The final F-14 Tomcat Qarrier Qualification (CQ) took place in March '05 on board USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) off coast Virginia. During the CQ, Tomcat crews prepare and qualify themselves in carrier ops. They had to make a certain number of catapult starts, arrested landings, touch-and-goes, and those by day and night. When concluded they are qualified to go on deployment. These crew eventually departed with the CVN-71 to the Persian Gulf that marked the sunset cruise for the F-14. The crews belonged to VF-31 and VF-213 but used aircraft of Fleet Replacement Squadron VF-101 Grim Reapers.

A Jolly Rogers Super Hornet on deck of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). The aircraft carried an unusual high modex, revealing it was once assigned to VFA-106, the Fleet Replacement Squadron, for east coast training.

Carrier Qualifications on board USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) off coast Virginia. The ship accepted aircraft from both west and east coast fleets, so this Super Hornet, normally based at NAS Lemoore (CA), was flown over to the east coast to train pilots.

Exercise Joint Warrior 19-2.

Photographer: Michael Grove

Exercise Joint Warrior 19-2.

From the carrier USS Ronald Reagan. This one escorted our cruise ship out of the harbour.

'TOTEM 71' , VP69 with some nice tail art

This Tomcat, wired for Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS) missions, was moved to Tucson, and eventually sadly scrapped. Several Tomcats within the US Navy were wired for this large and sophisticated camera pod.

Just on the day I was visiting Oceana, this beautiful retro F-14B came out the paint shop. AG-143 made its last operational flight a few day's later and was then flown to Bradley AFB (CT) for preservation in the New England Air Museum

From HC-4 based in Sigonella NAS, Italy. Seen here at static display during Paris - Le Bourget Air Salon 1995. Now stored in Davis-Monthan.

Also designated F-1E after the all-services uniform designation system was introduced in 1962. Air Task Group-1 markings

From VP-19 based at Moffet Field.

Greyhound folding its wings after landing at the USS Nimitz

A "Tophatters" Tomcats blasts away from Volkel air base during exercise Volkit.

A "Tophatter" full after-burner at the runway of Volkel during exercise Volkit.

Serving with VF 21 aboard aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea. Note the rudimentary seal device for the thrust nozzle!

A Growler on the prowl... The crew of VX-9 Vampires out of China Lake was flying very low and fast through the narrow Canyon, a sight and sound I will never forget. This location for viewing military low level flying is comparable to the famous Mach Loop in Wales, however, it is not as busy as there but the chances for some sunshine are much better in California.