Tag: VF-213 Black Lions
On Feb. 19, 1964 Cdr Ken Stecker, CO of VF-96, and his RIO Lt Charles Webster III made the F-4G first data-link-controlled AIM-7 Sparrow launch at NAS Point Mugu. All Stecker had to do was select which missile to fire, while Webster set up the initial radar interception and a Q-2C target drone was shot down.
Hooter was able to maneuver his Tomcat above and behind the MiG and expertly kept his advantage. After a series of maneuvers, the MiG reversed aggressively and the two jets ended up going into a rolling scissors... Although the Cold War never erupted into all-out war, the U.S. and the Soviet Union did have many military interactions with one another...
LT Berg's biggest surprise on breaking out of the ever-lowering cloud ceiling was the sight of Midway, being so very different in size and layout from that of the comparatively newer generation of carriers he had landed on before... Let's celebrate Top Gun Day and the legendary F-14 Tomcat with this cool story told by Mike Crutch in his new...
In 1966 the 12 U.S. Navy F-4G aircraft were to test a new tactical camouflage for embarked aircraft In March, 1963, 12 F-4Bs were pulled from the McDonnell assembly line for the addition of special equipment. These Phantoms were to test the new AN/ASW-21 air-to-ground data link. The new communication system and an approach power compensator were installed just aft of...
ROVER capability was added to the F-14D Tomcat On Dec. 10, 2005. It was first used by VF-31 and VF-213 on their last cruise with the Tomcat in 2005 and 2006. The photo in this post shows an F-14D Tomcat of VF-213 deployed with the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) flying with the Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver (ROVER) system...
As Vickers started to push on the stick, he heard a loud pop, followed by a roar. He knew exactly what had happened and he transmitted, "Lion 52. Emergency, my RIO just ejected" Here's something you don't see everyday: the incredible photos in this post in fact show an F-14 Tomcat (actually the F-14D BuNo. 164341) flying without canopy.
The U.S....
The "last cruise" of the iconic Tomcat saw the F-14Ds belonging to VF-31, the Tomcatters, and VF-213, the Black Lions, embarking aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) aircraft carrier for a Med/Gulf Deployment in support of OIF Taken during the F-14 Tomcat's last cruise, the cool, funny video in this article gives you tha chance to join VF-31 Tomcatters aircrews aboard their...
The decision to incorporate the Super Hornet and decommission the F-14 was mainly due to high amount of maintenance required to keep the Tomcats operational On Feb. 8, 2006 a chapter in naval aviation history was closed aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) with the last recovery of an F-14 Tomcat from a combat mission.
Piloted by then-Capt. William G. Sizemore...
