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Posted: 8/7/2021 1:26:54 PM EDT
Post 'em if you got 'em. The new birds just don't do it for me... OK a faaaaaaaar distant 2nd would have to be the Super Hornet.
     And in 2nd Place (Honorable Mention) 
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Posted: 8/7/2021 1:35:40 PM EDT
[#1]
It was in reality a pretty shitty plane. Once they got bounced off the carrier a few times and exposed to salt air for a few weeks, none of the magic systems worked. On paper they could turn, but as an adversary my philosophy was to make them prove it, and not one ever did. And you could see them forever and ever amen.
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Posted: 8/7/2021 1:37:19 PM EDT
[#2]
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Posted: 8/7/2021 1:37:30 PM EDT
[#3]
Great airplane fer sure. But it is very complex and expensive to maintain.
I have fondness for the F4 Phantom.... but that's just me. |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 1:37:30 PM EDT
[#4]
     I love the classic Bear intercept pics from the cold war Tomcat days. |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 1:37:41 PM EDT
[#5]
Quote HistoryQuoted: It was in reality a pretty shitty plane. Once they got bounced off the carrier a few times and exposed to salt air for a few weeks, none of the magic systems worked. On paper they could turn, but as an adversary my philosophy was to make them prove it, and not one ever did. And you could see them forever and ever amen. Booooooo |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 1:38:13 PM EDT
[#6]
Pretty birds, but most spent the deployments in Hangar Bay 3.
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Posted: 8/7/2021 1:39:04 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryQuoted: It was in reality a pretty shitty plane. Once they got bounced off the carrier a few times and exposed to salt air for a few weeks, none of the magic systems worked. On paper they could turn, but as an adversary my philosophy was to make them prove it, and not one ever did. And you could see them forever and ever amen. But they still looked cool. I loved them at the airshows back in the day. Didn't they try to launch a J version - it was loud as F%^*. |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 1:39:28 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryQuoted: It was in reality a pretty shitty plane. Once they got bounced off the carrier a few times and exposed to salt air for a few weeks, none of the magic systems worked. On paper they could turn, but as an adversary my philosophy was to make them prove it, and not one ever did. And you could see them forever and ever amen. |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 1:40:24 PM EDT
[#9]
Always loved the paint.
    
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Posted: 8/7/2021 1:42:54 PM EDT
[#10]
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Posted: 8/7/2021 1:46:03 PM EDT
[#11]
Saw one at a roadside park just a couple days ago. Off I-70. Let me see if I can find it on ye olden google maps:
See if this works: F-14 at WaKeeny Kansas (I've stopped there and taken pics in the past, but can't find them right now....) |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 1:46:27 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted: It was in reality a pretty shitty plane. Once they got bounced off the carrier a few times and exposed to salt air for a few weeks, none of the magic systems worked. On paper they could turn, but as an adversary my philosophy was to make them prove it, and not one ever did. And you could see them forever and ever amen. Its seems like the secret to success in fighter aircraft design is to make something that appeals to the immature Corvette-like capabilities: burn a shit ton of gas going straight. |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 1:48:21 PM EDT
[#13]
Very cool jet, I fly one in a flight sim. I'm glad I don't have to worry about the reliability issues they've been said to be plagued with.
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Posted: 8/7/2021 1:49:06 PM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Its seems like the secret to success in fighter aircraft design is to make something that appeals to the immature Corvette-like capabilities: burn a shit ton of gas going straight. There was a lot to be said for One-Pass-Haul-Ass back in those days. |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 1:50:12 PM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted: It was in reality a pretty shitty plane. Once they got bounced off the carrier a few times and exposed to salt air for a few weeks, none of the magic systems worked. On paper they could turn, but as an adversary my philosophy was to make them prove it, and not one ever did. And you could see them forever and ever amen.   |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 1:51:26 PM EDT
[#16]
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Posted: 8/7/2021 1:52:20 PM EDT
[#17]
Still my favorite plane. Challenging but fun to fly in DCS.
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Posted: 8/7/2021 1:53:34 PM EDT
[#18]
I loved the F14 until I saw a documentary where one was almost shot down by a Zero.
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Posted: 8/7/2021 1:58:10 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I loved the F14 until I saw a documentary where one was almost shot down by a Zero. I saw that one. 
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Posted: 8/7/2021 2:05:27 PM EDT
[#20]
Early in my EE career, I worked for a defense company that did RES and EW systems for several fighters/APGs, mainly F-14 and F-15. I made a few on-site trips to Pt Mugu, Pax River, and Hughes LAX labs for integration and test stuff. I talked to several pilots, heard some cool stories, and a couple guys gave me some patches. I've nothing but respect for military aviators.
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Posted: 8/7/2021 2:09:26 PM EDT
[#21]
The A/B models are kind of stuck in between the 3rd and 4th gen fighters. If you lump in in with 3rd gen the absolutely rule the roost. If you put them in with 4th gen then they are difficult to fly/maintain and cannot use many of the more modern weapons. It was plane designed for a specific mission (fleet defense) and that mission was just never really came to be needed. IThe F-14 and more specially the phoenix missile was a phenomenal deterrent. The D model became a really good air to ground platform in later years but at that point they are just trying to make the best of what they had.
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Posted: 8/7/2021 2:33:06 PM EDT
[#22]
Someone watched Top Gun too many times.
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Posted: 8/7/2021 2:38:04 PM EDT
[#23]
The maintainers don’t miss them.
Actually a really good plane for what it was designed for, intercepting Soviet bombers. Their time has long passed though. |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 2:39:37 PM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryQuoted: It was in reality a pretty shitty plane. Once they got bounced off the carrier a few times and exposed to salt air for a few weeks, none of the magic systems worked. On paper they could turn, but as an adversary my philosophy was to make them prove it, and not one ever did. And you could see them forever and ever amen. This coming from an F4 pilot. A plane that turned, "like a manhole cover." |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 2:40:38 PM EDT
[#25]
F-14 fans should check out Ward Carroll's YouTube channel.
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Posted: 8/7/2021 2:43:24 PM EDT
[#26]
I like the Skystriker XP-14F version.
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Posted: 8/7/2021 2:48:52 PM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I like the Skystriker XP-14F version. Took mine apart and disconnected the wings from the gear, so that I could have the wings extended in flight.
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Posted: 8/7/2021 2:53:51 PM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted: This coming from an F4 pilot. A plane that turned, "like a manhole cover." Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: It was in reality a pretty shitty plane. Once they got bounced off the carrier a few times and exposed to salt air for a few weeks, none of the magic systems worked. On paper they could turn, but as an adversary my philosophy was to make them prove it, and not one ever did. And you could see them forever and ever amen. This coming from an F4 pilot. A plane that turned, "like a manhole cover." After the F-4, I flew the A-4 as an adversary. In the F-4, I didn't generally try to out-turn anyone. In the A-4, you aren't going to run away from anyone, so you have no option. Besides, as an adversary, it was my job. The F-14 should have been able to out-rate and out-radius an A-4, but they just never did. |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 2:54:42 PM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryQuoted: F-14 fans should check out Ward Carroll's YouTube channel. Came to post this. His vid on Payne Stewart was emotional for me. I remember watching him play golf with my dad. His video on callsigns was super interesting as well. |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 3:05:56 PM EDT
[#30]
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Posted: 8/7/2021 3:14:58 PM EDT
[#31]
It may have been a maintenance pig and not the mythical bird it was was hyped to be but it was the most beautiful plane we've ever flown.
It was almost as if the designers first goal was to make it beautiful then everything else came after. Maybe that was in fact the case and why it never lived up to what it was claimed to be? In seriousness the early P&W engines really fucked the Tomcat. |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 3:19:13 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Came to post this. His vid on Payne Stewart was emotional for me. I remember watching him play golf with my dad. His video on callsigns was super interesting as well. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: F-14 fans should check out Ward Carroll's YouTube channel. Came to post this. His vid on Payne Stewart was emotional for me. I remember watching him play golf with my dad. His video on callsigns was super interesting as well. Ward is cancelled because he said things about jan 6. |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 3:26:15 PM EDT
[#33]
Most over-rated fighter ever.
The only thing it did well was look good.
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Posted: 8/7/2021 3:33:59 PM EDT
[#34]
Didn't one of them have Zero kill markings?
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Posted: 8/7/2021 3:34:05 PM EDT
[#35]
Quote History
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Posted: 8/7/2021 3:57:42 PM EDT
[#36]
Quote HistoryQuoted: It was in reality a pretty shitty plane. Once they got bounced off the carrier a few times and exposed to salt air for a few weeks, none of the magic systems worked. On paper they could turn, but as an adversary my philosophy was to make them prove it, and not one ever did. And you could see them forever and ever amen. Yeah, yeah, yea, but when they would fly into Nellis for a Flag, they really have "a nice ass" for an airplane. Just saying. |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 3:58:09 PM EDT
[#37]
Tomcats!
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Posted: 8/7/2021 4:01:20 PM EDT
[#38]
It was built as a sole purpose Phoenix missile platform. Anything above and beyond that was really gravy.
F-14 and F-111 are my two favorite airplanes. |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 4:10:33 PM EDT
[#39]
Quote HistoryQuoted: After the F-4, I flew the A-4 as an adversary. In the F-4, I didn't generally try to out-turn anyone. In the A-4, you aren't going to run away from anyone, so you have no option. Besides, as an adversary, it was my job. The F-14 should have been able to out-rate and out-radius an A-4, but they just never did. Thanks for clearing that up. A-4 vs F-14 in a turning fight. That gives me the image of a man trying to use an axe to kill a mosquito. |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 4:12:20 PM EDT
[#40]
Best air show performance I’ve ever seen, hands down. MKC ‘04ish. Pilot was from KC. Flew right over the Thunderbirds with a vapor cone forming on it’s nose, it was pretty impressive. “What’d those thunderchickens think of that?!?!?!” First thing he said when he got down from the ladder, freaking hilarious!
Pilot came back a few years later with the Blue Angles, cool dude. |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 4:14:20 PM EDT
[#41]
Ramstein Air Base, 1983-1986. The F-4 was on it's way out in 86' and the F-16 was being brought in.
I was in the fuels testing lab, and me and my partner spent our days running around the base pulling fuel samples off the fuel trucks and various pump houses, to make sure the aircraft were getting good fuel. Was a lot of fun having the freedom to wander around the base, and the F-4's flew a lot. Ramstein was a great base and the loud ass F-4's made it better. But yeah, the F-14 was cool as hell. |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 4:19:32 PM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryQuoted: The F-14 should have been able to out-rate and out-radius an A-4, but they just never did. The shortcomings of the TF30 were well known, a lot of the Tomcat crews I got to know early on described it as a great aircraft powered by two pieces of junk. I also want to say there was a G limitation on the jet for airframe longevity. Did you ever fly against the D models with the 110? |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 4:24:57 PM EDT
[#43]
Quote HistoryQuoted: It may have been a maintenance pig and not the mythical bird it was was hyped to be but it was the most beautiful plane we've ever flown. It was almost as if the designers first goal was to make it beautiful then everything else came after. Maybe that was in fact the case and why it never lived up to what it was claimed to be? In seriousness the early P&W engines really fucked the Tomcat. F-106 FTW on the beauty part. |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 4:35:03 PM EDT
[#44]
Years ago the F14 imprinted itself in my mind forever.....
The Cleveland airshow is at lakefront airport which as the namesake implies, is right on Lake Erie. Sooo most of the flight demo ends up out over the lake. One year we took my buddies boat out there to get a better view. I'm pretty sure the F14 pilot was using our boat as a reference point because he came in full turn and burn multiple times. He was so close I could see the paint job on his helmet. Couldn't have been more than 100 foot off the deck and full afterburners. Fucking awesome.. One thing that struck me was how dirty and shopworn it looked. It also sprayed us with hydraulic fluid every time it went by. |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 4:42:17 PM EDT
[#45]
Download DCS and buy the F14. I fly that more than any other plane on there
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Posted: 8/7/2021 4:43:52 PM EDT
[#46]
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Posted: 8/7/2021 4:44:04 PM EDT
[#47]
Quote HistoryQuoted: It was in reality a pretty shitty plane. Once they got bounced off the carrier a few times and exposed to salt air for a few weeks, none of the magic systems worked. On paper they could turn, but as an adversary my philosophy was to make them prove it, and not one ever did. And you could see them forever and ever amen. So, would procuring the Super Phantom with the PW1120 and upgraded avionics been a smarter choice? |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 5:32:48 PM EDT
[#48]
Quote HistoryQuoted: It was in reality a pretty shitty plane. Once they got bounced off the carrier a few times and exposed to salt air for a few weeks, none of the magic systems worked. On paper they could turn, but as an adversary my philosophy was to make them prove it, and not one ever did. And you could see them forever and ever amen.  |
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Posted: 8/7/2021 5:34:23 PM EDT
[#49]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Saw one at a roadside park just a couple days ago. Off I-70. Let me see if I can find it on ye olden google maps: See if this works: F-14 at WaKeeny Kansas (I've stopped there and taken pics in the past, but can't find them right now....) Front lawn decoration... HOA will LOVE ME!!
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Posted: 8/7/2021 5:44:55 PM EDT
[#50]
I use to manage the Subway across the street from Miramar back in the early 90’s and remember the four ship come in and one peel off at a time, so awesome. We provided all the 6ft sub’s for every Top Gun graduation too. Fun times.. |
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