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General Aircraft
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Black F14?
shonen_red
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Metro Manila, Philippines
Joined: February 20, 2003
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Posted: Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 05:32 PM UTC
I saw a black F14 in a local hobby shop. Does it have the same structure with that white one? Is it working alongside with the common F14s?
GIBeregovoy
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Metro Manila, Philippines
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Posted: Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 05:50 PM UTC
What do you mean by "same structure"? Here's the squadron info that used the Black Bunny (I emailed you this one already):

Established in 15 September 1952 to undertake testing of air-launched guided missiles, VX-4 (Navy Test and Evaluation Squadron - 4) Vandy became the Navy's main air-to-air fighter operational test and evaluation unit. Based in Pt. Mugu, Ca., VX-4 was the first Tomcat operator and during the years, over 7 and 12 aircraft were on strenght for systems evaluation and tactics develoment. VX-4 was instrumental in proving the F-14's AWG-9/AIM-54 Phoenix system (AWG-9 is the radar, AIM-54 the designation of the Phoenix), particularly the AIM-54C (the final development of Phoenix), and was closely involved with the AIM-9L Sidewinder all-aspect AAM program. VX-4 is best known for its use of the Playboy Bunny as an aircraft marking, which has appeared on its F-14s and pre-F-14 days when it operated an F-4J and F-4S, all in all-over gloss black scheme with white playboy markings - the infamous Black Bunnies. The first Tomcat (BuNo. 158358) to appear in a similar (but this time flat) black scheme was painted for a VX-4 change of command ceremony. With the bunny logo on the tail, the aircraft wore VX-4's XF tailcode on a red fintip band, flanked by white stars. No actual serial was carried. By all accounts, the scheme was popular with everyone but an unimpressed admiral, and the water-soluble paint was removed after 2 days. Since then, it has reappeared sporadically on various F-14s to mark a number of special occasions. VX-4 was to be formally disestablished on 29 April 94 but this was delayed until 30 September, and eventually VX-4 was combined with sister unit VX-5 Vampires to form VX-9 (formally established on 29 APril), HQ'd at NAWS (Naval Air Warfare Station), China Lake.

Source: Grumman F-14 Tomcat Shipborne Superfighter, edited by Jon Lake, published by Aerospace Publishing, as part of their Warplane Classics Series.

Most probably the Black Bunny you saw (I reckon it's the Revell kit) is the F-14A. Bear in mind that VX-4 (now VX-9) has had some Tomcats painted in the Black Bunny scheme on special occasions as the info I emailed you (and above reproduced) states. It is possible that the Black Bunny scheme might also been in use for the F-14B and the F-14D. And since it only appears in the VX-4 (or VX-9), the Black Bunny is not deployed alongside other F-14s, by which "deployed" means serving in normal, carrier operations. By the squadron's code "VX", it is a Test and Evaluation squadron, used to testing weapons, engines maybe, avionics, etc. It is not used in combat.

If you still need more in-depth info on the Black Bunnies, VX-4, VX-9, or the Tomcat in general, head to forums at www.acig.org (registration required) where there is a thread devoted solely on the F-14 which is, last time I checked, around 25 pages long. Trust ACIG.
Vodnik
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Warszawa, Poland
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Posted: Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 07:51 PM UTC
One more information - regular F-14's are not overall white. Traditional painting scheme for Tomcats in the 1970's and early 1980's was light gull gray top and white bottom and control surfaces. Later overall gull gray scheme was introduced, to be finally replaced by currently used low-visibility gray schemes.

Rgds,
Pawel
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