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.