Quicksand Fans

Everything Old is New, AGAIN Thanks to Steeljaw Scribe

Ah such interesting times. As SJS says, its a hell of a time to suddenly lament the loss of the primary platform used in the Outer Air Battle. Who needed those damn Tomcats anyways? Aside from the observation that, this is what happens when the perfumed princes in the 5-sided Wind Tunnel get their way instead of actual warfighters....

This, is not a Good Thing (tm). Just in case any folks forget, the primary mission of the F-14 was fleet defence, using the AIM-54 missile. The Bugs (even the new ones) dont have the legs, or the missile to do it. Even Lex knew that. He might have ragged on the Tom Drivers, and had fun in a dogfight with them, but he also knew that in that sort of engagement, the Toms were up front, the Bugs were supposed to catch the leakers. There aint no Toms now... eh boy

And if that's not bad enough..... Dilute the Fleet's Combat Power from CDR Sal

one poster has it dead on; how much hand wringing and spin can we expect when one of these aluminum death sleds gets melted by, well, just about anything? The bottom line is, dead sailors, and a lost ship. THAT is the real price these pencil-necks dont want to address.

I looked up the F-14 Tomcat on Wikipedia a few months ago. and was sad to see the only nation still using it is Iran... Because we sold some to Iran while the US friendly Shah was still in power. Such a cool plane...

I can't believe they're going to build 40 of those things. Still say they look like somebody slapped some aftermarket armor and guns on a yact.....
China....Meh. It's not like they can actually use any of that pathetically outdated artillary. If they did it'd be like Walmart shooting it's customers.

Never fear; With all the embargos since then they can't keep the bird in the air for long. I believe the last I heard it was used as an "AWACS" role. They vectored their fighters to an intercept. I don't recall the outcome; against the Iraqis if I recall correctly. They have had "troubles" and have remanufactured and "locally produced" some parts for their chopper fleet, but this bird may be more tech-y than they can handle. "Standby" is a good Crew Chief response as he checks on something, so... "Standby"...

Northerner wrote:I looked up the F-14 Tomcat on Wikipedia a few months ago. and was sad to see the only nation still using it is Iran... Because we sold some to Iran while the US friendly Shah was still in power. Such a cool plane...

*

It'd be cool if you could just buy a surplus one and fly around in it for fun. Probably need to have a net worth equal to Bill Gates to afford the maintence costs though haha.....

Crappy Iranian Toms don't worry me much. Having crappy kit and ideology up front , does.

And look, its that pesky reality intervening again!



Sal must have a good liquor cabinet handy. I wish I did