No Tomcats in Europe - why?

[Lukem]

I picked up a copy of the new Flypast magazine this morning and just happened to notice a small article on the F14 Tomcat, which stated that there is not one (complete) example in Europe and that a large national museum was offered a F14D but turned it down!

I don't know what criteria museums use (beyond cost, of course) when acquiring historic aircraft, but I find it a great shame that a plane as famous and lets face it, good looking, capable, etc, isn't represented this side of the 'pond'.

Any thoughts anyone?

[Deprite]

hm...how expansive would this bird be?
never was thinking about the lately...also i never seen a F16 in a local museum to..to bad

[roshent]

Maybe cause no european based (US) units used the bird here. At least not that I know off. Which makes the historical standpoint for most museums decline that bird. Offer them an F15 or F4 and you got yourself a market I guess. And I do believe F16's are already in Euro musuems or standing guard on Euro airbases...

[Lukem]

I have seen 1 F15 and (at least) one F16 over here. But I didn't think the B1 operated over here - yet I believe we have one. But a good thought nonetheless.:)

[kiwi123]

The museum in Soesterberg (the Netherlands) has a F-15, F-16, Mig-21, etc, a F-14 and F-18 wouldn't look bad.

[cobra6]

They should be slapped for it more than once. The aircraft is almost a legend :)

Cobra 6

[Skyraider3D]

The museum in Soesterberg (the Netherlands) has a F-15, F-16, Mig-21, etc, a F-14 and F-18 wouldn't look bad.I believe the F-14 and F-18 would be outside the scope of their collection though, which mainly represents Dutch military aviation. The F-15 (and F-86 and F-106) were all based in Holland, while the MiG-21 represents the typical cold war enemy (although a Tupolev "Bear" would have been better!!! ;)). The rest is pretty much Dutch.

Soon they'll add an Atlantique to their exhibition too, which is nice. I doubt there would be more than a handful of these in museums today.

All in all the F-14 hardly has any connection with Europe, which is probably why there isn't any here. Practically the only museum where it would fit is the American museum, at Duxford. But that would mean removing a current exhibit as there is no space to grow.

Would love to see one here though :) I've only seen Tomcats three times, and besides landing I never really saw them fly.

[Supah]

I believe the F-14 and F-18 would be outside the scope of their collection though, which mainly represents Dutch military aviation. The F-15 (and F-86 and F-106) were all based in Holland, while the MiG-21 represents the typical cold war enemy (although a Tupolev "Bear" would have been better!!! ;)). The rest is pretty much Dutch.

Soon they'll add an Atlantique to their exhibition too, which is nice. I doubt there would be more than a handful of these in museums today.

All in all the F-14 hardly has any connection with Europe, which is probably why there isn't any here. Practically the only museum where it would fit is the American museum, at Duxford. But that would mean removing a current exhibit as there is no space to grow.

Would love to see one here though :) I've only seen Tomcats three times, and besides landing I never really saw them fly.

A guy with a collection at Baarlo has two atlantiques. Also he HAS managed to aquire a phantom, I believe he actually has two :) Perhaps the MLM Should try and get a F-4F from the germans and do it up as a F-4E. The differences are largely internal anyway.

[Lukem]

I know it's an American plane, but it is a naval plane and England does have a certain naval heritage.

I understand the argument, but we do exhibit a few US carrier planes here which were not based here.

Ronnie: Do you mind me asking where and when you saw them? Just out of curiosity, you understand:D

[Skyraider3D]

Ronnie: Do you mind me asking where and when you saw them? Just out of curiosity, you understand:DIf I remember correctly...

5 June 1992
Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service Open Day, NAS Valkenburg, The Netherlands
F-14B from VF-103, USS Saratoga

8 Sept. 1996
Brustem Airshow, St. Truiden, Belgium
F-14B from VF-103, USS Saratoga

5 July 1997
Royal Netherlands Air Force Open Day, AB Gilze-Rijen, The Netherlands
F-14A from VF-14, USS John F. Kennedy

:)

[Lukem]

Thanks for that - I'm only slightly envious, you understand!:(

[Skyraider3D]

Here are the aircraft in question, in the same order as above:
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1177001/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1175996/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0338485/L/
I saw the landing of both the first and last one, but those were the only times I've seen Tomcats fly.
The first picture brings back sweet memories, as it was the first time I went to an airshow by myself (my parents had taken me to a few when I was a little kid) and I am hooked since.

[franken_johan]

Funny. I visited those 3 events also... Hooked too!

[Supah]

I was at every event that tomcat's and hornets came to Leeuwarden AB :) Nice machine, very big and with a distinctive sound to it!


Old Crappy Picture of mine :)

http://supah.chaotic.nl/foto/scanned/tomcat.jpg

[Lukem]

Thanks for the links and images. What are the chances of seeing one in the air now though?

[franken_johan]

Old Crappy Picture of mine :)

No it is pre-digital. But I still like it.
BTW I was at that FWIT in Leeuwarden. :)

Chances of seeing one flying?! Maybe during a military parade in Iran...

[Skyraider3D]

Chances of seeing one flying?! Maybe during a military parade in Iran...Hehe, I was just thinking that! :)

[Lukem]

Damn shame, but I think you are right.

Anyway, I found this on youtube...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOogqsbxfJo