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'Go Navy!'

Tomcat was going through testing? Wasn't that in the 60's NC? Wish I could of been in some of your guys shoes.. Only seen "living" F-14's twice in my life. Once when I was fixing an APU gripe in Pensacola and 2 from VF-101 pulled up, and another time when some broke down here in Mayport for a couple weeks. Still kick myself in the butt for not picking those orders in A-school. I did not think they were serious about retiring them though. At least things appear to be progressing with the F-35. Still curious to see how the single engine concept pans out for the Navy. Definately will reduce maintenance workload, and spare parts required.
 
I was in the airwing (RAVH-9) Vigilante squadron attached to the Forrestal on 1972-73 cruise to the Med. During carrier quals in June of 72, we were off the coast near Norfolk,VA and we shot the first Tomcat off a carrier and trapped as well. I remember at least 5 cats & traps...

That bird had a 14 stage burner and I would stand off to the side/ way back of the blast defector ( was a jet engine mech and had to be up there for our birds) and would watch each of the 14 burner rings light off.....What a sight!! and sound!!!


Rick
 
Roadburner440 said:
Tomcat was going through testing? Wasn't that in the 60's NC? Wish I could of been in some of your guys shoes.. Only seen "living" F-14's twice in my life. Once when I was fixing an APU gripe in Pensacola and 2 from VF-101 pulled up, and another time when some broke down here in Mayport for a couple weeks. Still kick myself in the butt for not picking those orders in A-school. I did not think they were serious about retiring them though. At least things appear to be progressing with the F-35. Still curious to see how the single engine concept pans out for the Navy. Definately will reduce maintenance workload, and spare parts required.
Click to expand...

Steve,

It was early 1973. Final stages of testing, because I believe the fleet got them in 74. At the time, Grumman mechanics did all the maintenance on the Tomcats at Patuxent. We didn't touch them. We had enough to do, taking care of all the other birds, i.e. F-8s, F-4s, A-4s, TA-4s, T-2s, T-38s, A-7s, UH-1s, AH-1s, RA-5Cs......

Pete
 
papab said:
I was in the airwing (RAVH-9) Vigilante squadron attached to the Forrestal on 1972-73 cruise to the Med. During carrier quals in June of 72, we were off the coast near Norfolk,VA and we shot the first Tomcat off a carrier and trapped as well. I remember at least 5 cats & traps...

That bird had a 14 stage burner and I would stand off to the side/ way back of the blast defector ( was a jet engine mech and had to be up there for our birds) and would watch each of the 14 burner rings light off.....What a sight!! and sound!!!
Rick
Click to expand...

And I gotta tell you......riding in the backseat of one was a thrill of a LIFETIME!!!! You can feel those afterburners kick in too!!

NC
 
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