F-14's GET IT ON!

[Zaphod]

I have no idea who painted this, or where it's from, or even what it portrays. I just think it's damned cool.

Enjoy!

[USNA69]

Originally Posted by Zaphod

or even what it portrays.

Not sure, but I think it is artistic license. Nose stripe looks VF-84ish but tail marking doesn't look like the skull and crossbones. Pre-1990 paint scheme, it apperars, so it is probably not the first Gulf War. Older A/B models. VF-84 wasn't involved in any of they Libyan incidents, I don't think and all those only involved sections of F-14s. Anyway, full mid-range short-range air-to-air loadout of Sparrows and Sidewinders, no Phoenix. Maybe one of the mids can ID it. My gut feeling, just a nice picture with no realistic significance.

[Zaphod]

Originally Posted by USNA69

My gut feeling, just a nice picture with no realistic significance.

Oh, of that I have no doubt. There is no historical event that comes close.

I was just wondering if the fireballs were supposed to be good guys or bad guys.

Yeah, I noticed the semi-VF-84 paintjob, too. Also, three have their wings swept back while the lead plane doesn't. I don't think that would be seen in reality, at least not if they were all in the same wave.

But hey, like I said: it's just a cool pic.

[ChipAyten]

This is the dogfight that the Air Force envisioned when it was created in 1948. The fire, the speed, the explosions THE SHEER DIRECT INJECTED TESTOSTERONE AWESOMENESS would make any AF Officer drool.

Too bad I cant think of any nations air force that wouldnt be afraid to be on the receiving end of that picture.

[USNA69]

Yep, Chip, an AF envisonment with the Navy doing all the fighting, F-14s were Navy. Too bad they are history. With Phoenix instead of the Sparrows depicted on the artwork, they would have provided a formidable asset in the Straits of Formosa and the E China Sea.

[ChipAyten]

Oh crud, i looks sdoopid now, f14=navy durrrr lol, i just looked at the tail wings and it looked like an f15 lol

[SubSquid]

In the spring of 1973 I was standing topside on the USS Pintado, tied up next to the USS Dixon (AS-37) at Point Loma, holding a broken condensate pump impeller in my hand when I heard a loud roar coming from North Island in San Diego. I looked over expecting to see an F-4 lumbering into the wild blue. Instead I saw the most beautiful pair of rocket ships blasting into the stratosphere! These were some of the first Tom Cats to enter fleet service. Seeing them take off, I was one, envious of those airdales, and, two, very proud to be a sailor in the United States Navy. Talk about first impressions! I still think that the F-14 was the best aircraft to ever trap on the deck of a bird farm. Or, maybe, it's just because they bring back such a vivid memory of my youth!

[USNA69]

Originally Posted by SubSquid

I still think that the F-14 was the best aircraft to ever trap on the deck of a bird farm.

Yep, Grumman Iron. I think both the A-6 and the F-14 were the two best suited aircraft for their roles that were ever designed. Pity they are both gone. I tried to fly A-6s but was too tall to do jet training in flight school. Thought I had successfully back doored via the A-1 Spad but they closed down that program also before I could get through it. Ended up in helos and never regretted a minute of it.

My son called when he was selecting platforms in flight school and asked my opinion on whether he should opt for the nice new super hornet which was modern and easy to fly but was running behind schedule and not into the fleet yet which would probably mean long pools waiting to enter training or the old hard to fly impossible to maintain F-14. I told him that if I personally ever passed up a chance to fly the F-14, I would probably regret it the rest of my life. He still thanks me for my advice.

[Zaphod]

Originally Posted by USNA69

Yep, Grumman Iron. I think both the A-6 and the F-14 were the two best suited aircraft for their roles that were ever designed. Pity they are both gone.

Amen.

[USNA69]

Great shots:

http://www.militarytimes.com/multime...inalf14flight/

If you get anything in the last minute, let me know. My run showed blank.