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Tomcats gone by fall of 2006
This might be of some interest. Throw out all those other transition schedules
we've seen. g start DEFENSE DAILY 16 JUN 04 Tomcat Transition To Super Hornet Complete By Fall '06, Admiral Says By Lorenzo Cortes The Navy will successfully retire the remainder of its Northrop Grumman [NOC] F-14 Tomcat fleet in fall 2006 thanks to an accelerated schedule that also includes introducing Boeing [BA] F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter-bombers earlier, according to the Atlantic Fleet's air forces chief. "One of the things that we have been able to do as a result of some good production with our industry partners with the success of the multiyear with the E and F is we were able to look at and make a decision to accelerate the transition of the last of the F-14 squadrons to the F/A-18E/F," Rear Adm. Jim Zortman, commander of Naval Air Forces Atlantic, said last week during the Association of Naval Aviation's 2004 convention in Vienna, Va. "That is taking place right now, and by fall of '06, we will have made that transition. ... end MW |
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"Mike Weeks" wrote in message ... This might be of some interest. Throw out all those other transition schedules we've seen. g start DEFENSE DAILY 16 JUN 04 Tomcat Transition To Super Hornet Complete By Fall '06, Admiral Says By Lorenzo Cortes The Navy will successfully retire the remainder of its Northrop Grumman [NOC] F-14 Tomcat fleet in fall 2006 thanks to an accelerated schedule that also includes introducing Boeing [BA] F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter-bombers earlier, according to the Atlantic Fleet's air forces chief. MW How does the range of the F-18 E/F compare with the F-14 Bombcat, with both carrying equivalent attack loads? Afghanistan is a good example of why the Navy needs a dedicated medium range attack aircraft. I imagine the phrase "Wish we still had a few A-6's" was heard more than once in discussions on Naval air planning regarding Afghanistan..... |
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#5
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From what I understand the F/A-18E/F has slightly less range than the
Tomcat, but (with ATFLIR and the HMCS) is a much more capable Strike Fighter... not to mention its much better maintenance numbers and radar. Kinda sad, 30 years design progress and we get an airframe that can't exceed .... or even match ... the Turkey's performance (except at high alfa ... big whoop!). Wouldn't have been a big deal to retrofit advanced WCS/Radar capability. Of course the maintainability could not have been solved without a clean sheet of paper redesign (pretty much what the E/F is compared to the original Bug anyway). R / John |
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John Carrier wrote:
Kinda sad, 30 years design progress and we get an airframe that can't exceed ... or even match ... the Turkey's performance (except at high alfa ... big whoop!). Wouldn't have been a big deal to retrofit advanced WCS/Radar capability. Of course the maintainability could not have been solved without a clean sheet of paper redesign (pretty much what the E/F is compared to the original Bug anyway). Yea, the "-ilities" are where a HUGE percentage of the costs accrue with a weapons system. Huge. Guys who talk with their hands want it all of course, but as soon as you start calculating dollars-per-kill, you have to move away from the old airframes. Have to. |
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In article , John Carrier
wrote: From what I understand the F/A-18E/F has slightly less range than the Tomcat, but (with ATFLIR and the HMCS) is a much more capable Strike Fighter... not to mention its much better maintenance numbers and radar. Kinda sad, 30 years design progress and we get an airframe that can't exceed ... or even match ... the Turkey's performance (except at high alfa ... big whoop!). Wouldn't have been a big deal to retrofit advanced WCS/Radar capability. Of course the maintainability could not have been solved without a clean sheet of paper redesign (pretty much what the E/F is compared to the original Bug anyway). R / John The D is an incredible airplane the way it is but the "good stuff" like upgrades to radar and such aren't what's killing it as much as a lack of spares of the little stuff like valves, relays and widgets. This lack of spares results in a high cannibalization rate that then results in an obscene maint man-hour per flight hour ratio. I also understand that there's some core fatigue issues that can't be overcome by simply rewinging like the Prowler and Intruder went through (or are going through with the Prowler) It all comes down to money. Not the best capability but the best capability for the dollar and a "good enough" capability to bridge to something better. Not what all of us wearing gold wings want but fiscal reality. My DS cruise was with CAG-8. A tremendous airwing of 24 Tomcats, 24 Hornets, 16 A-6's (no KA's) a bunch of S-3's, 5 Prowlers, 5 E-2's and H-3¹s but I have to admit that for what they're doing now an E/F airwing seems more effective. Times change. I mourned the loss of the Intruder (and death of the A-6F) as much as anyone but that facet war fighting has changed. Fortunately the continued need for brave crews and dedicated maintenance troops keeps us connected with our past. Pugs |
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gaepps- The D is an incredible airplane the way it is but the "good stuff"
like upgrades to radar and such aren't what's killing it as much as a lack of spares of the little stuff like valves, relays and widgets. BRBR Incredible compared to the F-14A, but here in 2004, it is miles behind other aircraft of the day, both US and 'other'. Like I have said, it should have been the F-14E, back in the 80's when Reagan $$ was a flowin'. It languished, became stale. The 'D' is better but a compromise from day one. When at VX-4, in the late 80's, I saw the 'D' at VX-4, also saw a brief about the F-15E. Embarassing when you compare the two. P. C. Chisholm CDR, USN(ret.) Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye Phlyer |
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#10
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You know me, John. Kool-Aid drinker. I'm telling you though. 2v1 or
1v1, that high alpha's a big positive deal--against F-14's, F-15's, and F-16's. Admittedly, that low top speeds a big negative deal too. Gotta stay and fight. Can't run. Yep, and in the real world it's the guy that's not part of your personal 1v1 that gets his silver star equivalent while you were dazzling his buddy. Great fun, great way to be a target, great way to activate your SGLI. R / John |
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