The F-14 Tomcan is now history.

[Boomerang]

Well as posted here earlier this year the F-14 Tomcat returned from its final operational cruise earlier this year. But today at NAS Oceana here in Virginia the F-14 made its final flight and was officially retired from service. http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_a/na ... 0000000001

Today the Navy retired my favorite fighter aircraft of all time and it will be missed. Many former pilots and Rios were at the ceremony today i wish i could have attended but was in class at the time. Yesterday Oceana also dedicated to all the people who have died working with the Tomcat in its history. Good bye to a great bird.


Tomcat Squadrons and their callsigns

VF-1 WOLFPACK
CALLSIGN:WITCHITA

VF-2 BOUNTY HUNTERS
CALLSIGN: BULLETS

VF-11 RED RIPPERS
CALLSIGN: RIPPER

VF-14 TOPHATTERS
CALLSIGN: CAMELOT

VF-21 FRELANCERS
CALLSIGN: LANCE

VF-24 RENEGADES
CALLSIGN: RAGE

VF-31 TOMCATTERS
CALLSIGN: TOMCAT

VF-32 SWORDSMAN
CALSSIGN GYPSY

VF-33 STARFIGHTERS
CALLSIGN TARBOX

VF-41 BLACK ACES
CALLSIGN FAST EAGLE

VF-51 SCREAMING EAGLES
CALLSIGN EAGLES

VF-74 BE-DEVILERS
CALLSIGN DEVIL

VF-84 JOLLY ROGERS
CALLSIGN VICTORY

VF-101 GRIM REAPERS
CALLSIGN GUNFIGHTER

VF-102 DIAMONDBACKS
CALLSIGN DIAMOND

VF-103 SLUGGERS (JOLLY ROGERS)
CALLSIGN VICTORY

VF-111 SUNDOWNERS
CALLSIGN SUNDOWNER

VF-114 AARDVARKS
CALLSIGN AARDVARK

VF-124 GUNFIGHTERS
CALLSIGN GUNSLINGER

VF-142 GHOSTRIDERS
CALLSIGN DAKOTA

VF-143 PUKIN' DOGS
CALLSIGN DOG

VF-154 BLACK KNIGHTS
CALLSIGN BLACK KNIGHT

VF-191 SATAN'S KITTENS
CALLSIGN HELLCAT

VF-194 RED LIGHTNINGS
CALLSIGN RED FLASH

VF-201 HUNTERS
CALLSIGN HUNTER

VF-202 SUPERHEATS
CALLSIGN SUPERHEAT

VF-211 CHECKMATES
CALLSIGN NICKEL

VF-213 BLACKLIONS
CALLSIGN BLACKLION

VF-301 DEVIL'S DISCIPLES
CALLSIGN DEVIL

VF-302 STALLIONS
CALLSIGN STALLION

OTHER UNITS WHO USED THE F-14 IN ITS HISTORY

VF-1285 THE FIGHTING FUBIJARS

VF-1485 aMERICANS

VF-1486 FIGHTING HOBOS

VX-4 EVALUATORS

VX-9 VAMPIRES

NASA

NAVAL AIR TEST CENTER

NFWS & NSAWC NAVY FIGHTER WEAPONS SCHOOL (TOP GUM)

VX-30

VX-31

NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER
CALLSIGN SALTY DOG

[jagsvolleyball14]

It was also in the USA Today....

2 stories

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/200 ... mcat_x.htm



http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/20 ... the_3.html

[Spanky]

Sniff Sniff...the Phantom was better....

[Sandrat]

Which aircraft (of the two) had the longer service record for the U.S. Fleet?

I really don't know....

[Spanky]

It is about them same. The Rhino was in fleet service until the early 90s....but came into service in 1961 and retired in 1996 (35 years and counting....the F-4 is still in service with the USAF). The Tomcat came into service in 1972 and retired in 2006 (34 years)....DOES THIS MEAN I CAN RETIRE NOW!!!

About 35 years is all we are getting out of our fighter aircraft.

[Sandrat]

Not to brag, but the A-4 had a longer service life...

Entered service in 1956, retired from USN service in May of 2003.

Now that's a service life!

Of course, the BUFF is going to be the one to beat. And nobody will every beat it - they just don't make 'em like they used to.

[Spanky]

Please ignore my friend Sandrat...he is obviously an idoit.

I did say the average lifespan of a FIGHTER is 35 years....remember Rat and A-4 is and ATTACK aircraft. Now keeping in mind that the Rhino and the Tomcat evolved into doing both roles. I will grant you that an A-4 does have an air to air kill.....but I will leave it with this one MAJOR point.

The Rhino was the only aircraft to fly with all 3 fixed wing services as well as both Demo squadrons. Hell, if an Army pilot know how to fly fixed wing and drop bobmbs at the same time, I bet the good ole US Army would have bought Rhinos too.

[Sandrat]

"FIGHTER PUKES MAKE MOVIES.....BOMBER PILOTS MAKE HISTORY!"

[Boomerang]

I can't deny that the F-4 Phantom 2 was an amaxing aircraft it did it all and it did it all very well but the Tomcat will always be my favorite.