Military aircraft galleries, action photography and airshow reports.
All images copyright to Andrew Philpott. ©
The F-14 Tomcat, captured the imaginations
of thousands of military aviation fans with its
twin tails, large after burning engines and
swing wing design. Due to be retired shortly
in the future and replaced by F/A-18 Super
Hornets, we decided to jump into a jumbo
and make the short hop over the wet stuff to
see the beast in action!
Virtually all the Squadrons based at NAS
Oceana are now either Legacy Hornet or
Super Hornet equipped. Fortunately there
are still four F-14 Tomcat Squadrons in
operation that have not yet transferred to
the F/A-18 Super Hornet. The two present
at Oceana are VF-101 “Grim Reapers” and
VF-32 “Swordsman”. ( Pictured on the
Right taxiing past the crowds. )
The static aircraft display was minimal
with an F-14B Tomcat “Swordsman” from
VF-32 and a F/A-18E Super Hornet, single
seat version from VFA-106. ( Pictured on
the Right. )
The first United States Navy aircraft flying
demonstration was performed by a E-2C
Hawkeye from VAW-120. The Hawkeye
known as “The eyes of the Fleet” is always
looking out for threats to the aircraft or their
Carrier. It carries a radar dome on its back
encasing the powerful electronic equipment
similar to the E-3 Sentry aircraft. ( Pictured
on the Right performing a top side pass. )
After the National Anthem, four F-14 Tomcats
were launched, three from VF-32 Squadron
and the other from VF-101 Squadron, specially
painted with light gray and a red tail. Also to
get airborne was a pair of VFA-136 F/A-18C
Hornets and a pair of F/A-18F Super Hornets
from VFA-211 to take part in the Air Power
Demonstration. Low level fast passes in
conjunction with pyrotechnics, all giving the
illusion of weaponry being dropped. Plus the
humidity at Oceana helped to produce
incredible amounts of wing vapour!
After numerous passes from the four Navy
units, they disappeared to join together in
a formation for the Fleet Tactical Aircraft
Flyby. Leading the formation was a four
ship of F-14 Tomcats with the F/A-18C
Hornet pair on the left side and the F/A-18F
Super Hornet pair on the right side of the
formation.
I was surprised to see the unmistakable
shape of an QF-4E Phantom getting airborne
to take part in the United States Air Force
Heritage Flight. Consisting of an QF-4E
Phantom which was leading the formation
an F-16CJ and a pair of F-86 Sabres.
( Pictured on the Front page. )
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Click Thumbnail for larger image.
QF-4E Phantom from the United
States Air Force Heritage Flight.
Single Seat F/A-18E Super Hornet
of VFA-106 “Gladiators”.
E-2C Hawkeye of VAW-120
performing a top side pass.
F-14B Tomcat of VF-32 returning
after the Air Power Demo.
F/A-18Fs from VFA-211 taxiing
back after the Air Power Demo.
