F-14 Tomcat Parking Only

[motion 2]

Taken at Sentry Eagle about 1988?

[GreyGhost]

Nice to see the Stallions represented !

Gregg

[David Walker]

I really like those GRU-7 photos. They'll definitely come in handy.

[Sig Saur & Son]

I really like those GRU-7 photos. They'll definitely come in handy.

That's what this thread should be all about. One location for everything Tomcat related. I think the mods are onto something here. Remember, tomorrow is the one year anniversary of the Tomcats's retirement.

Cheers,

Dave

[Moose135]

Remember, tomorrow is the one year anniversary of the Tomcats's retirement.

And here's how the other end of that ride looked.

[Sig Saur & Son]

VF-103 Walkaround F-14B 162918

[Sig Saur & Son]

VF-103 F-14B 163217

[Sietse]

These walkarounds should come in handy. Thanks for posting.

Sietse

[PNW_Modeler]

Awesome!

Thanks alot!!!

[Sig Saur & Son]

The last Tomcat flight took place one year ago today. Lets celebrate or commiserate by posting Tomcat images.

Tomcats Forever,

Dave

[sundowner]

I am in , of course a SunDowner Tomcat :

Next in line , please ..........!

Henk

[Moose135]

[Sig Saur & Son]

Walkaround 162912

[Sig Saur & Son]

Edited October 4, 2007 by Sig Saur & Son

[sundowner]

F-14A ( 159626 ) VF-32 AC-100 Air Park NAS Fallon 2007

Cheers , Henk

[jhanna1701]

Afraid that I'm not much of a photographer, but I thought I'd share my memories of one year ago today...

October 4th marks the one year anniversary of the final flight of the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, the greatest Navy fighter every built. Having been officially retired by the U.S. Navy a few days before, in an a moving, if somewhat subdued ceremony, all that was left now was to disperse the remaining airframes, either to AMARC, to be placed in War Reserve status, or to a handful of museums, which had the good fortune of being selected to preserve the history of this legendary fighter.

I, along with about 300 current and former Grumman employees and Navy personnel, was privileged to be witness to this historic event, at Long Island's Republic Airport, not far from Grumman's Bethpage

facility where the mighty Tomcat was built, as well as Calverton Field, where she first took to the air over thirty fives years prior.

Having flown from Chicago to Pittsburgh to meet up with my father the day before the event, we continued on, driving in a mad dash across Pennsylvania in my father's Porsche 911.

Arriving at the Republic Air Museum, I was devastated to learn that this was a closed event, meant only for former and current Grumman employees!

The Grumman employee guarding the gate, a former Marine sergeant, seemed unmoved by my story of cross country travel and my plea's to his compassionate side, nor my promise to stand in the back and not cause trouble.

Dejected, all my father and I could do, was stand at the fence, looking past the crowd and the array of aircraft on display at the museum, knowing that our view of the Tomcat would be fleeting at best.

Finally, about 10 minutes before the Tomcat's expected arrival, the gentleman guarding the gate looked my way, simply pointed and motioned me over. His words were curt, and he wore no expression. He asked for my name, and again where I was from, and who the man with me was. After a moment's hesitation, he motioned to his assistant and said to her: "Please escort my distinguished guests to the front row." I could not believe what I was hearing! As we were led past the crowd, full of people who had built this great aircraft... past former pilots and RIO's... Past Grumman corporate executives... I could not believe our good fortune!

As we stood there, listening to old timers reminisce about the good old days, telling stories about what it was like to be part of the development team, to actually build the plane itself. The difficulties in producing such an advanced aircraft in it's time and the near financial ruin it had almost caused the company. I was suddenly struck by the enormity of this truly historic moment. Here was a community, a family, that had come together one last time, to witness the final moments of the greatest product the Grumman Iron Works had ever produced.

Our attention was soon drawn to the West, as the P.A. announcer called our attention to the fast moving object, barely visible on the horizon, as she made one final pass over the Bethpage factory. The tension in the crowd was palpable. In mere moments, the last flying F-14 Tomcat would be touching down for the very last time.

Suddenly, and almost without warning, we heard the unmistakable sound of the powerful GE F-110 engines in full after burner, approaching from the south. Seconds later, Felix 101 screamed overhead at no more than 500 feet and executed what would be the last ever ''carrier break", directly overhead. The crowd erupted in applause and cheers, although few could hear it as the Tomcat continued to climb out in full reheat.

Several minutes passed before VF-31's red-tailed bird, affectionately named the "pencil nose" taxied into site. The noise from her engines was deafening, as she pulled up to a parking spot directly in front of the crowd, a high pitched whine and deep rumble, that simultaneously pierced your ear drums, and caused your chest to vibrate in sync with the deep growl.

After a brief "moving surfaces" display, including a final "bow" as she compressed her nose gear for the last time, BuNo 164603 settled into a steady idle, to burn off all of the remaining fuel in her tanks. For the next thirty minutes I imagined what it must have been like to work on deck, and have potentially dozens of these engines turning, mere feet away.

Finally, with a loud "pop" and a puff of black smoke, followed by a slowing whine, 101's port engine coughed her last breath, followed seconds later by the starboard engine. After half an hour of ear numbing noise, the sudden silence was unexpected.

Again, the crowd broke into applause as LT Daniel "Bunny" O'Hara and CDR Jim "Puck" Howe popped the canopy and unfurled an American flag. The crowd waited expectantly, as the two Navy officers proceeded with the post flight walk down, a seemingly superfluous exercise.

After addressing the crowd, a Grumman executive introduced the two Naval Aviators. Both men spoke passionately and emotionally, about their time flying Tomcats and I noticed more than a few tearful members of the audience.

Soon, the gate was opened, and the crowd was allowed to approach the aircraft. If you've never been up close to a Tomcat, you are immediately struck by the size of the plane. Make no mistake, the F-14 is a BIG fighter, having earned the nickname "aluminum overcast".

While standing in line awaiting my chance to speak with the crew, and listening to their conversations with others, I learned some interesting facts about the final flight. On the flight up from NAS Oceana in Virginia Beach, Felix obtained a top speed of Mach 1.5. Even more interesting, was hearing "Bunny" admit that on the carrier break, he "broke" the jet, meaning that he exceeded the aircraft's structural "g" limit, by pulling nearly 10g's!!

After getting the crew's signature on a couple of books containing photos of 164603, it was time to have one final look at her and be on the road again. As luck would have it, as we were leaving, I ran into the former Marine who had given me this once in a lifetime opportunity. I thanked him profusely for letting us into the event. Showing the only emotion that I had seen from him that day, his face lit up, he shook my hand, and admonished me in a heavy Long Island accent, to remember "This is Long Island pride, Baby!"

"Tomcat's Forever, Baby!

[Andy Gudbergsson]

More Tomcats.

First 2 pics taken at the Titusville airport 1985.

Patricks AFB Florida 1985

Nellis 2004

Cheers <_<

Andy G

[sundowner]

Afraid that I'm not much of a photographer, but I thought I'd share my memories of one year ago today...

October 4th marks the one year anniversary of the final flight of the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, the greatest Navy fighter every built. Having been officially retired by the U.S. Navy a few days before, in an a moving, if somewhat subdued ceremony, all that was left now was to disperse the remaining airframes, either to AMARC, to be placed in War Reserve status, or to a handful of museums, which had the good fortune of being selected to preserve the history of this legendary fighter.

I, along with about 300 current and former Grumman employees and Navy personnel, was privileged to be witness to this historic event, at Long Island's Republic Airport, not far from Grumman's Bethpage

facility where the mighty Tomcat was built, as well as Calverton Field, where she first took to the air over thirty fives years prior.

Having flown from Chicago to Pittsburgh to meet up with my father the day before the event, we continued on, driving in a mad dash across Pennsylvania in my father's Porsche 911.

Arriving at the Republic Air Museum, I was devastated to learn that this was a closed event, meant only for former and current Grumman employees!

The Grumman employee guarding the gate, a former Marine sergeant, seemed unmoved by my story of cross country travel and my plea's to his compassionate side, nor my promise to stand in the back and not cause trouble.

Dejected, all my father and I could do, was stand at the fence, looking past the crowd and the array of aircraft on display at the museum, knowing that our view of the Tomcat would be fleeting at best.

Finally, about 10 minutes before the Tomcat's expected arrival, the gentleman guarding the gate looked my way, simply pointed and motioned me over. His words were curt, and he wore no expression. He asked for my name, and again where I was from, and who the man with me was. After a moment's hesitation, he motioned to his assistant and said to her: "Please escort my distinguished guests to the front row." I could not believe what I was hearing! As we were led past the crowd, full of people who had built this great aircraft... past former pilots and RIO's... Past Grumman corporate executives... I could not believe our good fortune!

As we stood there, listening to old timers reminisce about the good old days, telling stories about what it was like to be part of the development team, to actually build the plane itself. The difficulties in producing such an advanced aircraft in it's time and the near financial ruin it had almost caused the company. I was suddenly struck by the enormity of this truly historic moment. Here was a community, a family, that had come together one last time, to witness the final moments of the greatest product the Grumman Iron Works had ever produced.

Our attention was soon drawn to the West, as the P.A. announcer called our attention to the fast moving object, barely visible on the horizon, as she made one final pass over the Bethpage factory. The tension in the crowd was palpable. In mere moments, the last flying F-14 Tomcat would be touching down for the very last time.

Suddenly, and almost without warning, we heard the unmistakable sound of the powerful GE F-110 engines in full after burner, approaching from the south. Seconds later, Felix 101 screamed overhead at no more than 500 feet and executed what would be the last ever ''carrier break", directly overhead. The crowd erupted in applause and cheers, although few could hear it as the Tomcat continued to climb out in full reheat.

Several minutes passed before VF-31's red-tailed bird, affectionately named the "pencil nose" taxied into site. The noise from her engines was deafening, as she pulled up to a parking spot directly in front of the crowd, a high pitched whine and deep rumble, that simultaneously pierced your ear drums, and caused your chest to vibrate in sync with the deep growl.

After a brief "moving surfaces" display, including a final "bow" as she compressed her nose gear for the last time, BuNo 164603 settled into a steady idle, to burn off all of the remaining fuel in her tanks. For the next thirty minutes I imagined what it must have been like to work on deck, and have potentially dozens of these engines turning, mere feet away.

Finally, with a loud "pop" and a puff of black smoke, followed by a slowing whine, 101's port engine coughed her last breath, followed seconds later by the starboard engine. After half an hour of ear numbing noise, the sudden silence was unexpected.

Again, the crowd broke into applause as LT Daniel "Bunny" O'Hara and CDR Jim "Puck" Howe popped the canopy and unfurled an American flag. The crowd waited expectantly, as the two Navy officers proceeded with the post flight walk down, a seemingly superfluous exercise.

After addressing the crowd, a Grumman executive introduced the two Naval Aviators. Both men spoke passionately and emotionally, about their time flying Tomcats and I noticed more than a few tearful members of the audience.

Soon, the gate was opened, and the crowd was allowed to approach the aircraft. If you've never been up close to a Tomcat, you are immediately struck by the size of the plane. Make no mistake, the F-14 is a BIG fighter, having earned the nickname "aluminum overcast".

While standing in line awaiting my chance to speak with the crew, and listening to their conversations with others, I learned some interesting facts about the final flight. On the flight up from NAS Oceana in Virginia Beach, Felix obtained a top speed of Mach 1.5. Even more interesting, was hearing "Bunny" admit that on the carrier break, he "broke" the jet, meaning that he exceeded the aircraft's structural "g" limit, by pulling nearly 10g's!!

After getting the crew's signature on a couple of books containing photos of 164603, it was time to have one final look at her and be on the road again. As luck would have it, as we were leaving, I ran into the former Marine who had given me this once in a lifetime opportunity. I thanked him profusely for letting us into the event. Showing the only emotion that I had seen from him that day, his face lit up, he shook my hand, and admonished me in a heavy Long Island accent, to remember "This is Long Island pride, Baby!"

"Tomcat's Forever, Baby!

Thanks for sharing this story , it's great and sad at the same time , this said it all !!

I could feel the emotions in your story......

Henk ;) TOMCATS 4 EVER

Edited October 5, 2007 by sundowner

[sundowner]

Some photo's from my collection :

The last photo is something we F-14 fans don't like to see but it happened , A RNeth AF F-16 defeated this F-14B during an Excercise July 1992 , this was during the first day , later on , the Tomcat guys changed their tactics and things went the otherway around !

Njoy , Henk

[Sig Saur & Son]

F-14D 163414 VF-101 2004

Edited October 6, 2007 by Sig Saur & Son

[Lock n' Load]

Thanks for the Photos Sig Saur & Son, very usefull.

Do you possibly have photos of the Aircraft in my Signature?

[Sig Saur & Son]

IS the Pope Catholic?

[Lock n' Load]

Well how do you know!

You are truly the F-14 Photographer!

Thanks again!

[Darren Roberts]

Here a few from my trip to the TR and the Ripper's line at Oceana.

Edited October 7, 2007 by Darren Roberts

[Darren Roberts]