JGalban via AviationKB.com wrote:
Blueskies wrote:
The real issue is that if these planes are so dangerous then why
did we stop using them? Or, conversly, why are we scared of them?
Are a few operational planes that big of a threat?

Apparently Iran still has quite a few operational F-14s with all the
goodies.

It is unlikely that any of Iran's F-14s remained operational for
more than a few months (if at all) after the Grumman crews bugged
out. There's no record of any of them having flown since the Shah
abdicated in 1979. I saw an interview with one of the Grumman
engineers that had been in Iran. He said that there were only a few
operational before they left, there were no Iranian personal trained
to maintain them, and they made a few "modifications" before leaving
to prevent them from being put into service.

Without the parts, specialized maintenance equipment and trained
personnel, it's doubtful that any of them flew. Their complete
absence during the Iran/Iraq war would tend to support that theory.

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)

According to this site, "An Iranian Tomcat scored a kill against an Iraqi
Mirage F1 as late as the spring of 1988."

http://www.iiaf.net/aircraft/jetfighters/F14/f14.html