Grumman F-14A Tomcat 158988, previously with by the VF-301 at NAS Miramar, CA., being brutally dismantled with the use of hydraulic grabbers. The vertical and horizontal stabilizers and wings are ripped from the aircraft to make it's last journey that much easier. The hulk was then moved the short distance to the HVF West processing yard where it was shredded for recycling.

Picture © 2004 Philip Michaels


Throughout the 1990's a steady stream of, mainly F-14A, Tomcats were retired to AMARC. Of the 118 that arrived during this period only a very small number were returned to service or departed for technical use. The vast majority were stored as war reserve or used for reclamation.

With the gradual retirement of the remaining F-14 fleet the need for large numbers of these donor aircraft was greatly reduced, making many of them excess to requirements. After many years of yielding parts, which effectively reduces them to empty shells, most of the aircraft used for reclamation can provide no further use to the military.
Reclamation Area
   158980 F-14A VF-302
   159425 F-14A VF-74
   159005 F-14B VF-301

Other AMARC F-14 Articles
   Grumman F-14 Tomcat
   Retirement of F-14A
 
When this is the case the Defense Reutilization & Marketing Office (DRMO) has the responsibility to recover the final tax dollars they can from these 'assets'. This revenue mostly comes from a number of metal processing companies who have a presence in the immediate area. Before being auctioned the aircraft are de-miled so that there is no chance of them being used for combat purposes after they are sold. This is usually achieved by severing the wingspar. Skilled AMARC Technicians also prepare the aircraft by removing any hazardous materials which may be present, this includes asbestos and radio-active material. After this work is complete and after successful bidding at the DRMO auctions which take place on a regular basis, contractors are allowed onto the reclamation area to collect their aircraft.

HVF West is one of those companies who receive a large proportion of this surplus material and at the end of 2004 removed a number of F-14A's along with a large number of other aircraft including F-4 Phantoms and A-4 Skyhawks. Below you can find a series of pictures showing how the aircraft are reduced in size for ease of transport and then removed by the HVF contractors. Normally within a matter of days or even hours these aircraft are no more.