Grim Reaper comes calling for F-14 training unit

From PilotOnline.com.

Yes, I stole the headline, but it says it all. The last training squadron of the F-14 is getting rid of the plane next month.

There is another blog you might want to check out. At FlightJournal.com, there is a long article comparing the F-14 to the F-18E/F. The authors DO NOT like the F-18 and think the Navy is making a big mistake in not upgrading the F-14.

Its worth reading the article, but remember, the authors are advocates, not impartial so their arguments would need to be verified.

I'm still sad to see the F-14 go, but how much of that is nostalgia for the plane and how much is concern the F-18 cannot do the job of the F-14 I cannot say.

Last Deployment - not mission

The last two active squadrons of F-14's have departed for their last deployment. When they return, the squadrons will transition to the F-18 Super Hornets.

Rob, the absentee owner of this site, started his working career with the F-14 (civilian contractor not pilot). Now he is working on other planes, but still not from the cockpit.

I've read the reasons for making the transition, but every time I read the stats on both planes, excluding the cost per flying hour, the F-14 is the better plane. Maybe the reason I'm so luke warm to the F-18 is because in the late 70s and 80s, the early F-18's were mediocre while the F-14 was doing its job day in and out. In that time there was a lot of bad press about the F-18, being too complicated to fly, to expensive to produce among others. The main problem I read and heard about the F-18 however was its limited range. The plane seemed to need a tanker to accompany it on any mission over 50 miles. I know that is an exaggeration but that is the main thing I remember from all the Aviation Week articles I read back then.

I'm not sure, but the F-14 could be the only plane in the Navy (or Air Force or Marines for that matter) that has been in combat and suffered zero losses.
F-14 no losses in combat that I am aware of
F-15 May have lost one or two during Desert Storm, I can't remember but thought did.
F-16 Pretty sure we lost one during Desert Storm.
F-18 no losses in combat that I am aware of.
F-117 one lost in the Balkan operations.
A-7, A-6 these were operational during the Vietnam war and did lose some planes.
B-52, this was operational during the Vietnam war and did lose some.
F/B-111, same as B-52
B-1 and B-2 no losses in combat that I am aware of.

Of course since this blog has not been updated for 9 months, I may be talking to myself here but if anyone else is reading this, please let me know what mistakes I have made in the above list. That there are mistakes I do not doubt.

The Washington Post has a story about the final deployment, but of course they call it the last mission. The F-14's last mission won't take place for about a year. Safe flying.

Katrina

Well, if you have been online at all in the last few days, Yahoo, Google, Amazon, Ebay and others have links for places to donate to help those in need due to Hurricane Katrina.

There are also many blogs that are working to raise funds through organizations.

If you are looking for good organizations, two of the many are
Samaritan Purse and Salvation Army. Click on the links to donate. The Salvation Army Link will take you to their US home page and can click on the link there.