It’s 9AM on the morning of 28th November, and I’ve just got back from a 2 day trip to northern Wyoming at 11PM last night.
I logon to Fencecheck first thing, as today a couple of the last F14’s get delivered to museums. I then find out that one of them is now going to Palmdale, CA and staging via Grand Junction, CO. This bird was originally due to go to Galveston, so I have no idea why the last minute change – but I’m not complaining!
I was sure my last sight of an F14 flying was at Oceana a few weeks ago, so off I go on the 4 hour drive across the state negotiating all the road construction on the way – and this was supposed to be my relaxing day!
West Star Aviation have a remote ramp to handle military aircraft staging through, so not to disturb the normal operations due to jet blast etc. and most if not alll of these are Navy machines.
West Star, the FBO here, couldn’t have been more helpful, and I was escorted onto the ramp as the F14 was approaching.
Walker Field is a very easy airport to get good photos at, as the sun is always behind you and generally the skies are always clear.
F-14D 164350 AJ-103 (Felix 103) did a high carrier break to land and then used the entire length of the runway, before taxiing back to the military ramp. She was stopped on the taxiway as the experienced ground crew did some checks before taxing to her parking spot.
Flying the aircraft today was pilot Lt. Cmdr. Dave “Supa Fly” Faehnle and RIO Lt. Bill “Tank” Frank (aka “Annie”). Tank told me that he had assumed that his final flight had been the week before on a normal mission from Oceana, but then they needed crew to fly the various jets to the museums, and as so many of the crew were on leave or otherwise engaged he had another chance to participate.
Apart from a couple of pilots and the maintenance crew from the nearby hangar, the only people to witness this event were a photog and reporter from the local press, and a cameraman and reporter from the local TV news channel.
After around an hour on the ground Felix 103 (Bu164350) taxied to the end of runway 29 for their final flight to Palmdale. (The crew has asked us which runway we preferred for their take-off which was a great gesture - thanks!)
It was a sobering sight indeed.
So long baby!
Special thanks to Butch Terrill, Crew Chief, West Star Aviation and all the staff at the West Star Aviation FBO for their hospitality and patience.
[photo/serial list]