Wonder what stopping any of those tomcats from being bought up and
flown by private owners? Surely someone has gotta keep at least 1 or 2
jets airworthy just to remind future generations what the f-14 stood
for.


It won't happen for a variety of reasons - chief among them, the incredible
complexity of the system and the hard working career that these jets served in
for decades. Unlike earlier, less complex carrier aircraft, the Turkey
requires a veritable army of ground support and supplies. They've been
bouncing off steel decks for 30 years; they did it well, but they are now
getting quickly worn out. Even vast amounts of money can't keep one of these
flying much longer - it will end up like that CAF Marauder; spend $$$$$ to
revive an edgy, very tricky and state of the art warplane that should be
preserved in museums for all to see - instead, some small group of people at a
quickly forgotten airshow will get to watch it crash. They should be allowed
to retire in a manner that does not include troublesome crashes while being
flown by hobbyists, tickerers, and bored rich.

Unless *I* get one, then stand back, Mav.

v/r
Gordon
====(A+C====
USN SAR

Its always better to lose -an- engine, not -the- engine.