Topic of the week #1 - Tomcats

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Draken
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Topic of the week #1 - Tomcats

Post by Draken »

As 48h Photo comp is no longer live - let's have weekly themed topic. The creator will pick next one after 7 days from photos submitted below.

F-14 Tomcat is in first place on my "yet to see live" planes list followed closely by XB-70 and SR-71.
As I don't have any photos of the 'Cat - please share you best 5 photos of this mighty legend.
Thanks!

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capercaillie
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Re: Topic of the week #1 - Tomcats

Post by capercaillie »

One of the sexiest fast jets in the world, especially in wings back mode.

Vandy One at Point Mugu 1997
ImageF-14D Tomcat 164604/XF1 VX-9 US Navy NAS Point Mugu by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Long term company aircraft as an aggressor at Fallon in 1997
ImageF-14A Tomcat 159855/10 NSAWC US Navy NAS Fallon by Paul Downes, on Flickr

One of four in the 1994 D-Day 50th commemorative flypast departing Yeovilton
ImageF-14B Tomcat 161422/AG101 VF-143 US Navy USS George Washington by Paul Downes, on Flickr

VF-74 from USS Saratoga displaying at Air Fete in 1992
ImageF-14B Tomcat 161435/AA106 VF74 US Navy USS Saratoga by Paul Downes, on Flickr

NSAWC at Point Mugu in 1997
ImageF-14A Tomcat 160666/221 NWTS/NAWCWD US Navy NAS Point Mugu by Paul Downes, on Flickr
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Spiny Norman
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Re: Topic of the week #1 - Tomcats

Post by Spiny Norman »

Seen a couple fly, at Mildenhall and Fairford back in the 1990s. The display was at 1992 air fete.

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jalfrezi
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Re: Topic of the week #1 - Tomcats

Post by jalfrezi »

Only hangar queens for me, didn't pick up my camera until after they were gone.

ImageGrumman F-14D Tomcat - 01 by Nick Jennings, on Flickr

ImageGrumman F-14A Tomcat - 02 by Nick Jennings, on Flickr

ImageGrumman F-14A Tomcat - 1 by Nick Jennings, on Flickr

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Wrexham Mackem
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Re: Topic of the week #1 - Tomcats

Post by Wrexham Mackem »

Here's another couple of museum pieces, the last combat Tomcat displayed at Pensacola
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and another Pensacola specimen, less well cared for
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and some oldies
Boscombe Down 1990
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and Boscombe Down again 1992
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and on the same tour/series of appearances, although a different airframe, at Woodford
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DerekF
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Re: Topic of the week #1 - Tomcats

Post by DerekF »

F-14A 161422 of VF-142 at Mildenhall 1984
Imagezz1984056_19 by Derek N.Ferguson, on Flickr

F-14A 161852 of VF-31 at Leuchars 1988
Imagezz1987115_19 by Derek N.Ferguson, on Flickr

F-14A 161136 of VF-41 at Leuchars 1986
Imagezz1988454_17 by Derek N.Ferguson, on Flickr

F-14A 160390 of VF-84 at Fairford 1993
Imagezz1993219_27 by Derek N.Ferguson, on Flickr

F-14D 159619 at Lakeland, FL in 2012.
ImagezzD80_04_DSC_5106E by Derek N.Ferguson, on Flickr

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Seamus
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Re: Topic of the week #1 - Tomcats

Post by Seamus »

Sadly, a type I never saw fly, up close at least, having had very few encounters with them, the best of which was in the static park at Yeovilton 96. It was quite the surprise seeing so much US Navy hardware on the deck at the Photocall!

Some poor scans of even poorer images taken by my 11 year old self...

ImageGrumman F-14A Tomcat 159863 US Navy RNAS Yeovilton 13/07/96 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

ImageGrumman F-14A Tomcat 160926 US Navy RNAS Yeovilton 13/07/96 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

ImageGrumman F-14A Tomcat 160926 US Navy RNAS Yeovilton 13/07/96 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
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aviodromefriend
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Re: Topic of the week #1 - Tomcats

Post by aviodromefriend »

All those Americans till now....

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Niallxg
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Re: Topic of the week #1 - Tomcats

Post by Niallxg »

Unfortunately, only a limited number of Tomcats, all museum pieces, on digital.

ImageTomcat by Niall Grant, on Flickr

ImageRed Rippers Cat by Niall Grant, on Flickr

ImageJuly 30, 2019_Grissom Museum_0013 by Niall Grant, on Flickr

ImageGrumman F-14A Tomcat by Niall Grant, on Flickr

ImageSelfridge ANGB Air Park by Niall Grant, on Flickr

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planenuts
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Re: Topic of the week #1 - Tomcats

Post by planenuts »

Hi chaps, YEY ! we're back, and kickin' off in style with a classic.
Only saw 1 display, Boscombe Down 1992, and the photos were fuzzy. Still a privilege.

Yeovilton 1996. Never was grey on grey more sexy. On top of Shaun's set, here are the interesting tails
ImageIMG_7558 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr

AMARC 1996. Lotsa Tomcats. Sad, but interesting nonetheless
ImageIMG_7143 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr

USS Intrepid, New York 1995. SUPER Tomcat. Just how good must that one have been ??!!
ImageIMG_7040 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr

NAS Miramar, California 1996, then home of Top Gun. Had a E-2 Hawkeye squadron tour planned, but got cancelled at the last moment.
So, as compensation, we were offered 2 hours on the arrivals balcony under the tower. And a tour inside the tower.

Resident Tomcat on 'the deck'. Sorry about the 'lean/slope' (must've been a choppy sea) :laughing:
ImageIMG_5883 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr

View from inside the tower. Wasn't bad I suppose..... More 'slope' (anyone viewing slid off a chair yet ?)
ImageIMG_5890 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr

Not in the competition, but this shows how annoyingly close I was to getting some landing shots. Saw loads do this
ImageIMG_5885 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr

This is Rupe "planenuts" Kelley (not Pete "Maverick" Mitchell) signing off.

Rupe :slight_smile:
Last edited by planenuts on Wed 24 Nov 2021, 4:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Bernard
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Re: Topic of the week #1 - Tomcats

Post by Bernard »

1990 Miramar airshow
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1996 Brustem airshow
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1997 Gilze Rijen departures
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buccs2b
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Re: Topic of the week #1 - Tomcats

Post by buccs2b »

Rummaging around in the archives has produced these scans

First up MCAS Miramar 1996, the only Tomcat I saw there - now on USS Midway
ImageMiramar_19961024_0001 by Tony Adams, on Flickr

1996 again, Pima Air Museum
Image199610_Pima_0020 by Tony Adams, on Flickr

Then stepping back to 1991 and RAF Leuchars
ImageIMG_0017 by Tony Adams, on Flickr

ImageLeuchars_19910920_0002 by Tony Adams, on Flickr

ImageLeuchars_19910920_0001 by Tony Adams, on Flickr
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Tuckat
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Re: Topic of the week #1 - Tomcats

Post by Tuckat »

I was lucky enough to see the Tomcat displays at Boscombe and Mildenhall in 1992. Sadly I don't have any surviving airborne images from either, so the first three are static at Mildenhall, and the other two tie in with capers post, they were taken at Portsmouth sea front at the 50th D Day commemoration in 1994.



Image109 by Phil Roberts, on Flickr

Image105 by Phil Roberts, on Flickr

Image100 by Phil Roberts, on Flickr

Image100 by Phil Roberts, on Flickr

Image101 by Phil Roberts, on Flickr
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xkekeith
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Re: Topic of the week #1 - Tomcats

Post by xkekeith »

In service Tomcats:
Image159595 'AG110' F-14A VF-143 USN by Keith Heywood, on Flickr

Image[/url]158978 XF33 F-14A VX-4 USN by Keith Heywood, on Flickr

ImageF-14A VX-4 x2 by Keith Heywood, on Flickr

MASDC:
Image158614 F-14A ex NATC by Keith Heywood, on Flickr

Allegedly this San Diego museum Tomcat was used in the new Top Gun movie:
Image159631 'NG/201' F-14A VF-24 USN by Keith Heywood, on Flickr

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AndyXH558
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Re: Topic of the week #1 - Tomcats

Post by AndyXH558 »

Don't know about anyone else but I'm absolutely loving seeing this thread.

Was Lucky enough to see a couple over the years. Especially at Woodford in 92..

Thanks guys . Absolutely stunning pics
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Draken
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Re: Topic of the week #1 - Tomcats

Post by Draken »

My oh my...
What a collection of brilliant photos! Thank you very much to all who contributed. A lot of amazing photos here.
Really difficult to pick just one. I love head-on shots - they really show the power and beauty of Tomcat. Also - appreciate the Iranian Cats - great to see them still active!

But the one which got me is this shot from Niallxg. The shape is just perfection!
ImageJuly 30, 2019_Grissom Museum_0013 by Niall Grant, on Flickr

So - over to you Niall.
Please keep topic name form as this one ;)

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Re: Topic of the week #1 - Tomcats

Post by Niallxg »

Hi all

Thanks Draken. Very unexpected.

Unfortunately due to work commitments I won’t be in a position to post photos to kick off a new topic. So Draken if you would be so kind as to nominate an alternative.

Regards

Niall

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Draken
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Re: Topic of the week #1 - Tomcats

Post by Draken »

Thanks Niall for the information.

I'll go with this head-on shot from Tuckat
Image109 by Phil Roberts, on Flickr

Over to you Phil.

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Tuckat
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Re: Topic of the week #1 - Tomcats

Post by Tuckat »

Thanks very much Draken, new topic up shortly.
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