Gość: Marek
IP: *.dsl.chcgil.ameritech.net
04.10.05, 02:31
sie zbliza. Swoja droga to byly piekne maszyny.
Last Class Baby!
By Gert Kromhout and Stephan de Bruijn
ON APRIL 13, 2005, Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) Matt Nieswand made aviation
history as the last pilot to qualify on a carrier in an F-14 Tomcat. He was
in the last Tomcat class of Fighter Squadron 101 (VF-101) ‘Grim Reapers’, the
sole F-14 Fleet Replacement Squadron, based at Naval Air Station Oceana,
Virginia. AFM seized the chance to go aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN
71) during Tomcat carrier qualifications.
A Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) is responsible for specific air crew
training for types in service with the US Navy, and since 1976, VF-101 has
acted in this role, initially for the Atlantic fleet and since October 1,
1994, as the sole Tomcat FRS for both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets.
However, early September 2005 saw the start of the final Tomcat cruise, with
Fighter Squadron 31 (VF-31) ‘Tomcatters’ and Fighter Squadron 213 (VF-
213) ‘Black Lions’ embarked on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Both
squadrons are due to begin transition to the Super Hornet on their return to
NAS Oceana in early spring 2006. As a result, the requirement for new pilots
and Radar Intercept Officers has gone, and VF-101 is now preparing for
disestablishment on September 30, 2005.
