someone from Grumman pissed Cheney off back in the 90s. Cheney ordered all the F-14 tooling destroyed - effectively killing the F-14's future.

Why would they do that? Is this a standard procedure?

Wolfala · « **Reply #7 on:** September 08, 2006, 12:15:35 PM »

Grumman had submitted several proposals to the Navy to upgrade the Tomcat beyond the D model (such as the Super Tomcat 21, the cheaper QuickStrike version, and the more advanced Attack Super Tomcat 21) but the Super Hornet was chosen as the future Navy attack aircraft instead. Speculation was that Grumman felt they were the only serious option for the Navy to consider and quoted them an inflated estimate for building new F-14s (the airframes already in use were approaching the end of their lives). In an act of reprisal, then-Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney ordered Grumman to destroy the tooling and molds for the F-14. There is some debate whether the destruction was actually carried out in full, however Grumman was acquired by Northrop in 1994 (the F-14 was probably the only program keeping them in business), sealing the fate of the F-14.

Hawklore · « **Reply #8 on:** September 08, 2006, 12:22:32 PM »

The tomcat brought me into aviation!!

My first model airplane, my first love..

I have nothing to live with now that the F-14 and the A-10 are gone!!

Bodhi · « **Reply #9 on:** September 08, 2006, 12:23:35 PM »

Wolfala,

You neglect to mention the other issues that sealed the 14's fate. Such as maintenance time and cost, two crew members, size, and cost to upgrade.

I do agree though that Cheney provided a big enough push that basically sealed the fate on top of other issues. Personally, I think the Hornet is a poor replacement for the Tomcat.

Sandman · « **Reply #10 on:** September 08, 2006, 12:32:51 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Bodhi

I do agree though that Cheney provided a big enough push that basically sealed the fate on top of other issues. Personally, I think the Hornet is a poor replacement for the Tomcat.

Zippy the WonderJet can do it all... It replaced the A-7, the F-14, the A-6, the KA-6, the KS-3, and coming soon to an aircraft carrier near you, the EA-6B.

...all while carrying less ordnance, less fuel, and going slower. Woohah.

Wolfala · « **Reply #11 on:** September 08, 2006, 12:48:05 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Bodhi
Wolfala,

You neglect to mention the other issues that sealed the 14's fate. Such as maintenance time and cost, two crew members, size, and cost to upgrade.

I do agree though that Cheney provided a big enough push that basically sealed the fate on top of other issues. Personally, I think the Hornet is a poor replacement for the Tomcat.

I could mention hundreds of factors - wouldn't change the fact that the final dick slap in the face was the destruction of tooling and now the cutting up of all the airframes for no reason - not even to hold them in reserve at Davis Monthan.

All I can say is, god help us if anything blows up in the Straights of Taiwan.

Wolf

Bodhi · « **Reply #12 on:** September 08, 2006, 01:11:30 PM »

There are a fair number of 14's still in storage at Davis Mothan...

AquaShrimp · « **Reply #13 on:** September 08, 2006, 01:40:12 PM »

It was time for the F-14 to go. It was an obsolete design by the 90s in regards to air to air combat.

F-14s used to have mock engagements with German Mig-29s. The only time the F-14s would win is when the Mig-29s would over-g and have to end the engagement.

F-14s were used more as Foward Air Controllers than they were as attack aircraft. When minimum altitude restrictions were in place over hostile territory, the 14 could use its LANTERN or TARPS pod to help identify targets. Then F-18s would be called in to attack the targets.

The F-14s huge, energy burning airframe was also a setback. In one instance in the Serbian air war, an F-14 was trying to evade a surface to air missle. After two or three turns, the F-14 ran out of airspeed and energy. The pilot reported watching the missle coming straight at him, not able to maneuver out of its way. By divine intervention, the missle exploded about 100 yards away.

Something would break on the Tomcat on every launch.

Source: "Black Aces High"- Chronicles of the F-14 in the Serbian Air War.

Bodhi · « **Reply #14 on:** September 08, 2006, 01:44:45 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by AquaShrimp
It was time for the F-14 to go. It was an obsolete design by the 90s in regards to air to air combat.