Author Topic: Gonna throw up a lil bit (F14s being shredded) (Read 1079 times)

Wilfrid · « **on:** July 02, 2007, 07:23:37 AM »

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The Pentagon is paying a contractor at least $900,000 to destroy old F-14s, a jet affectionately nicknamed "the turkey," rather than sell the spares at the risk of their falling into the wrong hands, including Iran's.

Mace2004 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 02, 2007, 07:42:47 AM »

Keeping F-14 parts away from Iran has been a problem for years. Back in the 80's they found a civilian DoD employee in the Philippines that was rerouting parts to Iran.

But this still sucks.

Maverick · « **Reply #2 on:** July 02, 2007, 10:21:37 AM »

Yes it is a crying shame to see these big birds being shredded. Better they be used as a drone like some of the old F4's that DM refurbs. At least that way they go flying.

I saw several rows of those planes at DM and was sad to see them parked instead of flying. I think they are still more capable in some areas than the F18's but I understand they are also a maintenance problem. I hope they save at least a few for flying mueum pieces.

scottydawg · « **Reply #3 on:** July 02, 2007, 02:19:48 PM »

I would rather see them shredded than in the wrong hands. Still I hope they keep a few flying. I'm not a fan of jet aviation but these iconic planes have their place in the pantheon of great planes.

Chairboy · « **Reply #4 on:** July 02, 2007, 02:27:05 PM »

I doubt they could really do any legit damage in "the wrong hands", Mig 21s, 25s, 29s and so on are available on the private market, and those are all supersonic platforms.

I take it as more along the line of Raytheon's decision to shred the Beech Starships. It's a CYA move so they can respond "Well, we did our best" to avoid a phantom potential lawsuit.

Would you like it if the P-51s, B-25s, etc were ALL shredded at the end of WWII so they "wouldn't fall into the wrong hands"? If there was justice, then I'd be able to take my kid to an airshow 15 years from now and enjoy seeing a couple of F-14 Tomcats flying by as part of the Confederate Air Force.

Viking · « **Reply #5 on:** July 02, 2007, 02:44:02 PM »

I don't think so Chairboy. An F-14 would be prohibitly expensive to operate for a private company/organization.

Dowding · « **Reply #6 on:** July 02, 2007, 02:59:45 PM »

Hey Wilf. It's been a long time... still in the land of the sausage and the schnitzel?

If you come back to AH, I'm back online... and my brother is talking about returning. As is Dawvgrid. Would be cool to get 272 back on the road (bad analogy I know).

Chairboy · « **Reply #7 on:** July 02, 2007, 03:00:10 PM »

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Originally posted by Viking
I don't think so Chairboy. An F-14 would be prohibitly expensive to operate for a private company/organization.

Like a B-17, L-25, Mig-29, or any of the other ex-military planes in private ownership?

Viking · « **Reply #8 on:** July 02, 2007, 03:13:00 PM »

The F-14 is far more expensive to operate than a MiG-29 or a 60-year old piston engined warbird. The F-14 is the mechanically most complex aircraft in the world (more moving parts than any other aircraft) and requires three times (or more) the maintenance hours per flight hour than an F-18C. And I would think an F-18C requires more maintenance hours than a MiG-29. The operating cost was the issue that killed the F-14.

Chairboy · « **Reply #9 on:** July 02, 2007, 03:19:20 PM »

I'd like to give the market a chance to prove or disprove that theory on its own instead of pre-emptively shredding the planes.

GtoRA2 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 02, 2007, 03:31:05 PM »

I think the you underestimate the people who deal with these planes Viking.

The colings foundation along with operating the only flying B-24 ( I think) also operates an F-4 Phantom and A-4 Skyhawk. The 14 can't be that much more costly to operate then a F-4.

Viking · « **Reply #11 on:** July 02, 2007, 03:36:46 PM »

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Originally posted by Chairboy
I'd like to give the market a chance to prove or disprove that theory on its own instead of pre-emptively shredding the planes.

Oh I agree completely. I was just considering the economic feasibility of it.

Viking · « **Reply #12 on:** July 02, 2007, 03:39:34 PM »

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Originally posted by GtoRA2
The 14 can't be that much more costly to operate then a F-4.

The F-4 is a simple plane by comparison. I wager the F-14 is at least five times as expensive to operate, probably more.

Mace2004 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 02, 2007, 03:57:25 PM »

The F-14 would use about $6,000 in fuel alone during one flight. It's also much more complicated than the F-4 given the swing wings. Given all the computers, miles of wiring, hydraulic systems, etc., etc., the F-14 would be enormously expensive and, without the parts and professional maintenance, probably dangerous to be just an airshow airplane.

Chairboy · « **Reply #14 on:** July 02, 2007, 04:24:06 PM »

If only there was a community of rich pilots who could afford to hire retired Navy technical personnel and could afford to pay the gas bill for a plane like this....

Oh wait, there is.

If you sell it, they will come.