June 16, 2006

Tomcat on retirement tour

LIers turn out for last look at F-14 -- Newsday.com

Hundreds of former Grumman employees and aviation buffs paid their last respects yesterday to a soon-to-retire jet that, for decades, defined Long Island industry.

"Pound for pound, it is the best aircraft that the United States ever had," said John Lampasone, who worked at Grumman for 24 years. "And it's a shame that they're taking it out of service."

I was 8 when Top Gun came out, but even before that time I wanted to be an F-14 pilot. After top gun I REALLY wanted to be an F-14 pilot or a blackbird (SR17) pilot or maybe a scientist who flew an F-14 on the weekends...

I've come a long way since then; crushed when I learned a kid with glasses and asthma could never join the military much less be a pilot in either the Navy or Airforce and that people can't buy F-14s or blackbirds for private use. I moved on with my life goals but the F-14 has always held a place in my heart (as had the blackbird). For a plane that was started at the end of the 60s it is simply amazing: 24 target tracking, mach 2.5+ cruising, carrier landing and take off, swingwings, and packing the long range advanced (for the time) phoenix missle.

Of note the F14 is flown by one other airforce... the Iranian airforce. We sold them a some planes, took the money delivered some planes (not all) and no support. It is unclear if they have been able to keep the planes in the air by scavenging and making parts on their own.

Tomcat Alley has tracked all produced Tomcats.

Posted by pqbon at June 16, 2006 3:44 PM