Last Cat Flight Opporunity.....

[Eric Friedebach]

Something from my inbox I think would be of interest:

Greetings from NAS Oceana,
My name is CDR "Corky" Erie, and it's been my honor to be the NAS Oceana Air Show Director since 2003. As you're probably all aware, the F-14 Tomcat Sunset is rapidly approaching. This universally recognizable fighter has been the tactical mainstay of Naval Aviation since first put in service in 1972. As Air Wing 8 makes its way home with the last remaining F-14 squadrons (the VF-213 Black Lions and the VF-31 Tomcatters) - NAS Oceana is preparing for the "mother of all farewell parties" for this storied aircraft.

Once the jets return in early March, VF-213 and VF-31 will begin the process of transitioning to the Super Hornet. Just prior to the last F-14 leaving NAS Oceana, bound no doubt for the Davis Monthan "bone yard", there are a number of events and festivities planned to properly send off the Tomcat. Scheduled for 20-23 September, the program will include a golf tournament, a concert and one hell of a party. The reason I'm writing is that the committee in charge of the event is exploring the possibility of recreating, one last time, the much-storied "Cat Flight". That's where you all come in.

I've been approached by the Tomcat Sunset Committee (Website Here) to throw out some feelers with respect to the availability of flyable "Cats" (Bearcat, Tigercat, Hellcat, etc) to see if we can pull one together. Please let me know if you or anyone you know of that operates a "Cat" might be interested in being part of this once-in-a-lifetime final opportunity. Also, please feel free to forward this email to anyone you know that might be able to help pull this together.

Very Respectfully,
Corky

CDR Rich "Corky" Erie
Air Show Director
Naval Air Station Oceana
Wk: (757) 433-2686
Cell: (757) 438-4031
Fax: (757) 433-2711

[wendovertom]

I had the pleasure of meeting Corky a couple of years ago - a fellow diabetic!! He flew the Tomcat until he was diagnosed.

Anyway, he is a really on the spot guy and this would be the most awesome event if POF can get thier Panther together in time!

Tom P.

[TimAPNY]

Cat Flight? I'd kill to see that. I missed the ones that NWP had in the 90's. But I was getting to see Tomcats fly almost every day from the ship.

Tim

[TAdan]

I am glad to see that they are planning a proper send off. Although it will be very sad to see the Tomcat go

Any guesses on how long it will be before we see them in civilian hands?

[wendovertom]

30 years is my guess - and then it will be the kind of set up as we have now with the USAF heritage F-4 flights

Tom P.

[Trey Carroll]

I remeber seeing a post on WIX somewhere that someone in Florida, I think bought 12 Tomcats and Dale Snodgrass had something to do with it. I could be wrong but I thought I read something about this. My guess is fuel to fly a Tomcat would be a little too much to afford, and the operation to maintinence rate is 1 hr. of flight for 60 hrs. of maintinence. That would surely be a highly expensive operation.

Trey

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a5/Mister51/0696234.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a5/Mister51/616772.jpg

[RickH]

NO ONE can purchase Tomcats ! DoD won't sell any tactical turbine aircraft !

The deal Trey mentioned didn't happen. Dale was involved with an ATTEMPT, it didn't happen. Navy squashed it.

[ramprat]

I wonder if the Irainians would sell one(or more) Somebody get on the horn with Col. North

[tom d. friedman]

i'm sure those iranian f-14's are thoroughly plucked birds!! wonder where their rotting??? anybody have a spare spy satellite?? hey!!! what about that google thing or what ever where you can look at your house from outer space!! time to go iranian tomcat hunting

[Mike]

i'm sure those iranian f-14's are thoroughly plucked birds!! wonder where their rotting???

I think you'll find that several are still very much operational.

[tom d. friedman]

that is quite distressing to hear!!!

[Mike]

I believe around 20 or so are still operational, fitted with Russian radars, glass cockpits, etc.

It shouldn't be a cause for concern, though, as even your President wouldn't be stupid enough to start another war before he finishes the two he's currently got!

Would he........?

[Brad]

I doubt they will stay operational for long.....when that becomes important....

[Cadillac_of_the_Sky]

To the best of my knowledge they aren't even used for fighters/interceptors. With that radar equipment they are used more for "AWACS" type aircraft.

COTS

[B-29 Super Fort]

Serial numbers of the Iranian F-14As

Iranian Tomcats Serials

160299 F-14A 3-863
160300 F-14A 3-864
160301 F-14A 3-865
160302 F-14A 3-866
160303 F-14A 3-867
160304 F-14A 3-868
160305 F-14A 3-869
160306 F-14A 3-870
160307 F-14A 3-871
160308 F-14A 3-872
160309 F-14A 3-873
160310 F-14A 3-874
160311 F-14A 3-875
160312 F-14A 3-876
160313 F-14A 3-877
160314 F-14A 3-878
160315 F-14A 3-879
160316 F-14A 3-880
160317 F-14A 3-881
160318 F-14A 3-882
160319 F-14A 3-883
160320 F-14A 3-884
160321 F-14A 3-885
160322 F-14A 3-886
160323 F-14A 3-887
160324 F-14A 3-888
160325 F-14A 3-889
160326 F-14A 3-890
160327 F-14A 3-891
160328 F-14A 3-892
160329 F-14A 3-8001
160330 F-14A 3-8002
160331 F-14A 3-8003
160332 F-14A 3-8004
160333 F-14A 3-8005
160334 F-14A 3-8006
160335 F-14A 3-8007
160336 F-14A 3-8008
160337 F-14A 3-8009
160338 F-14A 3-8010
160339 F-14A 3-8011
160340 F-14A 3-8012
160341 F-14A 3-8013
160342 F-14A 3-8014
160343 F-14A 3-8015
160344 F-14A 3-8016
160345 F-14A 3-8017
160346 F-14A 3-8018
160347 F-14A 3-8019
160348 F-14A 3-8020
160349 F-14A 3-8021
160350 F-14A 3-8022
160351 F-14A 3-8023
160352 F-14A 3-8024
160353 F-14A 3-8025
160354 F-14A 3-8026
160355 F-14A 3-8027
160356 F-14A 3-8028
160357 F-14A 3-8029
160358 F-14A 3-8030
160359 F-14A 3-8031
160360 F-14A 3-8032
160361 F-14A 3-8033
160362 F-14A 3-8034
160363 F-14A 3-8035
160364 F-14A 3-8036
160365 F-14A 3-8037
160366 F-14A 3-8038
160367 F-14A 3-8039
160368 F-14A 3-8040
160369 F-14A 3-8041
160370 F-14A 3-8042
160371 F-14A 3-8043
160372 F-14A 3-8044
160373 F-14A 3-8045
160374 F-14A 3-8046
160375 F-14A 3-8047
160376 F-14A 3-8048
160377 F-14A 3-8049 Remained in the U.S.A. for testing.