VF-2 "Bounty Hunters" jet positioned for launch. Taken on a mid-80s cruise by Dave "Bio" Baranek.
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Mission: To Preserve the History of the Greatest Fighter Jet the United States Navy Has Ever Flown.
The F-14 Tomcat Association
Our primary purpose is to maintain contact among the members of the Tomcat community, keep members informed of developments in Naval Aviation, provide support to museums where F-14s are on display, and sponsor annual reunions of the F-14 family. Membership is open to anyone who has flown, worked on, or just plain love the F-14 aircraft.
This website is dedicated to the aircrews who risked their lives fighting for our freedom, the maintainers in the hangars and shops who kept these jets flying, the managers and support personnel who continually found the funds and supplies needed to hold it all together, and finally, the engineers, scientists, technicians and artisans who designed and built the F-14 and who through the years came up with the improvements to keep it in the air for 36 years.
ALWAYS, BABY ...!
President's Message - Summer 2018
President’s Message – August 2018
Dear Tomcat Flyers, Fixers, and Fans,
Greetings! We have three fantastic topics to describe in this newsletter, so please read all the way to the end.
In case you weren’t aware, we are conducting our reunion in the same hotel and on the same weekend as the F-8 Crusader association. We are joining forces on some events, and have de-conflicted others to maximize your fun for the weekend. See details below.
Attention to brief – item#1. It is time to register for the 2018 Reunion in San Diego. Do not delay, do not procrastinate, just finish reading this and go to the F-14 Association website, click the Flight Schedule button, or use this link: http://www.f-14association.com/form/6-2018-tomcat-reunion-registration.html and sign up. You do not need to be a current member (but you know that you should be).
We have a fantastic plan for this year, at the beautiful San Diego Marriott La Jolla. You can book your room by clicking Hotel Registration Link or call (800) 228-9290 and ask for Group Reservations – F-14 Tomcat Group. Do not delay – the Hotel reservations and registration cutoff date is September 4, 2018.
General schedule:
| Date | F-14 Tomcat Association | F-8 Crusader Association |
| Wednesday PM | Welcome reception – Ready Room at the hotel | Ready Room open |
| Thursday day | Tour of Midway | Free time |
| Thursday night | Gunfighter Happy Hour Reception | |
| Friday Day | VIP Airshow Chalet – DOD day at Miramar | |
| Friday Night | Banquet Dinner - RADM Fred Lewis | Squadron dinners |
| Saturday Day |
Group Breakfast then Symposia:
-Fighting against the Tomcat – the Adversary Pilot panel led by Jim “Guido” DiMatteo -Testing the Tomcat – Developmental and Operational Test stories
General Business Meeting
San Diego Air and Space Museum |
Golf Tournament
High Tea for ladies
Board Meeting |
| Saturday night | Informal Squadron Dinners | Last Annual Crusader Ball |
Tomcat News - Summer 2018 Reunion Special Released!
Please check-out the latest release of Tomcat News! Members of the F-14 Tomcat Association can access the newsletter from the Newsletter link (under the "Members Only" menu).
F-14 Nose Gear Brace
F-14 Tomcat Nose Gear Brace
We are excited to announce the availablity of nose gear braces for F-14 Tomcats on display. As time goes by, many display F-14 aircraft are 'in the kneel' due to gradually decreasing pressure in the nose gear strut. These braces will keep the F-14 nose at its default elevation.
There are two styles of nose gear brace:
1. The Rockies-Style nose gear brace is provided free of charge to museums with Tomcats on display (we only ask the museums to cover the actual cost of shipping the brace).
2. The Grumman-Style nose gear brace is a replica of the nose gear brace originally designed by Grumman. Our replica Grumman-style brace can be purchased for $200.00 (which includes materials, fabrication, and shipping).
The F-14 Tomcat Association is proud to provide this assistance to museums who maintain F-14 static displays. Please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information or to request a nose gear brace. Please allow some time for the nose gear brace to be fabricated (they are produced 'on-demand'). Tomcats Forever!
Tomcat Sunset Monument - Bricks Available!
NAS Oceana (Virginia Beach, VA) is home to the Tomcat Sunset Monument. Many F-14 Tomcat Association members have asked about purchasing a commemerative engraved brick. These bricks are placed at/around the base of the monument (photos of the bricks at the monument site are shown below).
The bricks are still available! The order form can be found at the Tidewater ANA chapter web site:
http://hrana.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Tomcat-Brick.pdf
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Random Tales
13 Nov 1991, USS Eisenhower: During a mission in the Persian Gulf this VF-142 aircraft lost its radome when the latching mechanism failed. During the departure the radome came