NAS Oceana, All good things come to an end. We, aircraft enthusiasts, live in very historical times, turbulent times even. Never in aviation history so many aircraft are about to be retired: the F-104 Starfighter in Italy, the Saab Viggen in Sweden and Saab Draken in Austria, the Jaguar in the UK and in France, the F-4 in Germany to mention some. All aircraft with great names and magnificent design: when it looks good, it flies good. The same faith for a former (movie)star: the era of the F-14 Tomcat comes to an end.
The last of the Big Fighters is about to be phased out of service and replaced by the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. One of the places to be in 2004 was the Neptune Air Show at NAS Oceana 25th and 26th September with its theme 'In Pursuit of Liberty '. Located nearby Virginia Beach in Virginia, NAS Oceana is master jet base of the US Navy and home of the Tomcat nowadays.And indeed the Tomcat did fly! The show officially opened with the Navy fleet fly by: a 6 ship of Tomcats followed by a 4 ship of F/A-18C Hornets. Then both formations split into pairs to give a very impressive airpower demonstration with lots of pyrotechnics. But most pleasing for the crowd were the Tomcats high speed photo passes before joining downwind to come in and land.
Beside Tomcats we could also enjoy the flight displays of the F-18C, F-18F Super Hornet, E-2C Hawkeye and Navy Heritage Flight. Unfortunately the Blue Angels had to cancel their appearance because of hurricane Jeane having destroyed their Pensacola facilities. The USAF in their turn displayed the F-15 Eagle, A-10 Warthog and USAF Heritage Flight. On Sunday there was a fly-by of a single B-2 bomber and strange but no F-16 present at this airshow; 'Super Dave' represented the Canadian Air Force to perform HIS very last and very exciting flight demonstration in a beautiful painted CF-18 Hornet. And of course the highlight of the Oceana airshow was the Tomcat flight display scheduled at sunset. 'Gunfighter 163' from VF-101 Grim Reapers displayed the Tomcat through all its paces for the last time at NAS Oceana followed of course by several high speed photo passes.
The Checkmates, VF-211, are beginning transition to the F/A-18F in October 2004. The famous Jolly Rogers are now on cruise and will transition to the F/A-18F in march 2005. In April 2005 VF-143 Puckin' Dogs will switch to the F/-18E and in May 2005, VF-11 Red Rippers will receive the F/A-18F. During September 2005 the Tomcat Operational Conversion Unit, VF-101 Grim Reapers, will disestablish. The final three Tomcat squadrons VF-32 Swordsmen, VF-213 Black Lions and VF-31 Tomcatters are all planned to transition to the F/A-18F in November 2005, May 2006 and September 2006 respectively.
Anytime baby?
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