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Modern (1975-today): USA
Modern aircraft of the United States.
Hosted by Jim Starkweather
Bye Bye Tomcat
Martinnnn
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Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: April 26, 2004
KitMaker: 5,435 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 01:59 AM UTC

Quoted Text

well this will be a good opertunity to get a deal on a 1:1 f-14

Frank


:-) :-) :-)

I hope you have a large garden

Gotta love those F-14's, beautifull aircraft.

Martin
JPTRR
Staff MemberManaging Editor
RAILROAD MODELING
#051
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Tennessee, United States
Joined: December 21, 2002
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Posted: Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 07:16 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Are the US-retired F-14s perhaps meant to be sold or rent to other countries? (Like mothballed F-16s offered for leasing to East European countries?)


Hmmmmmm...maybe to Iran? :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)
gaborka
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Borsod-Abauj-Zemblen, Hungary
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Posted: Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 06:28 PM UTC
If not to Iran, what about Pakistan?
USArmy2534
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Indiana, United States
Joined: January 28, 2004
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Posted: Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 07:13 PM UTC
Pakistan has a US arms embargo against them. Best evidence of this is the US "holding" F-16s meant for Pakistan.

As for selling Tomcats to other nations, I doubt it. Countries see how maintenance intensive the Tomcat is, how few spare parts there are (though that can be increased with the number of Tomcats going to Davis-Monthan), and then compare what they could get with a new aircraft. Bottom line, even with a "discount" price, I don't think any nation will see buying tomcats as being cost-efficient.

Jeff
viper29_ca
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New Brunswick, Canada
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Posted: Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 07:22 PM UTC

Quoted Text

So they are retiring the Tomcats. Will they be sent to Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona?


Yeah they are already there. Download yourself a copy of Google Earth, or I would imagine you could go to Google Maps as well. Punch in Davis-Monthan AFB and hit search...and it will take you right over the base.

Zoom in, and count the carcases. Everything from B52s, to F-14s, and everything in between....its amazing the amount of aircraft at this facility. Its also sad, as this will be many of those aircraft's final resting place. Have a look at some of the partially disassembled B52s.
bf443
Vendor
JAC HOBBIES
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Idaho, United States
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Posted: Thursday, February 02, 2006 - 01:53 AM UTC
Excessive maintenance due to shortages of parts via defense cuts. But somehow the Iranians manage to keep there F-14's flying while having an arms embargo? I don't get it..............

"What a waste"

Brian
LonCray
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Virginia, United States
Joined: August 24, 2005
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Posted: Friday, February 03, 2006 - 01:38 AM UTC
Yeah, but the Iranians aren't crashi.... I mean, landing them on aircraft carriers, and they're not likely using them in sea environments, and they've probably cannibalized them down to only a few flying specimens anyway.
USArmy2534
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Indiana, United States
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Posted: Friday, February 03, 2006 - 02:17 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Yeah, but the Iranians aren't crashi.... I mean, landing them on aircraft carriers, and they're not likely using them in sea environments, and they've probably cannibalized them down to only a few flying specimens anyway.


Tis is correct. Their spare parts come from cannibalized aircraft and the black market (interestingly since the only other operator is the US, that would be where the parts are coming from...). Also, Iran isn't flying them regularly. A couple training flights once a month would probably be an accomplishment.

Jeff
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