Last hurrah for the F-14.

This special explores the legacy of one of the greatest fighter jets ever built. Witness first hand the last F-14  catapult launches and arrested trap landings aboard the  USS Theodore Roosevelt . Hear what the aviators and sailors who have flown and maintained this iconic aircraft over the years have to say about it's long lived active duty career. Deitz will ride shotgun one last time before the  F-14 is retired. Then, we'll reflect with veteran pilots, Navy brass, and airplane enthusiasts as the world bids farewell at the F-14 Memorial and Final Flight Ceremony at the Naval Air Station in Oceana, VA.

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Retiring that is a crime against humanity

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I love the History Channel!  

Quoted: Retiring that is a crime against humanity

A little melodramatic don't you think?

Quoted: Quoted: Retiring that is a crime against humanity A little melodramatic don't you think?

No.  No I don't.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Retiring that is a crime against humanity A little melodramatic don't you think? No.  No I don't.

Change your picture, bandwidth thief

What a waste of hardware

Good riddance.

ETA: How many Phoenix missiles have been fired in anger? There can't have been very many.

Quoted: Good riddance.

For MANY years the Tomcat kept you safe while you were shitting in your diapers

Quoted: Quoted: Good riddance. For MANY years the Tomcat kept you safe while you were shitting in your diapers

+1

and picking his nose.....

Quoted: ETA: How many Phoenix missiles have been fired in anger? There can't have been very many.

I think the answer is zero.

Quoted: Quoted: ETA: How many Phoenix missiles have been fired in anger? There can't have been very many. I think the answer is zero.

It is estimated that during the Iran-Iraq war 1980-1988, from reports from pilots on both sides, guncamera/TISEO films, examination of wreckage, local and foreign intelligence and other sources, that on total the IRIAF F-14As scored 130 confirmed and 23 probable aerial victories. Iran launched possibly 70 to 90 AIM-54A missiles, and 60-70 of those scored. In one instance four Iraqi fighters were shot down by a single Phoenix. Twice two Iraqi fighters were destroyed with a single missile.

All in all, almost 90 % of the AIM-54A missiles fired by Iranian F-14s in combat were used against Iraqi fighters and fighter-bombers. Only about a dozen victories by AIM-54s were against fast, highflying targets like MiG-25 or Tu-22. This performance was surprising, especially as the missile was designed for fleet defence, against large targets, not nimble fighters.

Iranian F-14 pilot, Major Ali, made following conclusion from the Iranian use of F-14s and Phoenix missiles:

"When I look back at our service record with the jet I look beyond its exceptional performance as purely an interceptor. We used it to escort fighters and tankers and flew many radar-reconnaissance missions as mini-AWACS for the protection of others in the air and on the ground. No air defence system has even proven so effective." - - Iranian F-14 pilots also regularly engaged superior enemy forces in traditional dogfights, using their cannon and Sidewinder missiles to good effect.

Other than the possible Iranian firings, the only confirmed combat use of the Phoenix was on January 5, 1999 by two F-14Ds engaging two Iraqi MiG-25s, and on September 9 the same year against an Iraqi MiG-23. The missiles missed on both occasions.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: ETA: How many Phoenix missiles have been fired in anger? There can't have been very many. I think the answer is zero. It is estimated that during the Iran-Iraq war 1980-1988, from reports from pilots on both sides, guncamera/TISEO films, examination of wreckage, local and foreign intelligence and other sources, that on total the IRIAF F-14As scored 130 confirmed and 23 probable aerial victories. Iran launched possibly 70 to 90 AIM-54A missiles, and 60-70 of those scored. In one instance four Iraqi fighters were shot down by a single Phoenix. Twice two Iraqi fighters were destroyed with a single missile. All in all, almost 90 % of the AIM-54A missiles fired by Iranian F-14s in combat were used against Iraqi fighters and fighter-bombers. Only about a dozen victories by AIM-54s were against fast, highflying targets like MiG-25 or Tu-22. This performance was surprising, especially as the missile was designed for fleet defence, against large targets, not nimble fighters. Iranian F-14 pilot, Major Ali, made following conclusion from the Iranian use of F-14s and Phoenix missiles: "When I look back at our service record with the jet I look beyond its exceptional performance as purely an interceptor. We used it to escort fighters and tankers and flew many radar-reconnaissance missions as mini-AWACS for the protection of others in the air and on the ground. No air defence system has even proven so effective." - - Iranian F-14 pilots also regularly engaged superior enemy forces in traditional dogfights, using their cannon and Sidewinder missiles to good effect. Other than the possible Iranian firings, the only confirmed combat use of the Phoenix was on January 5, 1999 by two F-14Ds engaging two Iraqi MiG-25s, and on September 9 the same year against an Iraqi MiG-23. The missiles missed on both occasions.

I didn't know we gave/sold Iran Phoenixes

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Retiring that is a crime against humanity A little melodramatic don't you think? No.  No I don't.

So you are equating retiring a 34 year old aircraft design with slaughtering 6 million people in Nazi Germany. Or gassing the Kurds?

Those are crimes against humanity. This is replacing an aged airframe with one that is newer and, in many ways, more capable.

Quoted: I didn't know we gave/sold Iran Phoenixes

And Iran gave the Soviets some of those Phoenixes.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Retiring that is a crime against humanity A little melodramatic don't you think? No.  No I don't. So you are equating retiring a 34 year old aircraft design with slaughtering 6 million people in Nazi Germany. Or gassing the Kurds? Those are crimes against humanity. This is replacing an aged airframe with one that is newer and, in many ways, more capable.

it was a beautiful bird.

AIM54 A/C

Primary Function ---------- Long-range air-launched air intercept missile
Contractor ----------------- Hughes Aircraft Co. and Raytheon Co.
Unit Cost ------------------ $477,131
Power Plant --------------- Solid propellant rocket motor built by Hercules
Length -------------------- 13 feet (3.9 meters)
Weight -------------------- 1000 pounds - AIM-54A
                              1040 pounds - AIM-54C [various, 1020-1040 pounds]
                              1023 pounds - AIM-54C ECCM/Sealed Missile
Diameter ----------------- 15 inches (38.1 cm)
Wing Span --------------- 3 feet (.9 meters)
Range -------------------- In excess of 100 nautical miles (115 statute miles, 184 km)
Speed -------------------- In excess of 3,000 mph (4,800 kmph)
Guidance System -------- Semi-active and active radar homing
Warhead ----------------- Proximity fuse, high explosive
Warhead Weight -------- 135 pounds (60.75 kg)

Quoted: I didn't know we gave/sold Iran Phoenixes

Quoted: Length                   13 feet (3.9 meters) Weight                   1000 pounds - AIM-54A                               1040 pounds - AIM-54C [various, 1020-1040 pounds]                               1023 pounds - AIM-54C ECCM/Sealed Missile Diameter           15 inches (38.1 cm) Wing Span          3 feet (.9 meters)

Those things were fucking HUGE.

Quoted: Quoted: Good riddance. For MANY years the Tomcat kept you safe while you were shitting in your diapers

Whatever, they're a impractically labor-intensive relic that needed to be retired, but if you want to throw some more juvenile comments my way go ahead, it's amusing.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Good riddance. For MANY years the Tomcat kept you safe while you were shitting in your diapers Whatever, they're a impractically labor-intensive relic that needed to be retired, but if you want to throw some more juvenile comments my way go ahead, it's amusing.

I'm so sorry to have offended thee, what prey tell great offerings have YOU made to the world?  What did you do for over 30 years to keep the Soviets away?  

I understand the need for it to go.  If there weren't funds to upgrade it again like it should have, it did need to go but for God's sake show some respect to the men who flew these able steeds.  To them its like shooting their family pet.

Quoted: Quoted: Length                   13 feet (3.9 meters) Weight                   1000 pounds - AIM-54A                               1040 pounds - AIM-54C [various, 1020-1040 pounds]                               1023 pounds - AIM-54C ECCM/Sealed Missile Diameter           15 inches (38.1 cm) Wing Span          3 feet (.9 meters) Those things were fucking HUGE.

Warheads Proximity fuse, high explosive
Warhead Weight 135 pounds (60.75 kg)

So is the explosion

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Length                   13 feet (3.9 meters) Weight                   1000 pounds - AIM-54A                               1040 pounds - AIM-54C [various, 1020-1040 pounds]                               1023 pounds - AIM-54C ECCM/Sealed Missile Diameter           15 inches (38.1 cm) Wing Span          3 feet (.9 meters) Those things were fucking HUGE. Warheads Proximity fuse, high explosive Warhead Weight 135 pounds (60.75 kg) So is the explosion

It's a shame that no Tu-95s got to see what they could do

watched it last night GREAT show

The F14 was the Chuck Norris of fighter aircraft, I'm sorry to see her go  I hope they don't scrap all of them; they sure did cost a lot of money back in the day.  

Coincidentally, I'm actually listening to the Top Gun theme song right now.  Does anyone think we could get a Group Buy™ on F14's going on ?  Might be nice for SHTF so we can have fighter support against the zombies...