What's the significance of this?

[whippleofd]

060310-N-6410T-016 Atlantic Ocean (March 10, 2006) – Lt. Ken Hockycko and Lt. Roy Emanuel, F-14D Tomcat pilots assigned to the "Black Lions" of Fighter Squadron Two One Three (VF-213), launch from the flight deck of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in aircraft number 201. This marks the final launch of F-14 on deployment. VF-213 and VF-31 are completing their final deployment flying the F-14 Tomcat. For the past 30 years, the F-14 Tomcat has assured U.S. air superiority, playing a key role in ensuring victory and preserving peace around the world. The F-14 Tomcat will be removed from service and officially stricken from the inventory in September of 2006. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Chris Thamann (RELEASED)

How the safety rules have been relaxed since I spent some time on the roof getting the sigs for my AW.

There was talk of pulling the Cat, but I didn't think they would do it. But I guess with the bomb-cat, it was bound to happen. Talk about "jumping the shark"! I don't know why, but hearing the demise of the F-14 makes me sad. She was just such an awesome machine. You can run, but you can't hide. (F-14 and E2C combo).

I thought it sucked when they retired the Intruder. That bad boy had SO MANY advantages over the F-18. Maybe it was just the noise she made on the deck. What a ear pierceing whine those engines made!

I guess the Backfire/Bear threat is gone, and the Navy needs to keep up with the times. But a CVN without F-14's? It's just not MY Navy.

Whipple

[Ron Saueracker]

I'm getting old.[:(]

[TheElf]

ORIGINAL: treespider

The below accompanied the above photo I posted...and yes I Googled...


060310-N-6410T-016 Atlantic Ocean (March 10, 2006) – Lt. Ken Hockycko and Lt. Roy Emanuel, F-14D Tomcat pilots assigned to the "Black Lions" of Fighter Squadron Two One Three (VF-213), launch from the flight deck of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in aircraft number 201. This marks the final launch of F-14 on deployment. VF-213 and VF-31 are completing their final deployment flying the F-14 Tomcat. For the past 30 years, the F-14 Tomcat has assured U.S. air superiority, playing a key role in ensuring victory and preserving peace around the world. The F-14 Tomcat will be removed from service and officially stricken from the inventory in September of 2006. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Chris Thamann (RELEASED)

Googling is cheating Forest...you're supposed to reason these things out.[;)]

You're right though. The significance of the photo is an end of an era. It is in fact the last Catshot of the Tomcat leaving the TR after the F-14s sundown deployment. No longer will US carriers deploy with Turkeys on board.

But I have to admit that even though I got this photo in my email at work from a first hand source some of your posts had me thinking it was a doctored photo...

But Kudos to DTravel for being the first and first correct reply (without googling).

I'll post a couple more photos from the set I got.

[TheElf]

Here is the homecoming at NAS Oceana...

[whippleofd]

*sigh* I need another San Miguale.

Time moves on, but my memories are anchored in the past.

Whipple

[TheElf]

ORIGINAL: irrelevant

I find it interesting that the heat from the afterburners is distorting the water but not the flight deck. This photo looks doctored to me....

The Tomcat has a tendency to squat when it rotates. Part of the sequence is that in order for the green shirts set the launch bar in the shuttle the Tomcat has to "Kneel". Anyone whose seen the F-14 Demo at an airshow has probably seen the plane point at the crowd and "bow". This is actually a hydraulic function designed to help the big aircraft set the proper takeof attitude at the end of a cat stroke.

The effect at the end of the cat stroke is that after leaving the shuttle the nosewheel if popped up and as a result so is the nose. The plane rotates and the a$$-end squats as illustrated in the photo. This foeces the exhaust below the deck edge and creates the illusion in this photo that you speak of.

[whippleofd]

Brings tears to this ol squids eyes that picture does.

Whipple

[TheElf]

ORIGINAL: MkXIV

The photo REALLY looks bogus to me... but I am not an expert

Most (all?) Tomcat's still in service were either built with or re-engined with General Electrics, and are normally launched without afterburners. The orginal F-14 power By P&W's used afterburners to takeoff. I would would imagine GE powered planes still use AB for go arounds but I can't imagine he could get his hook up that fast. The other thing is look at the horizontal Stabs, they are too level. Look at any other Tomcat taking off and they are pointed almost straight down!

Normally I'd say you are right, but consider the gravity of this moment. F-14Bs and Ds are reengined with the GE-110s, and normally do not stroke blower down the cat. This is due to the fact that the newer motors should one be snuffed on takeoff, are so powerful and far apart that the assymetrical thrust makes recovery of the aircraft nearly impossible. That and they have enough thrust at military. It may even be a NATOPS limitation, but I'm not sure.

More than likely one of two things happened...

1) Permission was requested at some lower level and CAG granted it,

or

2) Seeing as how the aircraft was crewed by two intrepid JOs, they just did it and figured it was better to ask forgiveness. I'm betting noone said anything after the fact.

[dtravel]

ORIGINAL: TheElf

But Kudos to DTravel for being the first and first correct reply (without googling).

The retirement of the Tomcat is being discussed in a Usenet group I read. The timing of that and your photo post made it seem a reasonable guess.

I have to admit I don't understand why the Navy is retiring the F-14. The FA-18 may be smaller and a more nimble dogfighter but it strikes more as an interceptor, not an air-superiority fighter. It just doesn't have the same oomph saying "This is MY sky!". [:D]

[TheElf]

ORIGINAL: Whipple

1) See that thick line on the deck? The one with the thin line just inboard of it. Those are the stbd most lines that are painted on the deck to "outline" the angled deck landing area. This Tomcat is not landing as evidenced by there not being a tail-hook being extended.

2) This next "evidence" may be a bid hard to describe, as it can be hard to see, but I'll do my best. See the guy with a white vest on? The one with the red cross on his back who is standing just inboard and aft of the other one who is dressed the same. Now look at his shadow. Just inboard of his shadow is a line on the deck. That is the "safety line". No one, and I mean NO ONE, is allowed between that saftey line and the one to port (that you can't see) when a plane is soon to be launched or landed. The safety observers can , and WILL, scrub a launch or a trap if they see someone in that area. Look at the number of folks indside that line. Not even during "Tiger" cruise traps and shots are dependents allowed in there. This fact alone tells me that this pic is FUBAR.

3) Others have mentioned the disconnect of the jet wash, but I'm not sure of the camera angle.

4) No way, no how, are the deck crews lined up like that during either a shot or a trap. Thats just ASKING for a BOHICA.

Not a chance this pic is representative of either a trap or a shot.

Whipple

The lines you speak of are Foul lines, and you are right about the seriousness of "fouling them". However, in this photo there are three of them. From left to right:

The line that touches the tops of the two greenshirts, the purpleshirt, and Yellow shirt in the bottom left hand corner and runs through the middle of the LA (Landing Area) is the Starboard-most edge of CAT 4(the Port-most Cat)

The middle foul line, the one everyone is toeing in the pic is the Foul-line for Cat 3 (the inboard of the two waist cats)

The rightmost or inboard Foul line is for the LA.

Since this is a launch evolution the LA foul line is not enforced. Because the crowd is toeing the middle Fouline of the three, you can deduce this aircraft is launching from Cat 3.

[whippleofd]

Seeing as how the aircraft was crewed by two intrepid JOs, they just did it and figured it was better to ask forgiveness. I'm betting noone said anything after the fact.

I like this one better! Ring knockers need something nice said about them once in a while.

Whipple

[TheElf]

ORIGINAL: dtravel

ORIGINAL: TheElf

But Kudos to DTravel for being the first and first correct reply (without googling).

The retirement of the Tomcat is being discussed in a Usenet group I read. The timing of that and your photo post made it seem a reasonable guess.

I have to admit I don't understand why the Navy is retiring the F-14. The FA-18 may be smaller and a more nimble dogfighter but it strikes more as an interceptor, not an air-superiority fighter. It just doesn't have the same oomph saying "This is MY sky!". [:D]

Yeesh. Can o worms my friend. The reality is that the Kitty is past her prime. These days the Navy is being run like a business. Bottom line is the Bottom line if you get my drift. The retirement of the Turkey has been in the works since the early 90's. The only thing that saved it was a demonstrated capability to morph into a "Strike-Fighter" using the LANTIRN pod. It always had the capability, but the Swaggering fighter jocks of the 70's and 80's were too proud to evolve and it almost cost them. The Tomcat was saved at the last minute and it soldiered on until March 10th of this year when it's time had come.

No one doubts its performance figures, but consider that for every 1 hour of flight it required 20 hours or more of maintence. The Cost of continuing to fly them was prohibitive. That and the Superhornet is ahead of production schedule. There just weren't any more excuses to keep her around.

As far as the Hornet is concerned, let me assure you it is no interceptor. It's just too slow. The hornet is neither an interceptor nor an Air superiority fighter. It is a Strike-Fighter. Fight in, drop bombs, fight out. The Superhornet is the same, just bigger with longer legs.

BTW, the phoenix missile was retired a couple years ago. Shelf life expired. So the last couple deployments the Turkey had no long range missile.

[dtravel]

It just seems like such a bad idea for the Navy to not have at least one carrier plane who's job is to control the air. That just seems like a recipe for disaster.

[TheElf]

ORIGINAL: dtravel

It just seems like such a bad idea for the Navy to not have at least one carrier plane who's job is to control the air. That just seems like a recipe for disaster.

That is what the Air Force is for...

[whippleofd]

The lines you speak of are Foul lines, and you are right about the seriousness of "fouling them". However, in this photo there are three of them. From left to right:

The line that touches the tops of the two greenshirts, the purpleshirt, and Yellow shirt in the bottom left hand corner and runs through the middle of the LA (Landing Area) is the Starboard-most edge of CAT 4(the Port-most Cat)

The middle foul line, the one everyone is toeing in the pic is the Foul-line for Cat 3 (the inboard of the two waist cats)

The rightmost or inboard Foul line is for the LA.

Since this is a launch evolution the LA foul line is not enforced. Because the crowd is toeing the middle Fouline of the three, you can deduce this aircraft is launching from Cat 3.

Yup, you are correct shipmate. Now I know why you brown shoes didn't like us snipes being able to come into the daylight and complete the requirements for AW - It'll get you just enough knowledge to be dangerous.

Care to come into the land below the DC deck and let me recover my dignity?

BTW, thanks for posting the pic. I learned something. Can't give you any better complement than that.

Whipple

[TheElf]

ORIGINAL: Whipple

The lines you speak of are Foul lines, and you are right about the seriousness of "fouling them". However, in this photo there are three of them. From left to right:

The line that touches the tops of the two greenshirts, the purpleshirt, and Yellow shirt in the bottom left hand corner and runs through the middle of the LA (Landing Area) is the Starboard-most edge of CAT 4(the Port-most Cat)

The middle foul line, the one everyone is toeing in the pic is the Foul-line for Cat 3 (the inboard of the two waist cats)

The rightmost or inboard Foul line is for the LA.

Since this is a launch evolution the LA foul line is not enforced. Because the crowd is toeing the middle Fouline of the three, you can deduce this aircraft is launching from Cat 3.

Yup, you are correct shipmate. Now I know why you brown shoes didn't like us snipes being able to come into the daylight and complete the requirements for AW - It'll get you just enough knowledge to be dangerous.

Care to come into the land below the DC deck and let me recover my dignity?

BTW, thanks for posting the pic. I learned something. Can't give you any better complement than that.

Whipple

Anytime[;)] As long as I learn something too...

[whippleofd]

That is what the Air Force is for...

Negative. The Air Force is a drain of resources for the Navy. Of course, I MIGHT be biased.

Fleet protection is now the job of Aegis. No more Backfires/Bears = No need for Pheonix.

Even the SM2ER is obsolete, and has been for awhile. (Perfect example of a freakin good missle with no target, not to mention no shooters left that can use it.) Only combat shoot was from the Tommy-T.

Whipple

[whippleofd]

Anytime As long as I learn something too...

Come on down to the "dark-side" learn what makes the pointy end go through the water.

Whipple

[DuckofTindalos]

The F-14's time was just up. No matter how many bombs they hung on her, she was always meant as the Phoenix shooter; no Phoenix, no Tomcat.

As for the A-6, the F/A-18E/-F can do her job a lot better. Gotta keep moving forward, and both Tomcat and Intruder were getting too old.

(stands waiting for the inevitable firestorm...)

[Ursa MAior]

Bye F-14! Even behind the iron curtain you were the symbol of HIGHtech. I will always remember shooting down 20 Backfires and some escorting fighters with 4 Tomcats in the GIUK gap in Harpoon 2. 6 Phoenix rule!