heres the actual link 96 pics so far and plenty more to come before the f-14 flys its last flight.

F-14 FINAL DEPLOYMENT PHOTO GALLERY

it is a shame to see it go but. its had its time. now is the time for that other plane to take over and hope it can fill the role the tomcat once stood proudly doing.

BTT

I hate to see the F-14 go as well. Great machines always have sentimental value. But what makes me most sad is not the F-14's retirement, but the fact that we couldn't have got a better replacement than the F-18E/F. The Super Bug is a good aircraft. But is it the best aircraft we could have? That I would debate.

Quoted: I hate to see the F-14 go as well. Great machines always have sentimental value. But what makes me most sad is not the F-14's retirement, but the fact that we couldn't have got a better replacement than the F-18E/F. The Super Bug is a good aircraft. But is it the best aircraft we could have? That I would debate.

ty for thinking what i was thinking.the navy really still needs another bomber type aircraft like the a-6
intruder nothing like 30 500 pounders on an aircraft. imagine if they make another one like it today with the 250 pound small diameter bomb now comming online.that would be upwards of 60 gps or laser guided bombs on 1 aircraft.


the f-18 is a good aircraft yes but it has 1 major problem the carrier has to either be closer to shore for the f-18 to use its limited range better or have a tanker waiting on it neither our good options.

Last true fighter jet? What is meant by that?

The F-14 in its twilight years was used as a bomb truck.

In an ideal world, it would have been nice to had squadrons of navelized F-22's and F-15E's aboard the carriers to replace the F-14 and A-6 respectively. But cost issues, weight, etc would have been a problem no doubt.

Perhaps we can bridge the gap between the types soon when the F-35 comes online. It isn't an F-22, but it also isn't the F-18.  It has stealth, decent weapons load and pretty good range. It will help.

A-6 Intruder Specifications


Length: 54 feet 8 inches
Wing Span: 53 feet
Height: 15 feet 6 inches
Weight: Take-off max gross: 60,400 pounds;
take-off max gross (carrier): 58,600 pounds;
empty weight: 28,000 pounds
Speed: 563 knots
Ceiling: 40,600 feet
Propulsion: Two Pratt & Whitney J52-P8B engines (9,300 pounds thrust each)
Crew: Two
Armament: 10 2.75" Rocket Pod
10 5" Zuni Rocket Pod
28 Mk-20 Rockeye
Mk-77 Napalm
28 Mk-81 (250 lbs)
28 Mk-82 Snakeye
13 Mk-83 (1,000 lbs)
 5 Mk-84 (2,000 lbs)
20 Mk-117 (750 lbs)
28 CBU-78
GBU-10E Laser Guided Bomb
GBU-12D Laser Guided Bomb
GBU-16B Laser Guided Bomb
AGM-123A Skipper II
AGM-45 Shrike
AGM-62 Walleyes
AIM-9 Sidewinders

System Weapon Improvement Program, SWIP
AGM-88 HARMs
AGM-84E SLAMs
AGM-65 Maverick Anti-Ship Missile
AIM-120A AMRAAM
Contractor: Grumman Aerospace Corporation
Unit cost $FY98
[Total Program] $43 million.
Current Inventory None. Withdrawn from service in early 1997


F-14 Tomcat  Specifications

Function Carrier-based multi-role strike fighter
Contractor Grumman Aerospace Corporation
Unit Cost $38 million
Propulsion F-14: two Pratt & Whitney TF-30P-414A
turbofan engines with afterburners;

F-14B and F-14D: two General Electric F-110-GE-400
augmented turbofan engines with afterburners
Thrust F-14A: 20,900 pounds (9,405 kg) static thrust per engine;
F-14B and F-14D: 27,000 pounds (12,150 kg) per engine
Length 61 feet 9 inches (18.6 meters)
Height 16 feet (4.8 meters)
Basic Weight approx 43,600 pounds
Maximum Takeoff Weight 72,900 pounds (32,805 kg)
Wingspan 64 feet (19 meters) unswept,
38 feet (11.4 meters) swept
Reference wing area 565 sq ft.
Wing aspect ratio 7.28
Ceiling Above 53,000 feet
Max G 6.5
Speed 1,584 mph (2,548km/h) Max. speed at 40,000 ft (12,200 m)
Max Mach Number = 1.88
Cruise Mach Number = .72
Carrier Approach Speed = 125 kts
Fuel 16, 200 lbs. Internal fuel
3, 800 lbs. External fuel
Maximum range 1,600 nm (2,573km)
Mission Radius 500 nm (930 km) Hi-Med-Hi strike profile
380 nm (700 km) Hi-Lo-Lo-Hi strike profile
Airfield 2,500 ft. Field takeoff distance
2,400 ft. Field landing distance
Crew Two: pilot and radar intercept officer
Armament Up to 13,000 pounds of

Air-to-Air Missiles (up to)
6 AIM-7 Sparrows
4 AIM-9 Sidewinder
6 AIM-54 Phoenix

air-to-ground ordnance
MK-82 (500 lbs.)
4 MK-83 (1,000 lbs.)
4 MK-84 (2,000 lbs.)
MK-20 cluster bomb
4 GBU-10 LGB
GBU-12 MK-82 LGB
4 GBU-16 MK-83 LGB
4 GBU-24 MK-84 LGB
4 GBU-31 JDAM (2,000 lbs)

one MK-61A1 Vulcan 20mm cannon

Selected F-14A and B are wired to carry TARPS
All F-14D's are wired to carry the TARPS
# Countermeasures AN/ALR-45 radar warning receiver [Itek]
# AN/ALR-67 radar warning receiver [F-14D]
# AN/ALQ-167 ECM Pod [F-14D]
# AN/ALE-50 towed decoy [F-14D]
Date Deployed First flight: December 21st 1970
Inventory 157 F-14A/B
53 F-14D
Phasing out one squadron / year
All to be withdrawn by 2010

F-14 orginally designed for 6,000 flight hours
Currently certified for 7,350 flight hours
Potential for extension to 8,000 or 9,000 flight hours


F/A-18 Hornet  Specifications


Contractor
Boeing [McDonnell Douglas Aerospace] and
Northrop Grumman (Airframe),
General Electric (Engines), and
Hughes (Radar)
F/A-18C/D
Hornet F/A-18E/F
Super Hornet
Power Plant Two F404-GE-402 afterburning engines, each in the 18,000 pound thrust class, which results in a combat thrust-to-weight ratio greater than 1-to-1. Depending on the mission and loading, combat radius is greater than 500 nautical miles. Twin F414-GE-400 engines, each in the 22,000 pound thrust class. On an interdiction mission, the E/F will fly up to 40 % further than the C/D.
# Accommodations The F/A-18C and F/A-18E are single seat aircraft.
# The D and F models are flown by two crew members.
# The aft seat in the D and F may be configured with a stick and throttle for the training environment (or without when crewed with a Weapons System Officer).
# Performance F/A-18C maximum speed at level flight in altitudes of 36,089 ft.
Mach 1.7
# F/A-18E maximum speed at level flight in altitudes of 36,089 ft.
Mach 1.6
# Armament F/A-18C/D can carry up to 13,700 pounds of external ordnance.
# Weapon stations include: two wingtip stations for Sidewinders; two outboard wing stations for air-to-air or air-to-ground weapons; two inboard wing stations for fuel tanks, air-to-air, or air-to-ground weapons; two nacelle fuselage stations for AMRAAMs, Sparrows, or sensor pods; and one centerline station for fuel or air-to-ground weapons.

M61 Vulcan 6-barrel rotary cannon with 520 rounds of 20mm ammunition is internally mounted in the nose

AIM-9 Sidewinder
AIM-7F Sparrow
AIM-120 AMRAAM
AGM-65E Maverick
AGM-84 Harpoon
AGM-88A HARM
MK82
10 CBU-87
10 CBU-89
GBU-12
GBU-24
JDAM
B-57 or B-61 Nuclear bomb
# F/A-18E/F can carry up to 17,750 pounds of external ordnance; two additional wing store stations have been added.

# Mission and Capabilities The F/A-18 Hornet can perform both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
# Cockpit displays and mission avionics are thoroughly integrated to enhance crew situational awareness and mission capability in high threat, adverse weather/night environments.
# Cockpits are night vision goggle compatible.
# Multi-Sensor Integration and advanced data link capabilities further enhance situational awareness.
# The E/F model will be able to perform a strike tanker mission while carrying a self-protection air-to-air missile loadout.
# The E/F model will also have greater payload flexibility, increased mission radius, survivability, payload bring back, and a substantial avionics growth potential.
Unit cost $FY98
[Total Program] $39.5 million. $60 million
Program Summary

F/A-18A/B first entered operational service with the USN and USMC in 1982.

Since 1982, more than 1,458 F/A-18s have been procured for the USN and USMC and for the armed services in Canada, Australia, Spain, Kuwait, Switzerland, Finland, and Malaysia.

In 1987, the upgraded C/D model (with enhanced mission avionics) was introduced and upgraded with a night/adverse weather mission capability, On Board Oxygen Generating System, APG-73 Radar Upgrade, enhanced performance F404-GE-402 engines, and upgraded mission computers.

Last true fighter




We still have lots true fighters left, their called F-15s.



And Dupe too

Hi-lo-lo-hi strike profile combat radius for:
F-14: 380nm
F-18E: 390nm

Quoted: Last true fighter jet? What is meant by that? The F-14 in its twilight years was used as a bomb truck.

because when it was first built way back then it was a FIGHTER ONLY its main purpose was to be a long  phoneix missle carrier to knock out soviet or china bombers.

The f/a-18 was from the time it was first built to now a fighter/BOMBER.

yes the 14 in its later years was a bombcat but it was towards the end of its time in flight.

the f/a 18 will always be known in its most usefull role as a BOMBER first a fighter second.

Jet fighter my ass. The F18, along with just about every fighter we have can smoke a Tomcat in a true dogfight.

Maybe you should call it the last true naval interceptor.

The A-6 was a pile of crap.
And yes, I worked on them.

Quoted: Last true fighter We still have lots true fighters left, their called F-15s. And Dupe too

NAVAL FIGHTER not AIRFARCE

you are right though that the f-15 will always be king of all fighters. but the tomcat will always be known as the king of naval air.

f/a-18 will now carry on for the fleet.

Quoted: Quoted: Last true fighter jet? What is meant by that? The F-14 in its twilight years was used as a bomb truck. because when it was first built way back then it was a FIGHTER ONLY its main purpose was to be a long  phoneix missle carrier to knock out soviet or china bombers. The f/a-18 was from the time it was first built to now a fighter/BOMBER. yes the 14 in its later years was a bombcat but it was towards the end of its time in flight. the f/a 18 will always be known in its most usefull role as a BOMBER first a fighter second.

The last pure fighter was the F-8. Everything else has just been a guided weapons platform, including the F-14.

I'd also like to point out the first letter designator in F/A-18 is "F" for fighter. The F-18 was designed to be a lightweight fighter first.

The last TRUE fighter for the US Navy was the F-8 Crusader.

.

Sad to see both the F-14 and AIM-54 go.  Guess that means no sequel to top gun.

Quoted: Quoted: Last true fighter We still have lots true fighters left, their called F-15s. And Dupe too NAVAL FIGHTER not AIRFARCE you are right though that the f-15 will always be king of all fighters. but the tomcat will always be known as the king of naval air. f/a-18 will now carry on for the fleet.

Well you should have said "For those of us that our interested in the Last true Naval Fighter Jet the f-14 heres a link for you."


Here some pics of a real fighter.

Quoted: The last TRUE fighter for the US Navy was the F-8 Crusader. www.pienoismalli.com/cac007.jpg

+100

God... get over it already.

Time & progress marches on folks. The Super Bug, the F-35 & mature UCAV technology will get the job done in the coming decades.

Too many Tom Cruise fans with clouded judgement around here.  

Quoted: God... get over it already. Time & tech. marches on folks. The Super Bug, the F-35 & mature UCAV technology will get the job done in the coming decades. Too many Tom Cruise fans with clouded judgement around here.

+ a shit load

The unmanned fighter/intercepters of the future will make the F-14 and it's contemporaries look like Sopwith Camels.

tagg

So long Tomcat. First the F-4, then the A-6 Now the F-14, Fighters or my generation are slowing being retired.

2A373 stop posting those pictures dude I'm cracking a fat for the tenth time. I don't think I can knock another one off because I'm dehydrated.

Ex Crew Chief F-15 Elmendorf AFB AK


oooops droped another one

Quoted: 2A373 stop posting those pictures dude I'm cracking a fat for the tenth time. I don't think I can knock another one off because I'm dehydrated. Ex Crew Chief F-15 Elmendorf AFB AK oooops droped another one

Here's something that will fix that for ya.  What I'm sentenced to for another 62 days.

Wish I was still a 2A373A

The F-14 served its purpose but I thought it was built as an interceptor, not a true fighter. From what I read years ago, it was built around the Phoenix missle that had about a 150 mile range. The F-14 was designed to carry 6 of the missles, get up fast and fly out to meet the threat. When the F-14 came within its target range, it would launch the fire-and-forget Phoenix and turn for home. In effect, it was long range anti-aircraft guns of the fleet. It certainly wasn't designed for dogfighting but Tom Cruise sure could make it turn and burn.

Let's see a Navy crate carry one o' THESE!

Quoted:
Let's see a Navy crate carry one o' THESE!



i like the airforces hanger in the background...cant they keep there shit up?? or did the navy have to come in and help them with that??

Quoted: Let's see a Navy crate carry one o' THESE! i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/BiteyMcClaws/USAFMotiv.jpg

The kicker is that if the AF wanted it to, that F-15E in the background could carry three of them at one time.

Quoted: Quoted: Let's see a Navy crate carry one o' THESE! i like the airforces hanger in the background...cant they keep there shit up?? or did the navy have to come in and help them with that??

Dude, you make it TOO easy...

I took that pic in Kuwait shortly after 9/11. The haz in the background is one of the formerly Iraqi-occupied structures we bombed to hell and back during the first gulf war. They all still have gigantic holes in the roofs from our bombs.
It's a Kuwaiti AFB we were stationed at.

That's why.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Let's see a Navy crate carry one o' THESE! i like the airforces hanger in the background...cant they keep there shit up?? or did the navy have to come in and help them with that?? Dude, you make it TOO easy... I took that pic in Kuwait shortly after 9/11. The haz in the background is one of the formerly Iraqi-occupied structures we bombed to hell and back during the first gulf war. They all still have gigantic holes in the roofs from our bombs. It's a Kuwaiti AFB we were stationed at. That's why.

What sqaudron were you in then?

Quoted: Quoted: Let's see a Navy crate carry one o' THESE! i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/BiteyMcClaws/USAFMotiv.jpg The kicker is that if the AF wanted it to, that F-15E in the background could carry three of them at one time.

I saw that, too. We also set records for the longest fighter sorties in history on that deployment.

I'm a 2A373A myself. Sorry to hear about your lawndart assignment. Here's hoping you get to work on the REAL last true fighter again soon!

Oh, and Navy, can you say your jets are ABSOLUTELY UNDEFEATED in all of their 120+ aerial engagements?

The F-15 can.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Let's see a Navy crate carry one o' THESE! i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/BiteyMcClaws/USAFMotiv.jpg The kicker is that if the AF wanted it to, that F-15E in the background could carry three of them at one time. I saw that, too. We also set records for the longest fighter sorties in history on that deployment. I'm a 2A373A myself. Sorry to hear about your lawndart assignment. Here's hoping you get to work on the REAL last true fighter again soon! Oh, and Navy, can you say your jets are ABSOLUTELY UNDEFEATED in all of their 120+ aerial engagements? The F-15 can.

Once you make Tech you'll become just a 2A373 and get your chance to come to Korea and work lawn darts too.  I'm headed to Tyndall in April to go back to working F-22s, I don't think that I'll ever get to go back to working -15s.

Quoted: Jet fighter my ass. The F18, along with just about every fighter we have can smoke a Tomcat in a true dogfight. Maybe you should call it the last true naval interceptor.

You do realize that most of the great aces who survived were not dogfighters but Boom & Zoomers.  Dogfighters lead short but exciting lives.