The AMARC Experience

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Grumman F-14A Tomcat 161603 of the VF-211 "Fighting Checkmates" shortly after it arrived at AMARC, free from any Spraylat which will coat it after it has been through its Process-In work. Most of the latest F-14 arrivals will be kept as war reserves in Type 1000 storage, ready for re-activation back to service if the need arises.

Picture © 2004 Philip Michaels

On Wednesday 8th September 2004 a formation of five Grumman F-14A Tomcats flew across Virginia Beach, VA. signalling the end of over 32 years of F-14A service with the US Navy. Several days later, on Monday 13th September these aircraft from the VF-211 "Fighting Checkmates" arrived at AMARC to join the other F-14 Tomcats stored there for either war reserves or for reclamation use.

VF-211 had operated the F-14 since December 1975 and it is obvious that it will be sorely missed by the entire squadron.

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Nine of the squadrons ten F-14A's have arrived at AMARC, the other being delivered to the 312th Training Squadron based at Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo, TX. for use as a fire trainer. A full list of VF-211 aircraft and their final disposition are listed below:

Bu. Number	Construction Number	Code	TO AMARC	Notes
161275	401	AB-114		To 312th Training Squadron, Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo, TX. for use as a fire trainer.
158635	36	AB-104	03-AUG-04
158628	29	AB-110	03-AUG-04
161274	400	AB-107	17 AUG 04
161603	462	AB-101	17 AUG 04
161612	471	AB-100	13-SEP-04
162610	532	AB-102	13-SEP-04
158632	33	AB-103	13-SEP-04
161626	485	AB-105	13-SEP-04
161297	423	AB-115	13-SEP-04

The VF-211 personnel will now begin training of F/A-18F Super Hornets at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California. They are due to return to NAS Oceana next May to become the first unit at Oceana to fly the Super Hornet.

It is planned that the 80 or so remaining F-14B's and F-14D's will remain in service until 2006, operating with the following squadrons :

Squadron	Nickname	Type	Planned transition to F/A18F
VF-11	Red Rippers	F-14B	May 2005
VF-31	Tomcatters	F-14D	September 2006
VF-32	Swordsmen	F-14B	November 2005
VF-103	Jolly Rogers	F-14B	March 2005
VF-143	Pukin' Dogs	F-14B	April 2005
VF-213	Black Lions	F-14D	May 2006

The following F-14 squadrons are to be disestablished:

Squadron	Nickname	Type	Planned DisestablishmentF
VF-101	Grim Reapers	F-14B/F-14D	September 2005

F-14A Specifications:

Engines	Manufacturer - Pratt & Whitney , 2 TF30-P-414A turbofan engines, each rated at 20,900lb thrust (in afterburner)
Performance	Speed - 1,544 mph (Mach 2.38) Range - 2,000m 3220km (max range), 765m 1231km (combat air patrol range) Ceiling - 50,000ft +
Dimensions	Length - 62ft 8in 19.10m, Height - 16ft 0in 4.88m, Wingspan - 64ft 1.5in 19.54m (unswept), 38ft 2.5in 11.65m (swept), 33ft 3.5in 10.15m (overswept) Wing Area - 565ft sq.
Weights	40,104lb 18,191kg (empty), 58,715lb 26,632kg (clean take off), 70,764lb 32,098kg (max take off), 74,349lb 33,724kg (max weight), Fuel - 16,200lb 7348kg (internal)

Source: United States Navy