VF-103 Tomcats Gone

[in2focus]

The final two VF-103 F-14B's departed Oceana Tuesday morning. I was
lucky enough to be there and my photos are at the link below:
http://art-thing.com/jsnas/f14/vf103.html

J.Stone

--

[[email protected]]

The latest "Air International" gives the following schedule for the
Tomcat squadron transition:
VF-103 - March 2005
VF-143 - April 2005 (to receive F/A-18E version, first photos
available)
VF-11 - May 2005
VF-101 - September 2005 (must be wrong - not redesignation, but
deactivation)
VF-32 - November 2005
VF-213 - May 2006
VF-31 - September 2006

But I am not sure what these dates mean - a formal redesignation to
VFA? safe-for-flight certificaton and reception of the ninth of primary
authorized aircraft? or something else?

VF-211 was redesignated to VFA in October 2004, but they must be still
at Lemoore.

I hope that all of the new birds won't escape your camera. Best wishes!
Jacek Zemlo

[Tiger]

in2focus wrote:

>The final two VF-103 F-14B's departed Oceana Tuesday morning. I was
>lucky enough to be there and my photos are at the link below:
>http://art-thing.com/jsnas/f14/vf103.html
>
>J.Stone
>
>--
>
>
Sad, sad day............ :-(

[Pechs1]

lana-<< Sad, sad day............ :-( >><BR><BR>


VERY sad that a great squadron is gone, but as a guy that flew the Turkey, like
the F-4 guys said when the F-8 was leaving...."when yer outta Tomcats, it's no
big deal".
Never liked the A/C. Great design that languished in it's middle and later
years. It needed redesign badly, with it's 'supersonic A-6" flightcontrols and
analog weapons system, but it wasn't and the F-14A/B/D was not on par with any
other series 4 A/C of the times..in the late 90s.
P. C. Chisholm
CDR, USN(ret.)
Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye Phlyer

[José Herculano]

> VERY sad that a great squadron is gone, but as a guy that flew the Turkey,
> like
> the F-4 guys said when the F-8 was leaving...."when yer outta Tomcats,
> it's no
> big deal".

The squadron isn't gone. They are transitioning to the F/A-18F.
_____________
José Herculano

[Pechs1]

Jose-<< The squadron isn't gone. They are transitioning to the F/A-18F.
>><BR><BR>

Great news!! Great squadron with lots of hertiage...but when yer outta
Tomcats...it's no big deal.
P. C. Chisholm
CDR, USN(ret.)
Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye Phlyer

[Tony Volk]

Come on Pechs, you've gotta admit that it was the sweetest looking Navy
fighter ever! At the very least, it's a lot nicer on the eye than the
F-18F. And sure, looks don't win fights, but there's got to be an
after-hours advantage to flying the sexiest machine out there ;)!

Tony


> Great news!! Great squadron with lots of hertiage...but when yer outta
> Tomcats...it's no big deal.
> P. C. Chisholm
> CDR, USN(ret.)
> Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye
Phlyer

[Pechs1]

Tony-<< Come on Pechs, you've gotta admit that it was the sweetest looking Navy
fighter ever! At the very least, it's a lot nicer on the eye than the
F-18F >><BR><BR>

I don't agree-The F-4 was the best looking fighter ever, at least in the jet
era.

I was much happier in the club with my Phantom patch than my Turkey patch....
P. C. Chisholm
CDR, USN(ret.)
Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye Phlyer

[John Miller]

Pechs1 wrote:
> I don't agree-The F-4 was the best looking fighter ever, at least in
the jet
> era.

Got my vote...and even if not the most aesthetic, certainly the most
impressive looking. The climb performance didn't hurt, either.

--
John Miller

[Tony Volk]

> I don't agree-The F-4 was the best looking fighter ever, at least in the
jet
> era.
> I was much happier in the club with my Phantom patch than my Turkey
patch....

"A man has only one virginity to lose in fighters, and if it is a lovely
plane he loses it to, there his heart will ever be" -Hemingway. Did you
lose yours in the Phantom? I always thought the name Double-Ugly was not
deserved for the Phantom, but it's too rocket-like for me to really enjoy
it. The Tomcat's blend of angles, points, and sweep make it tops for me,
especially given the fact that it can alter its appearance dramatically with
a swing of the wing. But to each their own, I hear some people even liked
the look of the SLUF!

Tony

[Tiger]

Pechs1 wrote:

>Tony-<< Come on Pechs, you've gotta admit that it was the sweetest looking Navy
>fighter ever! At the very least, it's a lot nicer on the eye than the
>F-18F >><BR><BR>
>
>I don't agree-The F-4 was the best looking fighter ever, at least in the jet
>era.
>
>I was much happier in the club with my Phantom patch than my Turkey patch....
>P. C. Chisholm
>CDR, USN(ret.)
>Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye Phlyer
>
>
Now CDR. Chisholm, a F-4 the best looking?? Surely you jest, Sir? :-[
It was fast, could carry allot, and agile enough for the Blue Angels.
But pretty???? no way......

[Dave in San Diego]

Tiger > wrote in
:

> Pechs1 wrote:
>
>>Tony-<< Come on Pechs, you've gotta admit that it was the sweetest
>>looking Navy fighter ever! At the very least, it's a lot nicer on the
>>eye than the F-18F >><BR><BR>
>>
>>I don't agree-The F-4 was the best looking fighter ever, at least in
>>the jet era.
>>
>>I was much happier in the club with my Phantom patch than my Turkey
>>patch.... P. C. Chisholm
>>CDR, USN(ret.)
>>Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye
>>Phlyer
>>
>>
> Now CDR. Chisholm, a F-4 the best looking?? Surely you jest, Sir? :-[
> It was fast, could carry allot, and agile enough for the Blue Angels.
> But pretty???? no way......

Not just pretty, but gorgeous. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder!

Dave in San Diego

[Pechs1]

Tony-<< "A man has only one virginity to lose in fighters, and if it is a
lovely
plane he loses it to, there his heart will ever be" -Hemingway. Did you
lose yours in the Phantom? >><BR><BR>

Yes, my first fleet tour was in VF-33, F-4J, 1976.
BUT I flew A-4 as an Adversary, the F-14 and the F-16N, still liked the F-4 the
most.

I was able to get back into it after a 5 year absence when I went back to VX-4
as XO. I was one of the two that actually wanted to fly the thing(F-4S), along
with the CO, Wigs Ludwig, so we got to fly it a lot. Loved that A/C, sorry to
end my career in it in 1989.
P. C. Chisholm
CDR, USN(ret.)
Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye Phlyer