Collings Foundation Aquired a Two Place Hun...

[viking73]

JWe certainly appreciate the Cold War jets, but the problem is that there really aren't any viable candidates for restoration.

Rick,

What do you mean by that? There are lots of Cold War jets still around. Do you mean that they have been de-milled/out in the elements too long? Or do you mean there aren't any suitable candidates in civilian hands i.e. not under NMUSAF control??

That reminds me - what was the story behind the guy flying the F-84F in Thunder Bird markings some years back? I read it was confiscated by the Feds and then stuck on a pole in Montana Barf...

-Derek

[RickH]

I'm pretty sure the F84 never flew.

de-milled/out in the elements too long? Or do you mean there aren't any suitable candidates in civilian hands i.e. not under NMUSAF control??

All of the above....

[Nathan]

Im just happy another F-100 will be flying. Although Im not big on the three tone scheme.

[Clifford Bossie]

JWe certainly appreciate the Cold War jets, but the problem is that there really aren't any viable candidates for restoration.

Rick,

What do you mean by that? There are lots of Cold War jets still around. Do you mean that they have been de-milled/out in the elements too long? Or do you mean there aren't any suitable candidates in civilian hands i.e. not under NMUSAF control??

That reminds me - what was the story behind the guy flying the F-84F in Thunder Bird markings some years back? I read it was confiscated by the Feds and then stuck on a pole in Montana Barf...

-Derek

Derek,

The ownership of that F-84F (52-6969) was in dispute, basically it was unclear how it came into the hands of the person that flew. It was not airworthy too long before the USAF took possession and placed it on display at Malmstrom AFB. While it flew it carried the registration N84JW. It would be neat to see either a plank wing, or swept wing F-84 in the air again.

[whistlingdeath77]

i wonder how long before you can own and fly an f-14 tomcat?

[whistlingdeath77]

i wonder how long before you can own and fly an f-14 tomcat?

[davidbray]

i wonder how long before you can own and fly an f-14 tomcat?

never.

[whistlingdeath77]

i wonder how long before you can own and fly an f-14 tomcat?

never.

i'm sure at one time we all thought that you couldn't fly a phantom, f-100, f-86 etc...

[TAdan]

i wonder how long before you can own and fly an f-14 tomcat?

never.

i'm sure at one time we all thought that you couldn't fly a phantom, f-100, f-86 etc...

The difference with the F-14 is the way they were disposed of/ demilled. The Tomcats that were not marked for preservation (through loan from the Navy) are all being/ have been shredded into tiny pieces. The Govt. is extremely paranoid that F-14 parts could wind up with the Iranians/ the "wrong people".

So your only chance to have a privately owned F-14 is to cut a deal with the Iranians, and I doubt the U.S. would ever allow it to fly here.

[whistlingdeath77]

i thought we still had some in a reserve fleet somewhere? Mothballed, but still able to operate if need be

[dred]

No, the F-14s got a different treatment, see TAdan's last post. IIRC, some that were earmarked for museums were later confiscated and destroyed. The Navy has zero intention of ever operating F-14's again, even in emergency. In the case of the new-build D models, sort of a shame since they had a lot of useful life left.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington ... cats_N.htm

[whistlingdeath77]

yeah that sucks. I guess no top gun 2

[JohnB]

yeah that sucks. I guess no top gun 2

Not uness Tom Cruise flies an F-18 or an alien spaceship.

My money's on the spaceship.

[Warbird Kid]

yeah that sucks. I guess no top gun 2

Oh Thank God! I hated Top Gun! lol But it would be nice to see Snodgrass get some F-14s to operate for airshows.

[RickH]

He tried right after they retired them. Didn't happen then, never gonna happen now !