Hi guys. Sorry if this is a stupid or old question, but I was just wondering, since they are retiring the F-14, what will happen to the NFOs (the RIOs acutally)? I know they are replacing the F-14 with the F/A-18E Super Hornet which is only a one seater. However, there is still the F/A-18F which is a two seater. Are RIOs gonna be out of a job now?
F-14 Retirement
- Thread starter penquinz
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Nope. Good question. The F-14 squadrons, for the most part, are being replaced by the 18F. However, with glass cockpits, the aircraft can be fought entirely from the front seat. Therefore, the job description of the back seater is still evolving somewhat. Due to the complexity of both the aircraft and the mission, it requires two people to operate it to its maximum efficiency and to avoid pilot overload. Still a very viable and important job.
BTW, Lazik surgery is now an option if the reason not to be a pilot involves eyesight.
BTW, Lazik surgery is now an option if the reason not to be a pilot involves eyesight.
kp2001
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Just a clarification: LASIK is not currently waiverable for pilots. The eye surgery that is waiverable at this time is known as PRK. The difference being in LASIK a flap is made in the cornea and in PRK the laser acts directly on the cornea with no flap. PRK is older technology; however, because there is no flap there is no chance that the flap could become dislodged and a pilot loose his eye sight in flight.
LASIK is currently in trials with the Navy for waiver approval as some initial studies have shown the flap to be pretty darn stable. Rabbits have been blown in the eye with air and the flap stays. There have also been case reports of Israeli pilots ejecting from aircraft and having no problems with the LASIK flap.
Also, although I am not sure of all the details pilots may now wear contacts; however, they must also carry a pair of glasses with them.
If anyone is thinking of getting any eye surgery done and have aspirations of becoming a pilot I ask that you please get in contact with a flight surgeon or the aerospace medicine community to find out what the exact requirements are. As an example although PRK is waiverable, only certain types are and some of the newer advancements such as Wavefront technology PRK are not.
LASIK is currently in trials with the Navy for waiver approval as some initial studies have shown the flap to be pretty darn stable. Rabbits have been blown in the eye with air and the flap stays. There have also been case reports of Israeli pilots ejecting from aircraft and having no problems with the LASIK flap.
Also, although I am not sure of all the details pilots may now wear contacts; however, they must also carry a pair of glasses with them.
If anyone is thinking of getting any eye surgery done and have aspirations of becoming a pilot I ask that you please get in contact with a flight surgeon or the aerospace medicine community to find out what the exact requirements are. As an example although PRK is waiverable, only certain types are and some of the newer advancements such as Wavefront technology PRK are not.
Yep, both Grumman "Iron", Bethpage, home territory for you, huh?Zaphod said:
Again, Zap, I agree with you. The F-14 was the US aerospace industry's crowning acheivement as a fighter-interceptor and the A-6 was the same as a bomber. Actually, when it was no longer needed as a fighter, the F-14 was transfigured into a pretty decent bomber. I am almost positive we will never again see other aircraft as fitted for their roles as these two were.
kp2001
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Retirement of the F14 also brought some unforeseen circumstances in the Hampton Roads area. A bunch of homeowners sued the US Govt because the F-18 is significantly louder than the 14 and they actually won and have been receiving payments from the government in the 5-10 thousand dollar range. Not sure how many people are getting the payouts.
kp2001 said:
This irritates me more than school board members voting against JROTC units. The lawsuit involves 2098 households of which I am sure all moved into their homes after NAS Oceana was constructed during WWII. The noise was there when they came to Virginia Beach. No one promised them that the next generation of military aircraft would be quieter. The Navy has been begging and pleading with developers and the City to limit their new construction, to no avail. Schools and shopping malls, not to mention homes, have been built directly in the flight paths of Oceana.
They are suing for loss of home value because the Navy “took” part of the value of their home when the Super Hornet came. They will probably be the same idiots who will sue when they run the Navy off for additional reduction in their property values.
The Super Hornet is loud, but probably no louder than the A-6, albeit a different kind of loud, more high pitched and bone rattling.
Zaphod said:
That is what I thought. Bethpage, where all the A-6s and F-14s were built, is also on western Long Island, right at your doorstep.
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I lived in Virginia Beach during 1995 and the first half of 1996. My apartment was less than 20 minutes from Oceana's main gate. I used the Exchange Comissary at Oceana weekly, and was eventually stationed at Dam Neck.
I saw A-6's overhead every day, and LOVED it. Sound of Freedom, if you ask me. Idiots who are suing, as USNA69 said, will most likely be the first to whine when the Navy has enough of their foolishness and decides it's better to just relocate the airbase than deal with these fools.
They should heed the lesson of the morons in Puerto Rico and the Phillipines who, after years of whining and complaining of how terrible the presence of the Navy was, suddenly freaked out and started apologizing in ashes and sackcloth when Subic Bay, Roosevelt Roads, and Vieques were shut down. "What about our jobs!" they whined.
"Screw you" was heard as the Navy sailed over the horizon.
It's amazing just how little respect there is in the Tidewater area for the Navy, considering the only reason Tidewater even has a zip code and electricity is because of all the bases there.
I saw A-6's overhead every day, and LOVED it. Sound of Freedom, if you ask me. Idiots who are suing, as USNA69 said, will most likely be the first to whine when the Navy has enough of their foolishness and decides it's better to just relocate the airbase than deal with these fools.
They should heed the lesson of the morons in Puerto Rico and the Phillipines who, after years of whining and complaining of how terrible the presence of the Navy was, suddenly freaked out and started apologizing in ashes and sackcloth when Subic Bay, Roosevelt Roads, and Vieques were shut down. "What about our jobs!" they whined.
"Screw you" was heard as the Navy sailed over the horizon.
It's amazing just how little respect there is in the Tidewater area for the Navy, considering the only reason Tidewater even has a zip code and electricity is because of all the bases there.
I mean come on that boardwalk is amazing 
