Tomcat Sunset event

Here are a few of my first shots from Virginia Beach this past weekend, both on and off base...

The ceremonial Final Flight

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...set/salute.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...107takeoff.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...7pullingup.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...finalflyby.jpg

Some spotting on and off base Thursday and Friday

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...tomcatland.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...omcatbreak.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...atlandthur.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...lingerland.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...gercagland.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...runderside.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...et/ValionC.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...mpagerland.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...t/cockland.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...cestakeoff.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...kunderside.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...ripperland.jpg

absoluitley amazing.. im gonna miss that plane!!! nice shots

Whooo Hooo!!! GREAT JOB! I am suprised they did not have some burner fun!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Derf

Whooo Hooo!!! GREAT JOB! I am surprised they did not have some burner fun!

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A more fitting final flyby was set to happen, but didn't for 2 reasons. 1) the Tomcat involved in the ceremony had a technical problem and was swapped out at the end of the runway last second. The actual plane that did the final flight landed at NAS Norfolk and flew back the next day to be SARDEP'd (broken up) at Oceana 2) The pair of Tomcats that did the opening flypast on Thursday afternoon for the Tomcat Memorial dedication had a very close call to clipping each other when they broke.

I guess the F-14 had nothing to prove at that point, but It was quite disappointing to see just the one flat pass. To sum up mostly everyone's thoughts on the subject I saw and heard who I believe is the highest hour F-14 pilot come back to his former squadron mates and tell them " I just asked the Tomcatter CO what kind of a &$@!%^# debauchery of a final flyby was that?...." Fingers crossed that we get something better than that on the 4th for the Tomcats true final flight.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...t/DSC_0330.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...salutef-14.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...t/taxinose.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...t/lasttaxi.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...tomcattail.jpg

Excellent photos of the Tom Cats! I'll miss that fighter too!