f14

This is a wind tunnel model of a Grumman F-14 Tomcat, with its glove vanes deployed, carrying AIM-54 Phoenix air-to-air missiles.

This is a wind tunnel model of a Grumman F-14 Tomcat, with its glove vanes deployed, carrying AIM-54 Phoenix air-to-air missiles.

Is there possibly a date somewhere together with this shot? Stig

Stig Jarlevik no luck. Total mystery shot

A pity What I can see is a VF-102 F-14A coded AB102 in a scheme it carried when new to the unit (from 1981). The code is only carried on the inside of the twin rudders and in its place there is a large diamond with the Rattle Snake symbol (Diamond Back) which could mean the photo is from 1985 in celebration of the units 30 years in existence since it reformed in 1955. Stig

Stig Jarlevik The jet is an F-14B (note the F110-GE-400 burner cans and GRU-7 ejection seats) and the photo was taken during VF-102's last cruise with the F-14, aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) (note the 'TR' under the CVW-1 tail code, 'AB') in the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. That cruise was the only one which saw VF-102 deployed aboard Big Teddy, and ran from September 2001 to March 2002.

Hawk914 Very interesting Hawk, thanks! Anything on why the colors basically reverted to what they had in the early/mid 1980s? I guess I was too fixed on that.....😮