040925-N-0295M-132 Naval Air Station Oceana, Va. (Sept. 25, 2004) - An F-14D Tomcat assigned to the "Grim Reapers" of Fighter Squadron One Zero One (VF-101), flies an aerial demonstration in front of the crowd at the 2004 "In Pursuit of Liberty," Naval Air Station Oceana Air Show. The air show, held Sept. 24-26, showcased civilian and military aircraft from the Nation's armed forces, which provided many flight demonstrations and static displays. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Daniel J. McLain (RELEASED)
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040925-N-0295M-014 Naval Air Station Oceana, Va. (Sept. 25, 2004) - An F-14D Tomcat assigned to the "Grim Reapers" of Fighter Squadron One Zero One (VF-101), flies down the runway at the start of the tactical air power demonstration at the 2004 "In Pursuit of Liberty," Naval Air Station Oceana Air Show. The demonstration showcased multiple F-14 Tomcats and F/A-18 Hornets displaying various maneuvers and simulated bomb and staffing passes in front of the crowd. The air show, held Sept. 24-26, showcased civilian and military aircraft from the Nation's armed forces, which provided many flight demonstrations and static displays. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Daniel J. McLain (RELEASED)
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www.news.navy.mil/management/photodb/photos/040925-N-0295M-014.jpg


040925-N-0295M-029 Naval Air Station Oceana, Va. (Sept. 25, 2004) - Six F-14 Tomcats conduct a flyby in close formation at the start of the tactical air power demonstration at the 2004 "In Pursuit of Liberty," Naval Air Station Oceana Air Show. The demonstration showcased multiple F-14 Tomcats and F/A-18 Hornets displaying various maneuvers and simulated bomb and staffing passes in front of the crowd. The F-14 Tomcats are assigned to the "Red Rippers" of Fighter Squadron Eleven (VF-11) and the "Black Lions" of Fighter Squadron Two One Three (VF-213). The air show, held Sept. 24-26, showcased civilian and military aircraft from the Nation's armed forces, which provided many flight demonstrations and static displays. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Daniel J. McLain (RELEASED)
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www.news.navy.mil/management/photodb/photos/040925-N-0295M-029.jpg


040925-N-0295M-030 Naval Air Station Oceana, Va. (Sept. 25, 2004) - An F-14D Tomcat assigned to the "Grim Reapers" of Fighter Squadron One Zero One (VF-101), conducts a high speed flyby during the tactical air power demonstration at the 2004 "In Pursuit of Liberty," Naval Air Station Oceana Air Show. The demonstration showcased multiple F-14 Tomcats and F/A-18 Hornets displaying various maneuvers and simulated bomb and staffing passes in front of the crowd. The air show, held Sept. 24-26, showcased civilian and military aircraft from the Nation's armed forces, which provided many flight demonstrations and static displays. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Daniel J. McLain (RELEASED)
Big Photo
www.news.navy.mil/management/photodb/photos/040925-N-0295M-030.jpg


040925-N-0295M-049 Naval Air Station Oceana, Va. (Sept. 25, 2004) - An F-14B Tomcat assigned to the "Red Rippers" of Fighter Squadron Eleven (VF-11), conducts a high-speed pass at the conclusion of the tactical air power demonstration at the 2004 "In Pursuit of Liberty," Naval Air Station Oceana Air Show. The demonstration showcased multiple F-14 Tomcats and F/A-18 Hornets displaying various maneuvers and simulated bomb and staffing passes in front of the crowd. The air show, held Sept. 24-26, showcased civilian and military aircraft from the Nation's armed forces, which provided many flight demonstrations and static displays. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Daniel J. McLain (RELEASED)
Big Photo
www.news.navy.mil/management/photodb/photos/040925-N-0295M-049.jpg

more!! MORE!!! MORE PICS!!!!

it may be dated but MAN! That is just a sexy plane.

Gotta love the Tomcat

Daaaaym, that's still the sexiest fighter in existance.
I was sad to read they're retiring them.  

R.I.P. Tomcat. You deserve to keep on going, but I guess it's not to be.

Quoted: Daaaaym, that's still the sexiest fighter in existance. I was sad to read they're retiring them.   R.I.P. Tomcat. You deserve to keep on going, but I guess it's not to be.

+1

Nice pics ... I think the first plastic model plane I built was an F-14 Tomcat.

Super bugs. F-18E.

VF-11 gets theirs starting in May next year. They are part of my airwing, and were on my cruise this year.

Quoted: Quoted: Daaaaym, that's still the sexiest fighter in existance. I was sad to read they're retiring them.   R.I.P. Tomcat. You deserve to keep on going, but I guess it's not to be. +1

+2

These are good pictures I haven't seen, Thanks, KA3B.

You know, by now I owe you a beer for all the great photos you post here.  One of these days I'll have to pay up and we'll swap war stories...

-Gator

Nice Pics!  Don't worry too much guys, the Tomcat and Bombcats will still be around a while.  Just look at the B-52 and you see what happens when there are no other planes available to perform the same mission.  Long Range CAP is a little dificult in an F/A-18.  Something has to protect the fleet.

Trust me, the F-14 is going away. Carriers no longer deploy with Phoenix missles, and new ordnancemen aren't being instructed on them in school.

I'd say within 2-3 years, every one will be at the boneyard.

This carrier-riding sailor isn't happy about it much, either.

How do the Airwings feel about loosing the D? I'm guessing they will regret not having the thing around.

Kinda sad, kinda glad.

The maintainers are happy, of course. The long days and nights keeping them flying are over. As the person who would be ordering their parts, I would be glad to see them go, too.

The Naval Aviators involved are sad to see it go.

The Turkey is the prettiest plane I've ever seen.  It has classically beautiful lines, much like the old Spitfire.  The F-16 is also a beautiful plane...and so is the MiG-29 series...followed closely by several others...like the F-15, but the Tomcat is just beautiful.  Just sitting on deck it looks like a raptor.

Great pictures.

Gawd I love that plane!

Thanks for the pics KA3B.

Reminds me of Pt Mugu.

Damn, I'm amazed that someone knows how to spell "Mugu".

Quoted: Reminds me of Pt Mugu.

NAS Point Mugu F-14A static display Missile Park

I hope to God to see one fly in my lifetime.  (airshow or not)

Night crew bump

It's almost as if the designers of this plane made it so function would follow form, instead of vice versa as it usually is. No doubt about it, the Tomcat is the most beautiful plane ever built and flown. I almost get wood when I see one.


Damn shame it was a victim of bureaucrats and outright fools or else it could have flown for another decade having all the parts it needed and critical/maintenance intensive aspects of it could have been redesigned to lower (within reason) operating costs.

The Hornet doesn't hold a candle to this plane in many respects. Once again you get what you pay for, and the cheapest one size fits all solution will prove to be a mistake as it has many times.

Thanks KA3B for the pics.

Great pics............Thanks

I love this plane, but I get sick and tired of defending the hornet and superhornet against it. The hornet has a better overall radar, avionics, weapons systems, manuverability, air-to-ground capability, and much lower operating costs. The tomcat is faster, has a longer range, and carries a never used in combat missle system that might never have been used. What is the big problem here? Everything has its day in the spotlight, its time for the tomcat to join the other old fighters of the day. But man, I get chills when I see a 'cat doing a high speed sweeping turn. yummy

Quoted: I love this plane, but I get sick and tired of defending the hornet and superhornet against it. The hornet has a better overall radar, avionics, weapons systems, manuverability, air-to-ground capability, and much lower operating costs. The tomcat is faster, has a longer range, and carries a never used in combat missle system that might never have been used. What is the big problem here? Everything has its day in the spotlight, its time for the tomcat to join the other old fighters of the day. But man, I get chills when I see a 'cat doing a high speed sweeping turn. yummy

It's best to just agree with the Tomcat fans or not tout the Hornet. Either way, thou shall not speak ill of the Tomcat.

They had these a couple of years back on static at Willow run airport in Ypsi, MI I talked to the pilot, and RIO for sometime...they let me sneak back there and take a personal tour of the plane...dated true, replaceable...never in my mind! Although they haven't seen too much "reported" action I am sad to see them go!