20 Oct 2005, 11:43
The Tomcat is a classic aircraft that will be remembered with the 'all-time' greats like the Corsair, Hellcat, Phantom, etc... (in a Navy context)
But - look at where aviation technology has come in the past few decades. The F-14, although probably ahead of it's time in some ways, first flew in 1970 - that's 35 years ago (it's first cruise with VF-1 and VF-2 provided air cover for the evacuation of Saigon). Just think of where aviation technology was in that same period of 35 years before the Tomcat - in 1935 we were experimenting with aircraft that only had one set of wings, retractable landing gear were still pretty new, and at least some ABDR could still be done with a needle and thread...
The Tomcat was a generational leap in capability from the Phantom, yet there was only a 12 year difference between first flights (F-4, 1958). The state, and capability, of aviation was progressing quickly during those years - but that gain hasn't slowed much in the 35 years since then. We've jumped probably a couple of generations. Vastly upgraded aerodynamics. Stealth, like it or not. Incredible electronics increases. Exponential increases in servicability - as Lawman said above - whatever you may think about Tomcats being replaced by Hornets and their respective capabilities, ten Hornets on the flightdeck beats six Tomcats on the hangar deck any day of the week. They have to fly to fight.
As much as I love the old Tomcat, it is just that, old. "Anytime, baby!" is passing into history, just as the other greats did before it. Remember it for what it was, but don't try to think that it's something that it's not anymore.
Mike
(Damn, you'd almost think that I'd been Navy after reading that...)
F-16A/B/C/D P&W/GE Crew Chief and Phased Maint.
56TTW/63TFTS 1987-1989
401TFW/614TFS 1989-1991