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The Tomcat's Final Days Aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) The last fully operational flying day of the Tomcat February 21, 2006 |
'Felix 101' F-14D Tomcat (164603 'AJ-101') with VF-31 the 'Tomcatters', the last Tomcat squadron, about to depart on its final fully operational sortie. |
This was my first view, along with the local fishing community at the small port of Marmaris in Turkey, of this immense aircraft carrier. |
Above right: Departing first on Catapult 3 E-2C Hawkeye (164496 'AJ-601'). The Hawkeyes are first to leave and last to return on any missions. |
Left to right: Hawkeyes are often followed by the launch of S-3B Viking (159755 'AJ-707'). |
Left to right: The first arrival of the day was the Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) flight to bring in visitors and supplies. It is C-2A Greyhound (162158 '44'). |
Prior to a mass launch the aircraft are placed behind each catapult to enable then under their own power to position on their allocated catapults. Left to right: F-14D Tomcat's (161163 'AJ-205' and 164348 'AJ-203') are moved into position by the Blue shirts, under the supervision of the yellow shirted traffic director. The back row is almost in position. Note: Tomcat '102' in the foreground on left is armed with air to air Sidewinder missiles. This aircraft was on alert status 'Alert 60' (the lowest), which means that it can be airborne to protect the carrier group within 60 minutes. Alert statuses of 30, 15 or 7 minutes are employed according to the perceived threat. |
I was positioned in the middle of the flight deck, alongside catapults 3 and 4, for the first main launch of 19 aircraft at 13:45. All four catapults were in use and the launches were made in very quick succession. 'TR' has four steam powered catapults each capable of propelling an aircraft from 0 to 160 MPH in two seconds. With all four catapults in use it is possible to launch an aircraft in every 20 seconds. Left to right: Tomcats, Hornets and Prowlers launched from Catapults 3 and 4. |
Left to right: A brown shirted crew chief cleaning the windows of a S-3B Viking. Green shirted maintenance and arresting gear crew doing their stuff. Finally after a recovery phase, everyone joins in an intensive Foreign Object Damage (FOD) check of the flight deck. |
Left to right: F/A-18C Hornet (164675 'AJ-401') with VFA-87 'Golden Warriors' on approach. F/A-18C Hornets (164632 'AJ-410' and 164669 'AJ-411') perform touch and go approaches, (note the arrestor hook has not been lowered). |
Left to right: F/A-18C Hornet (162861 'AJ-411', 164632 'AJ-410' and 164644 'AJ-406') with VFA-87 'Golden Warriors'. |
Left to right: F/A-18C Hornet (164661 'AJ-305', 164631 'AJ-312' and 164643 'AJ-302') with VFA-15 'Valions'. |
Left to right: F/A-18C Hornet (164687 'AJ-400') with VFA-87 'Golden Warriors'. F/A-18C Hornet (164675 'AJ-401') has caught the arresting wire but is still on full power just in case and two images of F/A-18C Hornet (164644 'AJ-406'). |
Left to right: F/A-18C Hornet (164643 'AJ-302', 164655 'AJ-304' and 164661 'AJ-305') with VFA-15 'Valions'. |
Final Tomcat Cruise |
Left to right: 'Felix 101' F-14D Tomcat (164603 'AJ-101') with VF-31 'Tomcatters'. |
Left to right: 'Felix 101' F-14D Tomcat (164603 'AJ-101') with VF-31 'Tomcatters'. |
Left to right: F-14D Tomcat (164342 'AJ-100') with VF-31 'Tomcatters'. |
Left to right: F-14D Tomcat (163902 'AJ-107') with VF-31 'Tomcatters'. |
Left to right: F-14D Tomcat (159600 'AJ-111') with VF-31 'Tomcatters'. |
Left to right: F-14D Tomcat (164350 'AJ-103') with VF-31 'Tomcatters'. |
Left to right: F-14D Tomcat (164346 'AJ-110' and 159600 'AJ-111') with VF-31 'Tomcatters'. |
Left to right: F-14D Tomcat (164347 'AJ-200', 160694 'AJ-201', 161163 'AJ-205' and 161166 'AJ-207') with VF-213 'Black Lions'. |
Left to right: F-14D Tomcat (161163 'AJ-205') with VF-213 'Black Lions'. |
The 'Scouts' Final deployment Whilst the Tomcat has naturally taken all the limelight regarding it's final cruise and eventual retirement, it should not go unreported that VS-24 'Scouts' S-3Bs are also making their final deployment aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt prior to their planned disbandment in 2007. The S-3 Viking is a multi-role jet offering day and night surveillance, electronic countermeasures and air-to-air refuelling. Like the Tomcat it has seen over 30 years service and is due to be withdrawn in 2009. Left to right: S-3B Viking (160602 'AJ-706') sequence of landing shots. |
Left to right: S-3B Viking (159755 'AJ-707' and 160151 'AJ-702') |
The Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler is used for electronic warfare with an extensive electronic counter-measures suite designed to detect, jam and destroy enemy radar systems. Three Prowlers were left behind in Iraq until USS Ronald Reagan was able to relieve them, they rejoined when TR was in the Mediterranean during my embark. Left to right: Three images of EA-6B Prowler (163033 'AJ-501') of VAQ-141 'Shadowhawks' as it arrives from Iraq. |
Left to right: EA-6B Prowlers (158542 'AJ-502', 163034 'AJ-500' and 163033 'AJ-501'). |
Designed for airborne early warning (AEW) to extend the radar range for the carrier group, the E-2 Hawkeye first flew in 1960 and entered service in 1964 as the E-2A. The latest variant the E-2C has turbo-prop engines enabling it to fly missions of up to 5½ hours in duration. The latest APS-145 radar, introduced in 1976 can monitor 150,000 square miles (390,000 km2) at any one moment. Despite the design being over 45 year old, future developments are in the pipeline. The E-2D will be lighter due to the introduction of modern composite materials and will employ updated radar and communication systems. The first of the 75 E-2Ds on order is expected to make its first flight in mid 2007. Left to right: E-2C Hawkeyes (163697 'AJ-602' and 164496 'AJ-601') arrive at the end of their sortie. |
Left to right: E-2C Hawkeyes (164483 'AJ-600' and 164496 'AJ-601') with VAW-124 'Bear Aces'. |
Launches continued through the evening and into the night. |
Left to right: F-14D Tomcats with VF-31 (163902 'AJ-107' and 164603 'AJ-101') depart from Catapult 3. Tomcats don't need to use afterburners for take-off, unlike the Hornets (see below). |
F/A-18C Hornet (164629 'AJ-301') with VFA-15 'Valions'. |
Left to right: F/A-18C Hornets (164675 'AJ-401') with VFA-87 'Golden Warriors' departs with (164629 'AJ-301') with VFA-15 'Valions'. |
Left to right: F/A-18C Hornet with VFA-15 (164655 'AJ-304') is taxiing up to the catapult. An F-14D Tomcat is about to be launched from Catapult 1, S-3B Viking (159732 'AJ-704') arrives and a F/A-18C Hornet (164643 'AJ-302') with VFA-15 about to be launched into the setting sun. (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 28-135mm (28mm) 1/25 f3.5 ISO 800). |
Left to right: C-2A Greyhounds during their frequent COD (Carrier Onboard Delivery) flights. |
Souda Bay, Crete |
The final day of my mini-cruise, arriving in Souda Bay to dock. Left to right: SH-60F Seahawk (164455 'AJ-613'). |
Left to right: EA-6B Prowler (163034 'AJ-500'), F-14D Tomcat (161166 'AJ-207') and S-3B Viking (159732 'AJ-704'). |
Everyone loves the Tomcat, the crew giving some final love and affection for an old friend. |
On returning to their home land base of NAS Oceana VF-213 will work up on the two seat F/A-18F Super Hornet in April and should be operational or 'safe-for-flight' in September 2006. VF-31 will remain operational on the Tomcat till transitioning to the single seat F/A-18E in October and should be 'safe-for-flight' in April 2007. Until then there new slogan is, "The Last Cat Standing." Special thanks must go to everyone who assisted me during the embark and to those who made it all possible, especially to Lt. Christopher Servello, Lt. Fred Kuebler and to Lt. Justin Cole. Philip Stevens Target Aviation Photography Addendum: 164342 'AJ-100' went to 'Wings Over Miami Air Museum' at Kendal-Tamiami Executive airport October 2006. The flight to nearby to Opa-locka on October 15, 2006 (before transporting it to the museum) was final flight of the last active F-14 Tomcat. 164603 'AJ-101' went to American Air Power Museum, near Republic Airport at Long Island, New York. 163902 'AJ-107' went to Crane Weapons Station. 164346 'AJ-110''Sweet Little Miss' the last Tomcat to land on an aircraft carrier is now at Museum of Flight, Rome Georgia. 159600 'AJ-111' nicknamed 'Christine' it was the longest serving Tomcat, it ended up at the Fort Worth Aviation Museum. 160694 'AJ-201' wearing the markings of VF-84 'Jolly Rogers' it is on display on the flight deck of USS Lexington, Corpus Christi Bay, Texas. 164348 'AJ-203' went to AMARC March 28, 2006. 161163 'AJ-205' went to Prairie Aviation Museum, Bloomington, IL on April 16, 2006. 161166 'AJ-207' went to Carolinas Aviation Museum, Charlotte, NC April 12, 2006. All but one of the remaining VF-213 Tomcats went to AMARC or other museums. |