Just like the Crusader that preceded it the Cat was victim to Navy brass. They want an all purpose aircraft on the carriers. The Hornet basically replaced the Phantom. If a real shooting war were to break out on the high seas their wisdom would no doubt be put to the test. In the past they have always been wrong. Every time they do away with a true gunfighter it comes back to haunt them. (and the men forced to fly them into harms way)
If you didn't work with Tomcats then your probably a Top Gun fan. If they made a similar film with the Hornet you'd all be bitching about JSF. I love the Tomcat because it was in Top Gun and because it was retired too early.
The Tomcat is my favorite too. But I think a real problem in US aircraftmanufacturing is that production costs are simply way too high! Look at the costexplosion of the new Joint Strike Fighter (ugly aircraft btw) I have the idea that the Pentagon should press aircraftmanufacturers to stay within a certain budget, or loose the competition!
30 yr Navy Aviation MCPO. A-7s and Hornets mostly. Next to the Corsair (which I still love and miss) I admired this aircraft most. She was HUGE for carrier deck ops, hard to spot and left a mess everywhere..... but DAMN, she was beautiful! I had the privilidge of being on the CVW-14 staff as Maintenance MCPO when VF-31 took the last Grumman Iron Works Tomcats into combat. Miss you all my FELIX friends.
The F-18 is an good weapons platform but it can't hold a candle to the ordinance load, power and range of the Tomcat! Besides that, the F-14 was sexier!!
screw the F/A-18 Super Hornet/Hornet fleet they all suck compared tot he might and range and armament of the majestic f-14 which was by far my favorite aircraft on fsx and always will be i no longer like the navy for that reason which is why i support the air force since they have a jet almost as old as the tomcat the f-15 eagle another beautiful plane!
I don't see why everyone is bashing the Hornet. The Tomcat is a terrific fighter, but you cannot compare apples and oranges. The Hornet is a short-range, high maneuverable, wide-capability fighter. It isn't made to always shoot down other fighters, while it can't detect them as well as the 'Cat, it still is the best close-in performing fighter the USN has. It carries a wider payload, and it can carry out more roles too, SEAD, DEAD, ASW, AA, A2G, a few more that the Tomcat couldn't.
This is true, speterson! 40 hours of maintenance time for one hour of flying time to keep the big Cat operational. The Hornet requires half. Obama needs to reconsider his defense spending. We simply don't have enough hardware to protect our interests, particularly Southeast Asia.
Damn fine looking bird, though. Much better looking than the Hornet.
@Judyiack ...much better than the hornet. It's lame how they have turned the F-18 into this universal do-it-all platform that will eventually replace the EA-6B prowler as well. In fact, I think it already has. 1 aircraft that does everything, only not as well as what the previous specified aircraft would carry out. Kinda makes the Navy's air superiority fleet one dimensional doesn't it? Until at least when the JSF F-35 arrives...then in which a dozen other cuntries have the same thing.
This is true, speterson! 40 hours of maintenance time for one hour of flying time to keep the big Cat operational. The Hornet requires half. Obama needs to reconsider his defense spending. We simply don't have enough hardware to protect our interests, particularly Southeast Asia.
One of my names is Gato Loco..Name in honor of my brothers that take off and land and distribute the pain in between as needed~ The Best are never gone, and these cats have more lives than the politicians that currently amuse us with their antics...
Keep the Faith, OOOHHRAAAHHH! ! ! ,HOORAAHHH ! ! !, OOHHHAAHHH! ! ...You Know who you are My Brothers ~ " EL GATO LOCO"
My neighbor in RI used to be an F-14 driver, he said that he would not have traded his jet for anything. He never served with an F-14 pilot who was not seriously in love with the jet. Too bad they gone!
Oh yea, and them Navy pilots are the best in the world. You Air Force people wanna argue? First you go land a 60,000 pound jet on a 4 acre deck that is moving sideways at 30 knots and up and down in an unpredictable motion. At night. So dark you might as well cover your eyes. Then come argue.
@EMT308 I talk to retired Tomcat pilots, many who now fly for the airlines, all of them miss this jet and have said (for those who where cross trained into F-18's) the hornet isn't the same. But don't get me wrong, the hornet is has its phenomenal attributes as well.
the 'Tomcat' is my favourite aircraft of all time, not because of topgun, although that is an awesome movie, it's just so damn beautiful to look at, and the engines sound amazing like wailing banshees coming to kill all enemies lol awesome sad to see it go!
I hope your ready to speak Iranian,cause if the United States gets rid of the military,thats what you WILL be speaking,Use your brain(if you got one)before posting something so stupid!!!
I wonder why anyone would drop bombs on innocent civilians, women and children . American taxpayers spent 22% of the tax dollars on weapons that kill others. I hope Obama dismantles the military.
@holocaustexpert barrybolton - "America is a Christian nation, go live in russia you Jew. Jews have been polluting America since 1605." Look Dumbass, without a military, you'd be speaking German in a Concentration Camp for Catholics. Now go cut yer lil pecker off so you don't polute the rest of the planet. BTW- Irish American.
There's one of these beasts sitting at our little local air museum. She was flown in as they were being retired, gutted of all the "good" stuff and then the final flight crew signed the inside of the front landing-gear door....very cool. I just wish they had space to keep her inside. Rumor has it that they are moving next door to a much larger hangar in a few weeks. I hope they can squeeze her in...along with the F-4 and Cobra sitting next to her.
Hey don't trash the Tomcat. It was at the time what the F-18 or F-22 are today. They did their time. Technology got further and of course, they are obsolete and outdated. Like anything else. But at the time they were made, they were THE PLANE. So nothing new
This man speaks the truth. Everyone thinks the F-14 is some invincible super maneuverable 21st century asskicker. It WAS the thing during its time. Time has past though. Don't get me, wrong, I have a insane obsession with the 'Cat too, but there are better fighters in the world..
@iamidiotic Okay yes, the Tomcat handled like a fat pig in the mudd, it's horrible in maneuverability when compared to modern day fighters. But it still was the 21st century ass kicker before retirement. I think people don't realize that the intent of this aircraft isn't for dogfights it's for intercepting targets. It locks on and destroys it's targets before the enemy knows it has a rocket coming at them. This aircraft has the ability to track 26 targets from 120 miles and lock on @ 60 miles
@speterson151 It was quite the intimidating aircraft, post-nam, doing CAP near south vietnam, all they'd have to do is lock on to a lowly MiG and it'd turn its ass back to the north. Unless the Navy put it through a very intense upgrade program, do not see it as a viable aircraft for the Navy. Especially when you have the Russians and Indians catching up with scary-good Sukhoi Flankers.
@speterson151 "I think people don't realize that the intent of this aircraft isn't for dogfights it's for intercepting targets. It locks on and destroys it's targets before the enemy knows it has a rocket coming at them." Now you have to realize when this aircraft debuted it was the only fighter in USN inventory (F-4 being deactivated), so it was the only bird on the deck with the capability to take on another fighter close-in.
@speterson151 Also the F-14's specially designed AIM-54 missiles weren't very good either tbh, fired a few, none ever reached their target. And the 26 target tracking isn't very useful since the max numbers you can carry are 6 and the 26 tracked only came with the APG-71 upgrade that came with the D-models in the 90's. (By then we had MiG-25s and 31s exceeding that capability). Nevertheless, the Tomcat exceeded the capabilities of other fighters with the exception of the air-to-air only Eagle.
Ok you are TRULY a moron. If you knew ANYTHING you would know that Top Gun as a "school" does not exist anymore, but is rather part of strike university at Naval Strike Air Warfare Center in Fallon, NV. Strike University (Top Gun) is not something you can turn down. If the Navy sends you, YOU GO. You don't go as individuals, you go as a squadron detachment.
Ok you are TRULY a moron. If you knew ANYTHING you would know that Top Gun as a "school" does not exist anymore, but is rather part of strike university at Naval Strike Air Warfare Center in Fallon, NV. Strike University (Top Gun) is not something you can turn down. If the Navy sends you, YOU GO. You don't go as individuals, you go as a squadron detachment.
Ok you are TRULY a moron. If you knew ANYTHING you would know that Top Gun as a "school" does not exist anymore, but is rather part of strike university at Naval Strike Air Warfare Center in Fallon, NV. Strike University (Top Gun) is not something you can turn down. If the Navy sends you, YOU GO. You don't go as individuals, you go as a squadron detachment.
Ok you are TRULY a moron. If you knew ANYTHING you would know that Top Gun as a "school" does not exist anymore, but is rather part of strike university at Naval Strike Air Warfare Center in Fallon, NV. Strike University (Top Gun) is not something you can turn down. If the Navy sends you, YOU GO. You don't go as individuals, you go as an airwing detachment. EVERY squadron in the airwing goes, not just individual pilots.
"top gun" does not exist anymore bone head, which makes everything you stated false. The Super Lemon is just a cobbled together design to satisfy the pockets of politicians who stood to gain from Boeing winning the contract back in the early 90s. The whole "newer" argument is a stupid one. Fast forward 30+ years and the Super Lemon will be in worse shape than any F-14A was. The "pure" F-14Ds is in a class all of there own, updated systems.
"top gun" does not exist anymore bone head, which makes everything you stated false. The Super Lemon is just a cobbled together design to satisfy the pockets of politicians who stood to gain from Boeing winning the contract back in the early 90s. The whole "newer" argument is a stupid one. Fast forward 30+ years and the Super Lemon will be in worse shape than any F-14A was. The "pure" F-14Ds is in a class all of there own, updated systems.
"top gun" does not exist anymore bone head, which makes everything you stated false. The Super Lemon is just a cobbled together design to satisfy the pockets of politicians who stood to gain from Boeing winning the contract back in the early 90s. The whole "newer" argument is a stupid one. Fast forward 30+ years and the Super Lemon will be in worse shape than any F-14A was. The "pure" F-14Ds is in a class all of there own, updated systems.
@navyguardf18 Aluminum doesn't rust. Many of the 14's stored a Davis mountain, AZ are in long term 1000 storage. They are fully sealed and protected from the elements, mostly sun damage. Their engines are started and run several minutes every couple of months and then sealed again. In case they are needed. The older ones are being parted out and this stock will be maintained for the one's in 1000 storage. A total of 400 Tomcats are so stored. Fifty of those have the Jolly Rodger on their tails.
It is sad to see this video but it is enevitable that the F14 has to retire,this is the aircraft that inspire me to design another version of it in forward swing wing aircraft but I guess it was never meant to be and could have been the perfect Tomcat 2 and I guess it will only be in a movie "STEALTH".
we still dont have anything that can do what the cat does .the radar it has is better then the one on the untried un tested un proven f22 or the fantasy f35 cost more to use butt it was better just piss of bout this those who ,know will tell you ask any tom cat driver f18 pcs of @#$@#$ and now they want to some f 15 of the field russia is loving this .
i was in the Navy, while i was in we transitioned to the F/A-18Fs from F-14Ds, while in training one of our pilots was asked if he could feel the acceleration from the F/A-18F, his responce "what acceleration" the Tomcat pilots were severly disapointed that they had to leave the Tomcat for a Rhino i herd stories that several threatened to resign. basically hornets suck, tomcats rule
Sure the F-22 is a completely new fighter paradigm. The F-35 however is uncompetitive against upgraded 4+ generation aircraft such as the Su-35BM. The F-14 could have been upgraded quite easily in the same way as the Su-27 being upgraded to Su-35 BM standard. However, no denying that these beasts were very expensive to keep in the air in both man hours and tax payers dollars.
you may be telling true, the F-14 is a very beautiful fighter-jet, but it isn't better than a F-22 or a F/A-18 they're faster and they can fly harder manouvres.
I am also tired, that they wont use this wonderful plane anymore, but it's just too old to fight modern planes like the rafale or the Eurofighter.
No, the F-18 and F-22 are not faster than the tomcat. Look it up. You're considerably off. They can't fly as far, as fast, with as much weaponry, and their radar is notably less than the Tomcat's radar (which is still classified).
Please check your facts. The Rafale, Eurofighter and the Super hornet ARE NOT FASTER. Further, these aircraft are smaller lighter class fighters and a bigger fighter can always be upgraded eg The Su-35 BM
yeah stupid cheney and obama. Go bush and mccain. F-14s are the best in the world! When I join the USN/USMC I'm gonna fly this plane. Don't give a s#%& it's decommissioned.
Aren't theories interesting sometimes? The F14 wasn't retired because of Mr. Cheney, nor was it because it was "too large" for the carrier to make room for the 18's, they managed to fit on carriers for over 35 years...the tomcat was scrapped because it costs about 75% more to service than the hornet. Sadly it had to be retired. If it's anyone cutting back on defense spending, it's the Obama administration. They cut the production orders on F22's by about half, and are reducing defense spending
@speterson151 Plus after 30+ years of that Airframe slamming onto a carrier deck, things just ware out. I miss the F-14, she was the first of the "superfighters" and could still easily hold her own today! Thanks for speaking the truth!
@speterson151 ya know why it costs alot more to service than the hornet? because it has a variable-geometry "swing" wing, and it has powerful engines to push it to mach 2
Defense spending has more than doubled in the last decade, we've done social austerity measures via medicare cuts and half the federal out of pocket tax dollars goes towards defense with most of it not hitting boots...there should be cuts but the F14 should've been spared just because it looks really good...I wonder how much one of those cost.
@speterson151 - I hope Obama slashes defense spending bigtime and lays off half the military this yr. American military has been used exclusively for exploiting other nations. We are in no need of a military. Local militias are enough .
@holocaustexpert - BAHAHAHAHA! Sir, your sheer ignorance is astounding! There is a famous quote that came to mind when I read your response to my posting and as well as others. “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” - Mark Twain.
Do yourself a favor and study up on your history to re-educate yourself with what this country has done for other countries so they can enjoy the same freedom we embrace.
@speterson151 - you mean like the freedom Iraqi's enjoyed under a dictator like the Shah of Iran when the CIA murdered the democratically elected President in 1953. Like invading North Vietnam for no reason, toppling Indonesia Pres in 1965 , supporting Gen Martinez and his deaths squads in El Salvador, invading Dom Republic ,Greece, Chile, and 50 other nations including
Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003. Invasions that violate international law.
@speterson151 do you know why they cut the production of the F-22s, because the F-22 is very expensive but at the same time the jet was really good with stealth technology so they just cut the production. but i really like the F-22 and i hope i will get to fly one. THATS MY DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great tribute. The F-14 was born out of the F-111 controversy. After a painstaking process the Navy had, with the exception of the TF-30 engine the most superb Air superiority/fleet defense fighter ever conceived. So, as it aged instead of continually evolving the platform & improving it like the Eagle, they trash it and replace it with an arguably inferior aircraft. GO NAVY!
Your comment is a little off the mark. Right up to the bitter end the Tomcat was always evolving. With new engines, Avionics upgrades, fly by wire, Lantirn(sp) etc. from the f-14A to the F-14D Supertomcat. To the point where the Tomcat became the Bombcat. The F-14 was a very versatile platform for the Navy. It wasn't performance that killed the Tomcat (or deck space as mentioned earlier), but Cost per flight hour. Too expensive to maintain when compared to the Hornet.
My comment was sarcastic, NOT in support of retirement. Apparently MY post did not make that clear! LOL.. As for the maintenance coats that was another excuse. Initially the Ds were newer and therefore needed less hours to maintain. The pentagon fudged the numbers in the early 90s by statically lumping all Tomcats, A to D together, giving the illusion that maintenance was a cost issue. IT was not. You wait 10-15 years and the F-18e/f will be just as bad.
the f-14 was why i want to go in the navy but then it was retired and now i don't know what i want do the f-14 tomcat well be miss but never be forgotten
I agree, but they retired it because they were to big on the carriers. We can Fit Way more F 18 Hornets/super than F 14's. I wished they were still around so I could fly one.
Stringfellow is right, I am telling you they are not keeping anything on standby, they are keeping them in long term storage at AMARC. The D model parts WILL NOT BE INTERCHANGABLE WITH THE A MODELS Iran has. We destroyed all the parts for the A models. Stringfellow is right YOU are wrong. VF-102 98-02 VF-101 02-03 AIMD Oceana 03 till now. I can tell you there is no secret staging area, that is ludicrous.
Listen Stringfellow, the US Navy has these Tomcats on standby. They are more than 15 Tomcats. The actual number is unknown. But I can assure you that the US Navy would rather not disclosed the location on where these remaining Tomcats are. For reasons such as potential smugglers. They would the love to get there hands on these Tomcats and ship parts off to Iran.
Listen people, the US Navy still have a fleet of Tomcats on stand bye in an undisclosed location in case of any emergency they can have them immediately brought back into service. The where abouts of these Tomcats is unknown but my reliable source say they will be back. Stay tuned.
Undisclosed area my ass.. The ones that arent on public display are at AMARC either in storage or being shredded. All you guys with your "reliable sources" have no idea what youre talking about as usual. BTW there are only 15 D model Tomcats that arent going to be shredded. 15 Tomcats dont make a fleet. Get your facts straight before posting such nonsence. VF-101 2000 - 2005.
A Good Friend Flew A Tomcat And He Was Devastated When He Found Out That He Wouldn't BVe Able To Fly His "Cat" Any Longer...A Remarkable Service Aircraft...Fare Well And God Speed Tomcat
we use to be friends. I really wouldn't be concerned....a good plane is useless with a bad pilot, especially a plane with too few parts most likely. Sad thing is they have gone and totally been crushing and destroying all the Tomcats in a big crusher so parts can't somehow be smuggled to Iran.
we actually did a good thing selling them some spare f-14's, however in the deal they neglected to add the radar guidance systems. The plane is useless when it comes to firing rockets without the radar guidance system, the only thing Iran has, is a bunch of jets without any air combat capability.
Tomcat is not gone forever, it is still in used some other country all over the world. SHE WILL RISE AND HER SPIRIT LIVE ON!!! FOREVER TOMCAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The F-14 is gone forever. It was officially retired from the US Military in Sept of 2006. The only other country that is using them is Iran and because of that, they are destroying 5 a day to ensure the Iranian Gov. isn't able to get any spare parts as they could be used against us at a later date.
Personally I really liked the F-14 Tomcat for its distinct shape and wings. It would have made a great replacement for Australia's ageing F-111's too... =(
Always looked like it was going 700 mph, just sitting on the on the deck!
katbulooo 4 days ago
Great video, thanks for posting it!
firewings12 2 weeks ago
Just like the Crusader that preceded it the Cat was victim to Navy brass. They want an all purpose aircraft on the carriers. The Hornet basically replaced the Phantom. If a real shooting war were to break out on the high seas their wisdom would no doubt be put to the test. In the past they have always been wrong. Every time they do away with a true gunfighter it comes back to haunt them. (and the men forced to fly them into harms way)
capt26thga 1 month ago
Whyis it gone why!!! Commmision it again America!!! COMMISION IT!
XiaoDanDragon 2 months ago
it sad that to think that all those Tomcats were just shedded up its a pity I always loved the tomcat
Shasui17 2 months ago
What a magnificent airplane! As they said in the fleet, “Anytime, Baby!”
merlinsdad01950 3 months ago
most awsome beautyfull plane the us ever build wish i could have flown in one was my dream as a kid when i grew up
bartvh1986 3 months ago
VF-41 Baby!
N1095A 3 months ago
usa you realy build some good looking aeroplanes,and as they say "if it looks good it usually is"...bye bye f14 you will never be forgotten...
gho3tsoldier1 3 months ago
I still remember the first night i seen one go into AB on the cat. talk about a sight that would give ya a hardon
mebgone24 4 months ago
Whered u get the photos from?
SerratedEdges1 6 months ago
Is the US planning to decommissioned the F 14? why don't you sell this to us after. haha
Manolonda 6 months ago
@Manolonda They got rid of them in 2008.
Antifaith29 3 months ago
my most favorite mrf ...
sasorikmz 6 months ago
Such a good jet. It's spirit will be reincarnated, just in an equally beautiful and preforming jet... some year.
BlueRaptorTiger 7 months ago
If you didn't work with Tomcats then your probably a Top Gun fan. If they made a similar film with the Hornet you'd all be bitching about JSF. I love the Tomcat because it was in Top Gun and because it was retired too early.
MrElgeneralisimo 8 months ago
F-14's ...a.k.a "Anytime baby"...one of the most beautiful jet fighter plane in the world!
navalwarfare 10 months ago
2:21 tomcats like "bring it"
trentos10 10 months ago
The Tomcat is my favorite too. But I think a real problem in US aircraftmanufacturing is that production costs are simply way too high! Look at the costexplosion of the new Joint Strike Fighter (ugly aircraft btw) I have the idea that the Pentagon should press aircraftmanufacturers to stay within a certain budget, or loose the competition!
Change6609 11 months ago
30 yr Navy Aviation MCPO. A-7s and Hornets mostly. Next to the Corsair (which I still love and miss) I admired this aircraft most. She was HUGE for carrier deck ops, hard to spot and left a mess everywhere..... but DAMN, she was beautiful! I had the privilidge of being on the CVW-14 staff as Maintenance MCPO when VF-31 took the last Grumman Iron Works Tomcats into combat. Miss you all my FELIX friends.
mgwilliams1000 11 months ago
The Tomcat is the most beautiful plane ever built. It's got a soul. Nothing come close.
safesand 1 year ago
The F-18 is an good weapons platform but it can't hold a candle to the ordinance load, power and range of the Tomcat! Besides that, the F-14 was sexier!!
ryanspeed 1 year ago 16
i miss the f-14 Tomcat
warhog258 1 year ago 8
screw the F/A-18 Super Hornet/Hornet fleet they all suck compared tot he might and range and armament of the majestic f-14 which was by far my favorite aircraft on fsx and always will be i no longer like the navy for that reason which is why i support the air force since they have a jet almost as old as the tomcat the f-15 eagle another beautiful plane!
SkyHawk024 1 year ago
I don't see why everyone is bashing the Hornet. The Tomcat is a terrific fighter, but you cannot compare apples and oranges. The Hornet is a short-range, high maneuverable, wide-capability fighter. It isn't made to always shoot down other fighters, while it can't detect them as well as the 'Cat, it still is the best close-in performing fighter the USN has. It carries a wider payload, and it can carry out more roles too, SEAD, DEAD, ASW, AA, A2G, a few more that the Tomcat couldn't.
iamidiotic 1 year ago
Just saw this which made me feel a whole lot better.
Debunking: ((((The Truth About Useless F-35 & F-22))))
Judyiack 1 year ago
See: The Truth About the Useless F-35 & F-22
Judyiack 1 year ago
This is true, speterson! 40 hours of maintenance time for one hour of flying time to keep the big Cat operational. The Hornet requires half. Obama needs to reconsider his defense spending. We simply don't have enough hardware to protect our interests, particularly Southeast Asia.
Damn fine looking bird, though. Much better looking than the Hornet.
Judyiack 1 year ago
@Judyiack ...much better than the hornet. It's lame how they have turned the F-18 into this universal do-it-all platform that will eventually replace the EA-6B prowler as well. In fact, I think it already has. 1 aircraft that does everything, only not as well as what the previous specified aircraft would carry out. Kinda makes the Navy's air superiority fleet one dimensional doesn't it? Until at least when the JSF F-35 arrives...then in which a dozen other cuntries have the same thing.
speterson151 1 year ago
This is true, speterson! 40 hours of maintenance time for one hour of flying time to keep the big Cat operational. The Hornet requires half. Obama needs to reconsider his defense spending. We simply don't have enough hardware to protect our interests, particularly Southeast Asia.
Judyiack 1 year ago
One of my names is Gato Loco..Name in honor of my brothers that take off and land and distribute the pain in between as needed~ The Best are never gone, and these cats have more lives than the politicians that currently amuse us with their antics...
Keep the Faith, OOOHHRAAAHHH! ! ! ,HOORAAHHH ! ! !, OOHHHAAHHH! ! ...You Know who you are My Brothers ~ " EL GATO LOCO"
apache1218 1 year ago
guess wat guys one of my name is maverick and iim built to fly f 15
epicorange747 1 year ago
cool vid, tune still sounds cool after all this years, all that is great about america
2.21 shows why the f18 will never be as cool as the f14
SuperMole666 1 year ago
My neighbor in RI used to be an F-14 driver, he said that he would not have traded his jet for anything. He never served with an F-14 pilot who was not seriously in love with the jet. Too bad they gone!
Oh yea, and them Navy pilots are the best in the world. You Air Force people wanna argue? First you go land a 60,000 pound jet on a 4 acre deck that is moving sideways at 30 knots and up and down in an unpredictable motion. At night. So dark you might as well cover your eyes. Then come argue.
EMT308 1 year ago
@EMT308 I talk to retired Tomcat pilots, many who now fly for the airlines, all of them miss this jet and have said (for those who where cross trained into F-18's) the hornet isn't the same. But don't get me wrong, the hornet is has its phenomenal attributes as well.
speterson151 1 year ago
what happens to all F14 poilots?
struckeranduong 1 year ago
@struckeranduong
Many of the former F-14 Squadrons were cross trained over to the F/A-18's. The rest either retired or went on to do other things within the US Navy.
Cirux321 1 year ago
BRING THE CAT BACK!!
grimofhell 1 year ago 2
I hope God gives me one to fly in Heaven!!!
marc8111 1 year ago 2
rest in peace Tomcat !!! job well done. Always will be in our hearts. Hope God gives me one to fly in heaven !!!
marc8111 1 year ago
Good Bye. "Big Tom". The most famous carrier fighter ever.
Samjapa 1 year ago
the 'Tomcat' is my favourite aircraft of all time, not because of topgun, although that is an awesome movie, it's just so damn beautiful to look at, and the engines sound amazing like wailing banshees coming to kill all enemies lol awesome sad to see it go!
D4rkMatter1975 1 year ago
I wish I flew Tomcat... hope to see it once more...
KukeRELO 1 year ago
I hope your ready to speak Iranian,cause if the United States gets rid of the military,thats what you WILL be speaking,Use your brain(if you got one)before posting something so stupid!!!
MrKendra58 1 year ago
I wonder why anyone would drop bombs on innocent civilians, women and children . American taxpayers spent 22% of the tax dollars on weapons that kill others. I hope Obama dismantles the military.
holocaustexpert 1 year ago
@holocaustexpert Go live in France...they got rid of their army 'cause it failed them twice.
barrybolton 1 year ago
@barrybolton - America is a Christian nation, go live in russia you Jew. Jews have been polluting America since 1605.
holocaustexpert 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@holocaustexpert barrybolton - "America is a Christian nation, go live in russia you Jew. Jews have been polluting America since 1605." Look Dumbass, without a military, you'd be speaking German in a Concentration Camp for Catholics. Now go cut yer lil pecker off so you don't polute the rest of the planet. BTW- Irish American.
barrybolton 1 year ago
Kinda late to get a group of guys to into What-ever-the-name-is prop them onto the back of a few trucks then head to Mexico to fly them around.
SVOddball 1 year ago
Damn, they were really retired??? That´s a shame since the cats made history...
Racing600RR 1 year ago
Always wished to have seen a tomcat flybye at a Texas A&M football game. Most beautiful jet ever.
TEXASA8M12thMAN 1 year ago
There's one of these beasts sitting at our little local air museum. She was flown in as they were being retired, gutted of all the "good" stuff and then the final flight crew signed the inside of the front landing-gear door....very cool. I just wish they had space to keep her inside. Rumor has it that they are moving next door to a much larger hangar in a few weeks. I hope they can squeeze her in...along with the F-4 and Cobra sitting next to her.
firstmusic00 1 year ago
My favourite plane... always. Su-27 and follow-ups come only close... ;)
Tubeflux 1 year ago
Fantastico questo video!!! La traccia ti fa sognare!
ste82zza 1 year ago
Comment removed
navyguardf18 2 years ago
Hey don't trash the Tomcat. It was at the time what the F-18 or F-22 are today. They did their time. Technology got further and of course, they are obsolete and outdated. Like anything else. But at the time they were made, they were THE PLANE. So nothing new
alyr315 1 year ago 3
This man speaks the truth. Everyone thinks the F-14 is some invincible super maneuverable 21st century asskicker. It WAS the thing during its time. Time has past though. Don't get me, wrong, I have a insane obsession with the 'Cat too, but there are better fighters in the world..
iamidiotic 1 year ago
@iamidiotic Okay yes, the Tomcat handled like a fat pig in the mudd, it's horrible in maneuverability when compared to modern day fighters. But it still was the 21st century ass kicker before retirement. I think people don't realize that the intent of this aircraft isn't for dogfights it's for intercepting targets. It locks on and destroys it's targets before the enemy knows it has a rocket coming at them. This aircraft has the ability to track 26 targets from 120 miles and lock on @ 60 miles
speterson151 1 year ago
@speterson151 It was quite the intimidating aircraft, post-nam, doing CAP near south vietnam, all they'd have to do is lock on to a lowly MiG and it'd turn its ass back to the north. Unless the Navy put it through a very intense upgrade program, do not see it as a viable aircraft for the Navy. Especially when you have the Russians and Indians catching up with scary-good Sukhoi Flankers.
iamidiotic 1 year ago
@speterson151 "I think people don't realize that the intent of this aircraft isn't for dogfights it's for intercepting targets. It locks on and destroys it's targets before the enemy knows it has a rocket coming at them." Now you have to realize when this aircraft debuted it was the only fighter in USN inventory (F-4 being deactivated), so it was the only bird on the deck with the capability to take on another fighter close-in.
iamidiotic 1 year ago
@speterson151 Also the F-14's specially designed AIM-54 missiles weren't very good either tbh, fired a few, none ever reached their target. And the 26 target tracking isn't very useful since the max numbers you can carry are 6 and the 26 tracked only came with the APG-71 upgrade that came with the D-models in the 90's. (By then we had MiG-25s and 31s exceeding that capability). Nevertheless, the Tomcat exceeded the capabilities of other fighters with the exception of the air-to-air only Eagle.
iamidiotic 1 year ago
Ok you are TRULY a moron. If you knew ANYTHING you would know that Top Gun as a "school" does not exist anymore, but is rather part of strike university at Naval Strike Air Warfare Center in Fallon, NV. Strike University (Top Gun) is not something you can turn down. If the Navy sends you, YOU GO. You don't go as individuals, you go as a squadron detachment.
flysupertomcat1 1 year ago
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Ok you are TRULY a moron. If you knew ANYTHING you would know that Top Gun as a "school" does not exist anymore, but is rather part of strike university at Naval Strike Air Warfare Center in Fallon, NV. Strike University (Top Gun) is not something you can turn down. If the Navy sends you, YOU GO. You don't go as individuals, you go as a squadron detachment.
flysupertomcat1 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Ok you are TRULY a moron. If you knew ANYTHING you would know that Top Gun as a "school" does not exist anymore, but is rather part of strike university at Naval Strike Air Warfare Center in Fallon, NV. Strike University (Top Gun) is not something you can turn down. If the Navy sends you, YOU GO. You don't go as individuals, you go as a squadron detachment.
flysupertomcat1 1 year ago
Ok you are TRULY a moron. If you knew ANYTHING you would know that Top Gun as a "school" does not exist anymore, but is rather part of strike university at Naval Strike Air Warfare Center in Fallon, NV. Strike University (Top Gun) is not something you can turn down. If the Navy sends you, YOU GO. You don't go as individuals, you go as an airwing detachment. EVERY squadron in the airwing goes, not just individual pilots.
flysupertomcat1 1 year ago
@navyguardf18
"top gun" does not exist anymore bone head, which makes everything you stated false. The Super Lemon is just a cobbled together design to satisfy the pockets of politicians who stood to gain from Boeing winning the contract back in the early 90s. The whole "newer" argument is a stupid one. Fast forward 30+ years and the Super Lemon will be in worse shape than any F-14A was. The "pure" F-14Ds is in a class all of there own, updated systems.
biped19 1 year ago
@navyguardf18
"top gun" does not exist anymore bone head, which makes everything you stated false. The Super Lemon is just a cobbled together design to satisfy the pockets of politicians who stood to gain from Boeing winning the contract back in the early 90s. The whole "newer" argument is a stupid one. Fast forward 30+ years and the Super Lemon will be in worse shape than any F-14A was. The "pure" F-14Ds is in a class all of there own, updated systems.
biped19 1 year ago
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@navyguardf18
"top gun" does not exist anymore bone head, which makes everything you stated false. The Super Lemon is just a cobbled together design to satisfy the pockets of politicians who stood to gain from Boeing winning the contract back in the early 90s. The whole "newer" argument is a stupid one. Fast forward 30+ years and the Super Lemon will be in worse shape than any F-14A was. The "pure" F-14Ds is in a class all of there own, updated systems.
biped19 1 year ago
@navyguardf18 Aluminum doesn't rust. Many of the 14's stored a Davis mountain, AZ are in long term 1000 storage. They are fully sealed and protected from the elements, mostly sun damage. Their engines are started and run several minutes every couple of months and then sealed again. In case they are needed. The older ones are being parted out and this stock will be maintained for the one's in 1000 storage. A total of 400 Tomcats are so stored. Fifty of those have the Jolly Rodger on their tails.
Nicodemus98 1 year ago
@Nicodemus98 It is figure of speech. I didn't need someone to be a smart ass about it.
navyguardf18 1 year ago
@navyguardf18 Didn't mean it as smart ass, but, if that's how you took it,, Oh well.
Nicodemus98 1 year ago
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It is sad to see this video but it is enevitable that the F14 has to retire,this is the aircraft that inspire me to design another version of it in forward swing wing aircraft but I guess it was never meant to be and could have been the perfect Tomcat 2 and I guess it will only be in a movie "STEALTH".
ARCKAMADA 2 years ago
Good Riddance! Wait, not good...GREAT RIDDANCE!
Tomcats by Mandate, Hornets by choice!
TomcatSucks4ever2 2 years ago
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F-14 is a piece of shit
Tomcatsux4ever 2 years ago
2:24 I wish that hornet was shot down. TRIVIA: 3:18 The Tomcat of Iceman in the 1986 movie TOP GUN
delanyify 2 years ago
That HORNET looks like LEGO toy in compare to The GREAT TOMCAT ..lol , looks almost like radio controlled plane..
marijopopovic 2 years ago
This song called : VAN HALEN TOP GUN THEME - F-14 R.I.P
Greetings from Warsaw / Poland
vannvoolf 2 years ago
Van HALEN???? Lay off the DRUGS!! That is STEVE STEVENS, Billy Idols' Lead Guitarist!!!
Sheesh!!!
Hankster58 2 years ago
Comment removed
vannvoolf 2 years ago
what's the song name??can somebody tell me pls.
edisonwoo77 2 years ago
Top gun theme
sabre1577 2 years ago
what's the song name???can somebody tell me pls.
edisonwoo77 2 years ago
for a plane that first flew on 21 December 1970 still looks modern
2.24 look at it compared to the hornet
SuperMole666 2 years ago
The F-14 is a big sexy Beast,,, best looking Fighter,,, im gonna go watch Top Gun
IRONSEAN7 2 years ago 25
@IRONSEAN7 Totaly agree with you! I hope the iranians will have some of them for airshows :P
glazuna 1 year ago
@IRONSEAN7 my fave is F-15 Eagle best looking to destroy does terrorist bastardz
vkimdd683 1 year ago
@IRONSEAN7 Top Gun's the BEST!!!
sinivaki 1 year ago
we still dont have anything that can do what the cat does .the radar it has is better then the one on the untried un tested un proven f22 or the fantasy f35 cost more to use butt it was better just piss of bout this those who ,know will tell you ask any tom cat driver f18 pcs of @#$@#$ and now they want to some f 15 of the field russia is loving this .
REYES22227 2 years ago
i was in the Navy, while i was in we transitioned to the F/A-18Fs from F-14Ds, while in training one of our pilots was asked if he could feel the acceleration from the F/A-18F, his responce "what acceleration" the Tomcat pilots were severly disapointed that they had to leave the Tomcat for a Rhino i herd stories that several threatened to resign. basically hornets suck, tomcats rule
jpllightfoot 2 years ago 2
yep hornets sucks, 1 tomcat was worth 5 hornets. and what do u mean by "leave the tomcat for a rhino?"
Deidara9052 2 years ago
1 tomcat= 5 hornets? are u stupid?
Boopertheboop 2 years ago 2
by the way rhino is the offical name given to the superhornets
jpllightfoot 2 years ago
okay, you're right, but the F-14 is nearly 30 years old, she just can't keep up with a F-22 or an F-35.
sheophord 2 years ago
Sure the F-22 is a completely new fighter paradigm. The F-35 however is uncompetitive against upgraded 4+ generation aircraft such as the Su-35BM. The F-14 could have been upgraded quite easily in the same way as the Su-27 being upgraded to Su-35 BM standard. However, no denying that these beasts were very expensive to keep in the air in both man hours and tax payers dollars.
22slither 2 years ago
Actually, the F-14 design is well over 30 years old.
MikeWinpeg 2 years ago
the f-16 and the f-15 are 46 years old and tehy still work fine
30 years is little life spam 4 a plane
the f-14 was good but consumed 2 much
Alex31121234 2 years ago 3
you may be telling true, the F-14 is a very beautiful fighter-jet, but it isn't better than a F-22 or a F/A-18 they're faster and they can fly harder manouvres.
I am also tired, that they wont use this wonderful plane anymore, but it's just too old to fight modern planes like the rafale or the Eurofighter.
sheophord 2 years ago
it is hard to see this beautiful jet go very sad but there is better out there now and we have it
rickg156 2 years ago
No, the F-18 and F-22 are not faster than the tomcat. Look it up. You're considerably off. They can't fly as far, as fast, with as much weaponry, and their radar is notably less than the Tomcat's radar (which is still classified).
JephN 2 years ago
Please check your facts. The Rafale, Eurofighter and the Super hornet ARE NOT FASTER. Further, these aircraft are smaller lighter class fighters and a bigger fighter can always be upgraded eg The Su-35 BM
22slither 2 years ago
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Huntt3r21 2 years ago
huntt3r21, you'd be lucky to fly a cargo plane full of rubber dog shit with that horrible education.
JephN 2 years ago
the rubber dogs are from hong kong? i heard that in Top Gun xD
guille8001500 2 years ago
yeah stupid cheney and obama. Go bush and mccain. F-14s are the best in the world! When I join the USN/USMC I'm gonna fly this plane. Don't give a s#%& it's decommissioned.
LilATL94 2 years ago
Aren't theories interesting sometimes? The F14 wasn't retired because of Mr. Cheney, nor was it because it was "too large" for the carrier to make room for the 18's, they managed to fit on carriers for over 35 years...the tomcat was scrapped because it costs about 75% more to service than the hornet. Sadly it had to be retired. If it's anyone cutting back on defense spending, it's the Obama administration. They cut the production orders on F22's by about half, and are reducing defense spending
speterson151 2 years ago 13
@speterson151 Plus after 30+ years of that Airframe slamming onto a carrier deck, things just ware out. I miss the F-14, she was the first of the "superfighters" and could still easily hold her own today! Thanks for speaking the truth!
minuteman3 1 year ago
@speterson151 ya know why it costs alot more to service than the hornet? because it has a variable-geometry "swing" wing, and it has powerful engines to push it to mach 2
GTAstuntman101 1 year ago
@GTAstuntman101 Yep and this plane was worth making because the Russians stupidly made a swing wing type plane too. I forgot which one.
AlfieWilRus 1 year ago
@AlfieWilRus its the Tupolev Tu-22M A.K.A Backfire
GTAstuntman101 1 year ago
@speterson151 then usa can be terrorized easier
right?
GTAstuntman101 1 year ago
Defense spending has more than doubled in the last decade, we've done social austerity measures via medicare cuts and half the federal out of pocket tax dollars goes towards defense with most of it not hitting boots...there should be cuts but the F14 should've been spared just because it looks really good...I wonder how much one of those cost.
erh7771 1 year ago
@speterson151 - I hope Obama slashes defense spending bigtime and lays off half the military this yr. American military has been used exclusively for exploiting other nations. We are in no need of a military. Local militias are enough .
holocaustexpert 1 year ago
@holocaustexpert - BAHAHAHAHA! Sir, your sheer ignorance is astounding! There is a famous quote that came to mind when I read your response to my posting and as well as others. “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” - Mark Twain.
Do yourself a favor and study up on your history to re-educate yourself with what this country has done for other countries so they can enjoy the same freedom we embrace.
speterson151 1 year ago
@speterson151 - you mean like the freedom Iraqi's enjoyed under a dictator like the Shah of Iran when the CIA murdered the democratically elected President in 1953. Like invading North Vietnam for no reason, toppling Indonesia Pres in 1965 , supporting Gen Martinez and his deaths squads in El Salvador, invading Dom Republic ,Greece, Chile, and 50 other nations including
Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003. Invasions that violate international law.
Neo Cons: parasites and chickenhawks.
holocaustexpert 1 year ago
@holocaustexpert You....out of the gene pool!
firstmusic00 1 year ago
@speterson151 do you know why they cut the production of the F-22s, because the F-22 is very expensive but at the same time the jet was really good with stealth technology so they just cut the production. but i really like the F-22 and i hope i will get to fly one. THATS MY DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
f22acefightertwo 1 year ago
Great tribute. The F-14 was born out of the F-111 controversy. After a painstaking process the Navy had, with the exception of the TF-30 engine the most superb Air superiority/fleet defense fighter ever conceived. So, as it aged instead of continually evolving the platform & improving it like the Eagle, they trash it and replace it with an arguably inferior aircraft. GO NAVY!
biped19 2 years ago
Your comment is a little off the mark. Right up to the bitter end the Tomcat was always evolving. With new engines, Avionics upgrades, fly by wire, Lantirn(sp) etc. from the f-14A to the F-14D Supertomcat. To the point where the Tomcat became the Bombcat. The F-14 was a very versatile platform for the Navy. It wasn't performance that killed the Tomcat (or deck space as mentioned earlier), but Cost per flight hour. Too expensive to maintain when compared to the Hornet.
vetteguy97 2 years ago
My comment was sarcastic, NOT in support of retirement. Apparently MY post did not make that clear! LOL.. As for the maintenance coats that was another excuse. Initially the Ds were newer and therefore needed less hours to maintain. The pentagon fudged the numbers in the early 90s by statically lumping all Tomcats, A to D together, giving the illusion that maintenance was a cost issue. IT was not. You wait 10-15 years and the F-18e/f will be just as bad.
biped19 2 years ago
I wish they back to service & have special Squadren for them only F 14 TOMCAT
The best
specail711 2 years ago
the f-14 was why i want to go in the navy but then it was retired and now i don't know what i want do the f-14 tomcat well be miss but never be forgotten
radford41890 3 years ago
iT WAS A GREAT JET! IDK Y IT WUZ RETIRED!?
MrSocial78 3 years ago
I agree, but they retired it because they were to big on the carriers. We can Fit Way more F 18 Hornets/super than F 14's. I wished they were still around so I could fly one.
WarrenG189 3 years ago
Tomcat you will be missed the best naval fighter ever i want to get my hands on the idiot that retiered them but S.N.A.F.U they will be back
Soxfan72295 3 years ago
that wuld be dick cheany. He cancelled em in 92 which was a cause of the fall of grumman. So if you want to blast anyone blast him. I hope he dies.
EMDFAN1988 3 years ago
Stringfellow is right, I am telling you they are not keeping anything on standby, they are keeping them in long term storage at AMARC. The D model parts WILL NOT BE INTERCHANGABLE WITH THE A MODELS Iran has. We destroyed all the parts for the A models. Stringfellow is right YOU are wrong. VF-102 98-02 VF-101 02-03 AIMD Oceana 03 till now. I can tell you there is no secret staging area, that is ludicrous.
Nikon23462 3 years ago
Listen Stringfellow, the US Navy has these Tomcats on standby. They are more than 15 Tomcats. The actual number is unknown. But I can assure you that the US Navy would rather not disclosed the location on where these remaining Tomcats are. For reasons such as potential smugglers. They would the love to get there hands on these Tomcats and ship parts off to Iran.
Johnanthonyfiore 3 years ago
Listen people, the US Navy still have a fleet of Tomcats on stand bye in an undisclosed location in case of any emergency they can have them immediately brought back into service. The where abouts of these Tomcats is unknown but my reliable source say they will be back. Stay tuned.
Johnanthonyfiore 3 years ago
Undisclosed area my ass.. The ones that arent on public display are at AMARC either in storage or being shredded. All you guys with your "reliable sources" have no idea what youre talking about as usual. BTW there are only 15 D model Tomcats that arent going to be shredded. 15 Tomcats dont make a fleet. Get your facts straight before posting such nonsence. VF-101 2000 - 2005.
StringfellowHawke71 3 years ago
A Good Friend Flew A Tomcat And He Was Devastated When He Found Out That He Wouldn't BVe Able To Fly His "Cat" Any Longer...A Remarkable Service Aircraft...Fare Well And God Speed Tomcat
Paperboy1978 3 years ago
2006年9月22日
これは米国海軍航空史で最も暗い日だ!( ﾟДﾟ)
Kapitanleutnant0083 3 years ago
iran y did we sell that to them? man we never learn!
fordbronco1 4 years ago
we use to be friends. I really wouldn't be concerned....a good plane is useless with a bad pilot, especially a plane with too few parts most likely. Sad thing is they have gone and totally been crushing and destroying all the Tomcats in a big crusher so parts can't somehow be smuggled to Iran.
jtoatoktoe 4 years ago
we actually did a good thing selling them some spare f-14's, however in the deal they neglected to add the radar guidance systems. The plane is useless when it comes to firing rockets without the radar guidance system, the only thing Iran has, is a bunch of jets without any air combat capability.
billdo76 3 years ago
@billdo76 Iranians have more up to date f-14s than america f-18 if you look on youtube you will se documentarys about that!
glazuna 1 year ago
screw the bumble bee
ChallengerGuy22 4 years ago
Turn and burn..... she is beautiful....Mach2 sitting still! I could use one... you know as a grocery getter!! Love that plane!
1hijax 4 years ago
Tomcat is not gone forever, it is still in used some other country all over the world. SHE WILL RISE AND HER SPIRIT LIVE ON!!! FOREVER TOMCAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Extreme1567 4 years ago 2
yeah, in Iran, hence the reason why the military is currently destroying 5 a day to ensure that the Iranian gov doesn't get ANY parts.
billdo76 4 years ago
y r they doing that?, so they dont use it against US?
Extreme1567 4 years ago
The F-14 is gone forever. It was officially retired from the US Military in Sept of 2006. The only other country that is using them is Iran and because of that, they are destroying 5 a day to ensure the Iranian Gov. isn't able to get any spare parts as they could be used against us at a later date.
billdo76 4 years ago
I sure hope some plane collector gets his hands on one B4 there gone forever
mannyzx 3 years ago
Then the military offers him a price for it, and then crush that one too...
hellbringer26 3 years ago
Personally I really liked the F-14 Tomcat for its distinct shape and wings. It would have made a great replacement for Australia's ageing F-111's too... =(
hellbringer26 3 years ago
nah it wont, the cats were way too ecpensive to run,even they were. are, and will always b the most beautiful fighter ever.
the super bug is the best choice for the Auzzy air force, altho they they suck on everything compare to the cats
berettam92s 3 years ago
tom cat is a big cat the king cat
gatosis 4 years ago
VF41 Black Aces---Fightin F#ckin Fourty One
CVAN687478 4 years ago
f18 go to heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeellllll!!!!!!!!! f14 go to heaven!
littletitan123 4 years ago 6
nothin comes close!!TOMCATS FOREVER BABY may she rise again!!ANYTIME BABY
kiwicannon 4 years ago 3
she will rise again
fspacerc 4 years ago 3
YEA Tomcat for every
MMMMM Tomcats on the fantail = Uber sexy!
Tomcats by choice Hornets by MANDATE!
wittmann 4 years ago