PoF and Yanks F-14s Confusion

[mrhenniger]

Much confusion this morning because I just noticed something strange is going on. When I traveled to Calfornia last winter I visited both the Planes of Fame and the Yanks Air Museum.

Here is the one at the Planes of Fame...
http://community.webshots.com/photo/268 ... 8483IaCbXS
...and this is a close-up of the BuNo markings...



Here is the F-14 at Yanks...
http://community.webshots.com/photo/268 ... 6792zQbbkE
...and this is a close-up of the BuNo markings...


So why do they have the same BuNo's??????? Does anyone know the true IDs of these airframes?

Mike

Last edited by mrhenniger on Fri May 27, 2005 8:27 am, edited 1 time in total.

[TimAPNY]

I noticce that the pictures are of oppisite side of the a/c. Where were these a/c de-milled? I wounder if parts where swapped around and those doing the work could careless? Just a though, but not helping track down which is which.

have you dug through the Tomcat listings on the site you refered me too? A pain in the butt but...

http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-serial.htm

[mrhenniger]

I noticce that the pictures are of oppisite side of the a/c. Where were these a/c de-milled? I wounder if parts where swapped around and those doing the work could careless? Just a though, but not helping track down which is which.

I didn't notice the opposite sides. You are correct. I also didn't think of the parts swapping. That could really annoy and enthusiast!

have you dug through the Tomcat listings on the site you refered me too? A pain in the butt but...

Oh yeah.... it would be pain, but could solve the mystery. I'll report back if I find anything.

Mike

[Rob Mears]

Did you take both sets of photos on the same day?

[mrhenniger]

Did you take both sets of photos on the same day?

Actually I didn't. The pictures at the PoF were taken on the 30th of January, while the Yanks pictures were taken on the 3rd of February.

I already thought of what you are getting at. If you look at the markings on the tail in both pictures you will notice they are not the same. Also, the F-14 at the PoF is is much worse condition and looks like it is missing a few parts. Which... kind of leads to Tim's theory that maybe panels the Yanks F-14 were grafted onto the PoF example. BDK also recently mentioned that the PoF got their F-14 from Yanks in trade for a F-84. The panel swapping could have taken place before the F-14 was moved from Yanks to PoF.

Mike

[mrhenniger]

have you dug through the Tomcat listings on the site you refered me too? A pain in the butt but...

http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-serial.htm

No luck. He doesn't indicate any F-14s at PoF or Yanks (yet).

Mike

[Rob Mears]

The Yanks' swap sounds totally plausible Mike. No chance you took photos of the opposite side of each plane's fuselage as well?

[mrhenniger]

No chance you took photos of the opposite side of each plane's fuselage as well?

Heeehhh... Yeah... Well I am sure I have made a reputation for myself here, so that is a fair question. However, I am sure that is not the case here. The two pics are from separate airframes.

Mike