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:

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 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!      

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