"Quo Vadis, F-14?"



In the recent years there have been talks about a replacement for the F-14, now that the Tomcat is at its best! There has never been a better Turkey than todays F-14D. I guess quite some of you who read this now know about the replacement for the F-14 ... the new F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. I am not expert enough to say if it is the better airplane for todays Navy or not. I can only repeat what I have heard about it: And that makes me think that the F/A-18 is not the better fighter; One pilot only, "short" long-range, less weapons bring-back capability, never capable to be an air superiority fighter as the F-14 with its radar and the AIM-54. Nevertheless, some vote pro F/A-18, some pro F-14. I am not neutral in this case and I would ever vote pro F-14.

I'm definitely fanatic for the F-14 and so I don't feel comfortable at all with the end of the Tomcat era.

But at least the F-14 is already in service for more than 25 years and on its final day with the Navy the F-14 will have done its duty for more than three decades!!!

tom