F-14s heading to aircraft graveyard
much as i detest what the US military’s done since the 1790s, i have to admit that i love the f-14. if we had a real, private defense department (non standing army), 
i might just sign up as standby to fly the ole turkey. already have 5 hours of carrier landings in the model A sim at miramar. what more is there to know? i’ll let the RIO take care of the missile stuff and intercepts. still have my “understanding the meatball” docs, low altitude training manual, and a (shhh, don’t tell anyone) gen-u-ine, certified, model-D NATOPS. that one they’ll have to pry away.
like the military or not, there are few experiences as awful as a low altitude tomcat with cans lit. it’s a bird i’ll miss, mission notwithstanding. nothing like it — sight, shape, sound, feel… i’d give everything i own for the chance to pilot a tomcat through 10 cat shots and recoveries. geek? yes.