Tomcat tail fin washes up on Irish shores
- Forum Veteran
- Posts: 860
- Joined: 08 Apr 2004, 22:51
- Location: North Carolina, USA
US Navy jet tail fin washes up on Irish shores
Sunday, May 07, 2006
A tail fin from an F-14 Tomcat belonging to VF-101 Grim Reapers was washed up ashore on a beach in Ireland on Friday.
The tail fin was found on a beach in west Cork by a retired Aer Lingus pilot.
The Irish Aviation Authority sealed off the scene and handed the investigation over to the Air Navigation Investigation Unit.
A Pentagon spokesman said that they were not aware of any missing tail fins.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
A tail fin from an F-14 Tomcat belonging to VF-101 Grim Reapers was washed up ashore on a beach in Ireland on Friday.
The tail fin was found on a beach in west Cork by a retired Aer Lingus pilot.
The Irish Aviation Authority sealed off the scene and handed the investigation over to the Air Navigation Investigation Unit.
A Pentagon spokesman said that they were not aware of any missing tail fins.
- Elite 3K
- Posts: 3279
- Joined: 10 May 2004, 23:04
A tail fin from an F-14 Tomcat belonging to VF-101 Grim Reapers was washed up ashore on a beach in Ireland on Friday.
A Pentagon spokesman said that they were not aware of any missing tail fins.
???
No plane on Sunday, maybe be one come Monday...
www.parrotheadjeff.com
www.parrotheadjeff.com
- Forum Veteran
- Posts: 975
- Joined: 17 May 2005, 15:21
In the USAF we would normally find something like that was missing during BPO....
- Forum Veteran
- Posts: 999
- Joined: 29 Jun 2005, 10:58
current theory is its from a vf-101 bird lost off the east coast just before they retired their F-14s and the gulf stream has brought it across.
Andy
Andy
Andy Evans Aviation Photography
www.evansaviography.co.uk
www.evansaviography.co.uk
- Forum Veteran
- Posts: 975
- Joined: 17 May 2005, 15:21
Guysmiley wrote:falconfixer860261 wrote:In the USAF we would normally find something like that was missing during BPO....
So, you're sayin' in the USAF "Missing vertical stabilizer" would count as "Code 3"? Sheesh! AF guys are SO picky!
On a Viper yes. But on a 15 no - it's just a Code 2. Gotta spare you know. In fact the IAF decided one wing missing on a 15 was just a Code 2.
Article: http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/st ... 82&tref=po
A tail section from an F-14 Tomcat discovered on a beach in Ireland came from an Oceana-based plane that crashed 3½ years ago off Key West, Fla., the Navy confirmed Tuesday.
How it got at least 4,900 miles away, no one knows for certain.
[...]
- Elite 1K
- Posts: 1682
- Joined: 26 Jul 2005, 02:00
Quote from F-14 specialist David Brown on the Fencecheck forum:
"This F-14A was assigned to VF-101 on October 3rd 2002 when it crashed during a training flight over the Gulf of Mexico. The crew were rescued by a Navy UH-3 Sea King helicopter.
I guess the currents took it to Ireland. Hard to believe since these things weigh about 300 lbs."
That may be why it took 3 1/2 years. They probably won't want it back. You can't move at Oceana, especially in the O Club, for Tomcat fins.
Aviation experts believe last summer's hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico may have wrenched the debris from the aircraft and cast it into the Atlantic ocean.
"This F-14A was assigned to VF-101 on October 3rd 2002 when it crashed during a training flight over the Gulf of Mexico. The crew were rescued by a Navy UH-3 Sea King helicopter.
I guess the currents took it to Ireland. Hard to believe since these things weigh about 300 lbs."
That may be why it took 3 1/2 years. They probably won't want it back. You can't move at Oceana, especially in the O Club, for Tomcat fins.
Aviation experts believe last summer's hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico may have wrenched the debris from the aircraft and cast it into the Atlantic ocean.
"I may not agree with what you say....but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
- F-16.net Moderator
- Posts: 1892
- Joined: 21 Oct 2005, 00:47
Well, if anything, it should be a nice collectible.
I'm watching...
- Enthusiast
- Posts: 86
- Joined: 03 Oct 2005, 14:03
- Location: Kissimmee, Florida
As long as the crew made it out alive.
Missile growl is music to my ears.
11 posts
|Page 1 of 1
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests