Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Wolfala on February 23, 2006, 03:51:14 PM
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ABOARD USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT - A chapter in naval aviation history drew to a close Feb. 8 aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) with the last recovery of an F-14 Tomcat from a combat mission.
Piloted by Capt. William G. Sizemore II, commander, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, Fighter Squadron (VF) 213’s aircraft 204 was trapped at 12:35 a.m. and marked one of the final stages of the Navy’s transition from the F-14 to F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet.
“It’s the end of an era and it just kind of worked out that I was the last trap,” said Sizemore. “This is one of the best airplanes ever built, and it’s sad to see it go away. It’s just a beautiful airplane. It’s powerful, it has presence, and it just looks like the ultimate fighter.”
Lt. Bill Frank, a VF-31 pilot, also took part in the last mission, and is credited with being the last pilot to ever drop a bomb from an F-14 Tomcat.
“We were called on to drop, and that’s what we did,” said Frank. “It’s special and it’s something I can say I did, but what’s more important is the work of the Sailors who made it possible. They have worked so hard during this cruise to make every Tomcat operational.”
The decision to incorporate the Super Hornet and decommission the F-14 is mainly due to high amount of maintenance required to keep the Tomcats operational. On average, an F-14 requires nearly 50 maintenance hours for every flight hour, while the Super Hornet requires five to 10 maintenance hours for every flight hour.
“I don’t think there is anything better than a Tomcat, but it’s probably a good time for it to go away,” said Senior Chief Aviation Machinist’s Mate (AW) Gene Casterlin, VF-31. “The Navy is getting smaller and more efficient, and it will only get harder to maintain the Tomcat. But no matter what, the Tomcat is the sexiest airplane in the sky.”
The F-14 entered operational service with Navy fighter squadrons VF-1 Wolfpack and VF-2 Bounty Hunters aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) in September 1974. The Tomcat’s purpose was to serve as a fighter interceptor, and it eventually replaced the F-4 Phantom II Fighter, which was phased out in 1986.
During their final deployment with TR, VF-31 and 213 collectively completed 1,163 combat sorties totaling 6,876 flight hours, and dropped 9,500 pounds of ordnance during reconnaissance, surveillance, and close air support missions in support of OIF.
“As we near the end of the Tomcat’s last deployment, we are proud of our legacy and take solace in the fact that the Tomcat is going out at the top of its game, but also regret saying farewell to an old, revered and trusted friend," said Cmdr. Richard LaBranche, VF-31 commanding officer.
In keeping with its history of being adaptable to new challenges, the Tomcat soared to a new level during its last deployment when it became the first Navy aircraft to make use of the Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receivers (ROVER) system in December of last year. The system allows for ground forces to view video via laptop computers which gives them the ability to view their surroundings from the aircrafts’ point of view in real time, and ultimately provides better reconnaissance and target identification, which are essential to combat air support missions in Iraq.
Previously, ROVER had been used by the Air Force, and with a few modifications from personnel of Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., and members from Naval Air Depot Jacksonville, Fla., it became one of the last great modifications to the Tomcat.
"From its inception, the Tomcat has been the icon of Naval Aviation with its striking appearance, speed, formidable lethality and versatility,” said LaBranche. “It is more capable today than at any other time during its existence because of the innovation, dedication, and tenacity of every maintainer and pilot who has ever been associated with it.”
VF-213 pilots who are making the transition to the Super Hornet will begin F/A-18F (double seat) training in April, and the squadron will be operational, or “safe for flight,” in September. VF-31 pilots who are making the transition will begin F/A-18E (single seat) training in October, and the squadron will be safe for flight in April 2007. This will make VF-31 the last official Tomcat squadron in the Navy.
Maintainers in both squadrons will be begin training to perform their specific maintenance job as it pertains to the Super Hornet, shortly following this deployment. Their training will last anywhere from six weeks up to seven months, depending on the type of maintenance skills involved.
(http://www.screenshotart.com/uploads/1140383750/gallery_230_87_387848.jpg)
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Sad day.
The navy is not stuck with a plane that was second fiddle to the f-16.
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Speaking of, whats with all the F-18s dunking into the ocean lately? I thought they fixed whatever SuperHornet issue they had 2 years ago?
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<--Aviation Fire Control Technician, F-14A's, VF-2, USS Ranger Mid-80's.
Sexiest bird I've ever seen, hydraulic leaks and all.
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Originally posted by Lizard3
F-14A's
:D
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Originally posted by LePaul
Speaking of, whats with all the F-18s dunking into the ocean lately? I thought they fixed whatever SuperHornet issue they had 2 years ago?
Pos maybe.
From what I heard through some friends of mine that are in the navy, the F-14 could out fly, out manuver, and out gun the F-18 any day of the week.
I also heard that teh F-18 is made mostly out of some kind of plastic, that really makes me feel safe.
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the first production JSF rolled off the assy line today.
an end , a beginning.
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The F-35 is probably going to be the last if not one of the last "manned" combat fighter air craft.
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Disagree completely. You may automate the machine, but you'll never let it be at it's own controls or have the operator thousands of miles away.
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Could be, but I think the big question about Unmanned Fighters is the vulnerability of remote piloting, ie, you dont want anybody jamming the signals or bombing the airbase or ship where your fighters are controlled from. It may be considered too much of an achilles heel, but then again, it may not. Some military theories get quashed when they hit the real world. I guess we shall see.
I for one am not sure that the bother of setting up all the infrastructure just to get rid of the pilot will be worth it in the end.
Just on a related topic, I will never fly in an airliner with no crew aboard, I dont care what techno crap they spout about that. There is no substitute for a pilot who is aboard that plane, who is saying to himself in the middle of a problem "this does not feel right to me" despite what the computers might be displaying. Not me brother. Nope.
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http://www.patricksaviation.com/sim_videos.php?action=view&id=66
Decent movie made over on the LOMAC fourms.
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The F14 was a grand ol girl. Sorry to see her go.
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Originally posted by Gunslinger
The F-35 is probably going to be the last if not one of the last "manned" combat fighter air craft.
Cylons ! :eek:
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OIF = Operation Iraqi Freedom? Were they operating from the Red Sea when they dropped the last bomb in combat?
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:cry:mad:
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WAAAAHHHHH!!!!
Buck up folks, there been sadder days in the Navy's history than this...
First...The lovely F-8 :cry
(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/145_1140792460_budtaylor-031b.jpg)
Then the magnificent F-4 :(
(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/145_1140792430_vf11inflight.jpg)
Then the best strike aircraft ever made, BTW this is the last cat launch of the A-6 :cry
(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/145_1140792383_a6-last.jpg)
Also look what I found under a Skyraider, searching for these pics, betcha Uncle Ho got a kick out of toilets falling from the sky! LOL!
(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/145_1140792495_va25specbomb-005b.jpg)
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Originally posted by Nefarious
Also look what I found under a Skyraider, searching for these pics, betcha Uncle Ho got a kick out of toilets falling from the sky! LOL!
(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/145_1140792495_va25specbomb-005b.jpg)
That is hilarious!
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You can by a Hasewaga Skyraider kit, that comes with optional toilet arnament. :)
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Originally posted by Nefarious
You can by a Hasewaga Skyraider kit, that comes with optional toilet arnament. :)
Does it really?
I am so buying one!
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http://www.hlj.com/product/HSGBP104
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Originally posted by Nefarious
WAAAAHHHHH!!!!
Buck up folks, there been sadder days in the Navy's history than this...
First...The lovely F-8 :cry
Then the magnificent F-4 :(
F8 is ugly as hell... Phantom is right behind it. The only thing cool about both those planes is that they are so ugly and that some how they manage to fly.
As the dude in the article said... The tomcat is the sexiest plane to ever fly. Big, fast as fk, and mean as hell. Great planes have come and gone, but none as great as the F-14.
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F-14s are just machines,
What makes me really sad was the last flight of Goose:
(http://www.moviegoods.com/Assets/product_images/1020/177908.1020.A.jpg)
(http://members.chello.hu/extra.olga/Images/topgun.gif)
(http://crazy4cinema.com/Review/FilmsT/stills/topgun01.jpg)
Remember Goose!
eskimo
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LOL :rofl
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LOL Mav...
That guy lives next to my exgirlfriend in Newtown Connecticut... When he bought the house and moved in the had a 12 foot high fence put up painted dark greet, all the way around his property.
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Originally posted by Morpheus
LOL Mav...
That guy lives next to my exgirlfriend in Newtown Connecticut... When he bought the house and moved in the had a 12 foot high fence put up painted dark greet, all the way around his property.
BS; he's dead. I saw it happen and I'm not ashamed to admit that I cried. Goose is every bit as dead as Elvis.
eskimo
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And while the passing of Goose was sad, at least he was spared from this:
What Goose missed (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2643835654848098127)
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Goose lived a good life. He flew ballistic in F-14's. He hit Meg Ryan when she was hot. He went to singles bars with Tom Cruise wearing dress whites and gold wings. He died before he went bald and had to work with George Clooney.
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That middle pic of the classroom scene was shot in the middle of my hanger. I was way off to the left watching from the shop door. :)
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Originally posted by lasersailor184
Disagree completely. You may automate the machine, but you'll never let it be at it's own controls or have the operator thousands of miles away.
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/ucav.htm
http://www.darpa.mil/j-ucas/index.htm
http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/x-45-ucav/
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Originally posted by Sandman
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/ucav.htm
http://www.darpa.mil/j-ucas/index.htm
http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/x-45-ucav/
Stop trying to hijack this thread; this is about Goose.
eskimo
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how bout we name the next carrier USS Ala Akbar?
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the problem with automated planes is of course delays with remote piloting, and the stupidity of AI.
and if they were electrically controlled, people would come up with EMP weapons and disruptor signals, it just wouldnt work out at all
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Originally posted by Morpheus
F8 is ugly as hell... Phantom is right behind it. The only thing cool about both those planes is that they are so ugly and that some how they manage to fly.
As the dude in the article said... The tomcat is the sexiest plane to ever fly. Big, fast as fk, and mean as hell. Great planes have come and gone, but none as great as the F-14.
Your joking right?
The F-4 Phantom lasted longer than the F-14, serving in scores of different air forces and navies around the world. Take a look at the stats, F-4 PWNS the F-14 in Kills. Even the F-8 has more MiG kills than the F-14. As far as looks go the Sader and the Phantom still look better than the Turkey.
When your out of F-8's you're out of Fighters!
PS...
PHANTOMS PHOREVER!
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I always love when people compare the F4 to the F14 and try use kill stats to do it. Not to hijack this thread or anything right? But since you seem like you are dead set on it, try and force your mind to think back to when the tomcat came out, the theater of combat was not nearly as target rich as it was the F4 was in its prime. Also, times were very different back when the phantoms where fighting Mig 15/17/21.
Nice try though.
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Originally posted by Morpheus
I always love when people compare the F4 to the F14 and try use kill stats to do it. Not to hijack this thread or anything right? But since you seem like you are dead set on it, try and force your mind to think back to when the tomcat came out, the theater of combat was not nearly as target rich as it was the F4 was in its prime. Also, times were very different back when the phantoms where fighting Mig 15/17/21.
Nice try though.
Yea, and if the F-4 was so darn great why didnt the greatest Navel Aviators of all time, Maverick and Goose, fly it?
eskimo
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:lol
good point. very tru
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Originally posted by Pooface
the problem with automated planes is of course delays with remote piloting, and the stupidity of AI.
and if they were electrically controlled, people would come up with EMP weapons and disruptor signals, it just wouldnt work out at all
Not really, it's not a matter of real time control anymore and the AI isn't all that dumb.
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Originally posted by Donzo
And while the passing of Goose was sad, at least he was spared from this:
What Goose missed (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2643835654848098127)
Thats just wrong!
Oh that reminds me; You know why the navy uses powdered soap on thier ships?
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Originally posted by Scatcat
Thats just wrong!
Oh that reminds me; You know why the navy uses powdered soap on thier ships?
Takes longer to pick up. ;)
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hehe I rode the Theodore Roosevelt SSBN 600 Gold Crew
now we're shaving with it....
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I wonder what Goose would have thought about UAVs.
He would still be alive if they had existed back in the day, but then he wouldn't have been able to fly with Mav.
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Originally posted by Thrawn
I wonder what Goose would have thought about UAVs.
He would still be alive if they had existed back in the day, but then he wouldn't have been able to fly with Mav.
The radar intercept portion of all US Unmanned Aerial Vehicles artificial intelligence is programmed after Goose. That portion of the program is called WWGD (What Would Goose Do). It even includes a Polaroid camera.
eskimo
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I started learning the Top Gun theme song on my guitar a few days ago, it's the least I could for him.
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For those of you who think an air intercept UCAV isn't tangable Imagine fighting a foe that was stealthy....not afraid to die......not afraid period.....could stand 4 times the 'G' load and never black out.....and knew every combat air manuver in the books.......meanwhile his "pilot" is sipping coffee whatching it all happen on TV. ;)
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Originally posted by Gunslinger
For those of you who think an air intercept UCAV isn't tangable Imagine fighting a foe that was stealthy....not afraid to die......not afraid period.....could stand 4 times the 'G' load and never black out.....and knew every combat air manuver in the books.......meanwhile his "pilot" is sipping coffee whatching it all happen on TV. ;)
And had the knowledge and expertise of Goose.
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Originally posted by eskimo2
And had the knowledge and expertise of Goose.
You see... it wasn't a hijack after all.
Imagine... with UCAV, Goose could be in two places at once. :)
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Originally posted by eskimo2
And had the knowledge and expertise of Goose.
LOL
Sandman, I agree. It would be, and probably will be one day, a very dangerous machine. Its scary how far things have come.
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Imagine... sensor fusion and high speed satellite networking.
The pilots of the future will be wearing VR helmets and for all intents and purposes, they are there in the fight.
With no man in the cockpit, there will be no need for all the systems and subsystems that sustain him. The aircraft will be even smaller and more difficult to see.
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But then how does the pilot fulfill the need....the need for speed?
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By riding a crotch-rocket next to the runway. Silly.
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You have to ride it on the highway... highway to the danger zone.