Warbird Information Exchange

Posted to the OV-10 List - Fri Oct 27, 2006 11:22 am

Folks,

Your support and the support of others is getting us closer to bringing "Christine" home to Fort Worth.

This last week we have had significant activity in our efforts and I just wanted to give you a quick update.

First of all, we have met with some retired Navy Admirals and Captains who had involvement either with the F-14s here in the Metroplex over the years or VF-201, one of "Christine's" former squadrons. They are all in support of our efforts to save this Tomcat and are lending a hand.

Last week we announced our efforts over the AvWeb and have received over 20 donations to help retrieve "Christine." In addition, the B-36 Peacemaker Museum here in Fort Worth has made a substantial pledge. This group has worked with us in many capacities over the last several years. In recent months we have been meeting with that group, the Vintage Flying Museum and the City of Fort Worth to discuss the concept of a regional museum, that could be located at Meacham Field, to tell the history of aviation and aerospace in North Texas. One of the aspects of that museum would be a display of static airplanes significant to the area as either having been flown, built or designed here. Our Tomcat fits that description, as she was here as one of the VF-201 "Hunters" for twelve years. A proposal for this new museum will go to the Fort Worth City Council soon, Yesterday, the Fort Worth Aviation Department expressed its support of our efforts and I discussed a variety of display options with that Department’s director. If we manage to secure this Tomcat, it will have a prominent place for display. But, we aren’t there yet.

I don’t have a full accounting from our treasurer, but we have pledges and donations for about $9,000 of our $15,000 goal. We are getting very close and I hope to be able to announce our commitment to acquiring this F-14 on loan through the National Museum of Naval Aviation soon. Please forward this update to anyone you think might be interested. Halloween is coming and I would be delighted to have this one be a real treat for all of us. We will update our progress on our web site at http://www.ov-10bronco.net, where there is more information about our Tomcat and you will also find a button there to make donations through PayPal.

Thanks for your support on this project. This is a unique airplane with the distinction of being the longest serving F-14 in the fleet. She deserves a better fate than the scrapper and we are getting close to making "Christine" live another life.

Cheers,

Jim Hodgson
President
OV-10 Bronco Association

Hi folks,

As you are all aware, for the past month we have been working to save the longest serving F-14D Tomcat from the scrapper. After much work and wrangling, we set a goal of raising $15,000 to cover the cost of recovery, restoration and painting aircraft #159600, other wise known as "Christine," "Tomcatter 111," "Felix 111" and other names. As some of you may know, an aircraft on a low fuel state will often be referred to making a "trick of treat pass" at the boat. It either gets aboard or heads for the beach or a swim. This effort to SAVE-A-TOMCAT was pretty much a "trick or treat pass" as well. We either save the airplane or it would be scrapped on site.

Because of the response to date and the continuing support for our efforts, I have instructed Jim Bloomberg, our aircraft acquisition specialist, to inform the National Museum of Naval Aviation that the OV-10 Bronco Association will accept the loan of the subject Tomcat as soon as transportation can be arranged. This is indeed a fabulous Halloween treat for all of us and a special thanks goes out to all of you who have donated to our SAVE-A-TOMCAT project. We aren't finished yet and we haven't raised all the funds needed, but with a continued effort "Christine" will return to Fort Worth. We are working with the City of Fort Worth and the B-36 Peacemaker Museum to provide an appropriate display area in front of the Meacham Field terminal building. That won't happen for awhile, we estimate it will take nearly a year to have this lady ready for public viewing.

In the mean time, thank you for your support. We are saving an historically significant airplane and you can all be proud of your contribution. As I mentioned, we aren't done yet, we are still short of our goal by about $4,000, so keep putting out the word. The easiest way for people to help this effort is to visit our web site at www.OV-10Bronco.net and use the PayPal button next to the Tomcat article, or send a check to:

OV-10 Bronco Association
505 NW 38th Street
Hangar 33s
Fort Worth, TX 76106

800-575-0535 phone
817-488-8170 FAX

Thanks for having the faith in us to make this project happen. WE will keep you posted and I hope to see many of you bending a wrench on this Tomcat at a work party to be announced.

Happy Halloween,

Jim Hodgson
President

Many congratulations! That's wonderful news, and excellent photos. So strange to see an F-14 coming out of a C-5 like that, almost like the C-5 was giving birth! What are your plans for her future? Will she be preserved indoors? How complete is she also? This just shows you what can be done with a bit of perseverence and willing hands. Well done!

All the best,
Richard