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Were early F-14Bs ever painted in overall gloss 16440?


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I'm thinking that they probably came right from Grumman in the TPS scheme by the time the F-14B hit the fleet, but were any of the early F-14Bs (called F-14A+ at that time) painted in overall gloss 16440?

Or were only F-14As ever painted in that scheme?

Edited by dmk0210
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From the factory it was only F-14A's that were in gloss gull gray. All the rest were in TPS. There was one F-14B from VF-101 that was painted in gull gray (can't remember if it was in gloss or flat though) some time in the mid 90's.

Edited by achterkirch
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That is an A from the late 70s or early 80s.

Note the Feris scheme in the back ground and the old 70s/ 80s pick up trucks.

Edited by phantom
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Thanks guys. I was hoping there were some early -Bs in that attractive glossy scheme, but oh well.

VF-2 had a D (not a B ) painted up in gloss grey and white for their 25 anniversary bird back in the day.

VF-32 also had an F-14B with a gray and white 'retro' scheme right before the squadron switched to the F/A-18 and turned their Tomcats in to the shredders.

(Two Bobs does a sheet with this aircraft)

http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Grumman-F-14B-Tomcat/1346788/&sid=0694c163ce318fbbcb7192cb904ecc7a

http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Grumman-F-14B-Tomcat/1075190/&sid=ef2ffe9b9daa34b3629addee8a4114e2

.

Edited by dmk0210
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There was one F-14B from VF-101 that was painted in gull gray (can't remember if it was in gloss or flat though) some time in the mid 90's.

VF-101 was the first F-14A+ fleet squadron weren't they?

Are you referring to this aircraft? (This one comes up with a few pics at the top of a Google image search for VF-101 and F-14B)

http://www.topedge.com/alley/images/f14b/f14b101s.jpg

(F-14B-145-GR BuNo. 162923 Specially painted for the 1997 NAS Oceana airshow. Image Courtesy Doug Thorne)

http://www.masm.fr/Navycag/vf/VF101/VF101-CO-f14aad101.jpg

Edited by dmk0210
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VF-101 was the first F-14A+ fleet squadron weren't they?

Are you referring to this aircraft? (This one comes up with a few pics at the top of a Google image search for VF-101 and F-14B)

http://www.topedge.com/alley/images/f14b/f14b101s.jpg

(F-14B-145-GR BuNo. 162923 Specially painted for the 1997 NAS Oceana airshow. Image Courtesy Doug Thorne)

http://www.masm.fr/Navycag/vf/VF101/VF101-CO-f14aad101.jpg

Yup that tomato!

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VF-101 and VF-74 were the first 2 squadrons to take delivery of the A+.

F-14A+'s came straight from the factory in the 3 tone TPS (35237,36320,36375).

As pointed out, VF-11 and VF-32 did retro schemes as the tomcat's service life was coming to an end.

VX-9 and VF-101 had F-14B's (A+'s) painted up in overall 36440, and decals are avaialbe for both through Fightertown.

Edited by VFA-103guy
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VF-101 and VF-74 were the first 2 squadrons to take delivery of the A+.

F-14A+'s came straight from the factory in the 3 tone TPS (35237,36320,36375).

Thanks for the info!

As pointed out, VF-11 and VF-32 did retro schemes as the tomcat's service life was coming to an end.

VX-9 and VF-101 had F-14B's (A+'s) painted up in overall 36440, and decals are avaialbe for both through Fightertown.

I actually have that VX-9 sheet from Fightertown (FTD48-004). Brian states in the info sheet that Vandy 240 was "Gloss Gull Gray FS 16440 with Gloss Black FS 17038 tails, skunk stripe, ventral fins and fuel tanks. 240 was known as the "White Whale" by VX-9 Air and Maintenance crew"

Edited by dmk0210
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