U.S. Navy officially retires F-14
{{date|September 23, 2006}}

The [[w:U.S. Navy|U.S. Navy]]'s [[w:F-14|F-14]] made its last ceremonial flight at the [[w:Naval Air Station Oceana|Naval Air Station Oceana]], Virginia Beach, Virginia. The jet that was supposed to fly for its ceremonial flight never made it due to mechanical problems. However, a back-up F-14 was in time for the flight. The aging jets have seen costly maintenance and many problems involving its wings. In total there were six F-14s in the ceremony, several of these will go on display at the [[w:Davis Monthan Air Force Base|Davis Monthan Air Force Base]] in Arizona. The last six of the navy's F-14s will stop flying on September 30. It will be replaced by [[w:F/A-18E/F|F/A-18E/F]] which will have better capabilities and lower maintenance cost.

==Sources==

*{{source|url=http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/dp-34727sy0sep23,0,1706039.story?coll=dp-news-local-final
|title=FAREWELL, TOMCATS: F-14 officially retires 
|author=STEPHANIE HEINATZ 
|pub=Daily Press
|date=September 23, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2006/09/22/tech-f14-060922.html
|title=U.S. navy retires F-14
|author=
|pub=CBC News 
|date=September 22, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/22/america/NA_GEN_US_Tomcat_Farewell.php
|title=Navy's iconic 'Top Gun' jet makes ceremonial final flight, with 1 hitch 
|author=AP
|pub=International Herald Tribune
|date=September 22, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-09-22-F14-tomcat_x.htm
|title=Navy retires F-14, the coolest of cold warriors
|author=Tom Vanden Brook
|pub=USA Today
|date=September 22, 2006}}

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[[Category:Virginia]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Science and technology]]
[[Category:Aviation]]
The U.S. Navy's F-14 made its last ceremonial flight at the Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia Beach, Virginia. The jet that was supposed to fly for its ceremonial flight never made it due to mechanical problems. However, a back-up F-14 was in time for the flight. The aging jets have seen costly maintenance and many problems involving its wings. In total there were six F-14s in the ceremony, several of these will go on display at the Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. The last six of the navy's F-14s will stop flying on September 30. It will be replaced by F/A-18E/F which will have better capabilities and lower maintenance cost.

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