An Unusual One......

[Roland Pulfrew]

Anybody seen this one?

http://www.irishexaminer.com/irishex...683-qqqx=1.asp

Bit unusual

[rudekid]

Very odd!

Fallen off the back of a scrap metal boat?

Maybe the moron who posts on the Chinook thread can come up with some amazing conspiracy theory for us...Come on Walter!

[WhiteOvies]

I reckon some spotter will be able to put a serial number to the jet with a quick trawl of F14 crashes in the Florida area. The gulf stream brings all sorts of crap over the Atlantic. Til the North Pole melts

[Gainesy]

I remember a similar thing in the late 1980s with an F-14 fin that was trawled up somewhere way north-west of Scotland, it was miles from where the crew ejected on take off. Surmised that it "glided" underwater. That one had the sqn markings & code letter so the USN pinned it down v.quick.

[WhiteOvies]

Doing a Journo's job for him

Its official, I am that spotter
A quick Google and from www.anft.net/F14/f14-serial-buno.htm:

F-14A 158629
VF-101
AD121
18.06.2000

F-14A 159008
VF-101
31.10.1977

F-14A 159591
VF-101
AD225
10.04.2001

F-14A 159594
VF-101
AD153
21.06.1977

F-14A 160400
VF-101
AD163
30.08.1983

F-14A 161143
VF-101
29.07.1982

F-14A 161286
VF-101
AD155
14.11.1989

F-14A 161420
VF-101
AD174
30.08.1983

F-14A 161425
VF-101
AD105
02.10.1997

F-14B 161429
VF-101
AD102
09.07.2002

F-14A 161444
VF-101
AD201
18.04.1996

F-14A 161445
VF-101
mid-1998

F-14A 162706
VF-101
18.04.1996

F-14B 163216
VF-101
04.08.1999

F-14B 163411
VF-101
AD101
15.03.1993


Further trawling reveals details of most incidents inc photos. From most recent accidents F14B 161429 seems likely although no details are available.

..............Its a slow work day

[JT Eagle]

And the winner is....

...162594 (probably, based on photo evidence, the squadron markings and Modex number)

(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.

JT

[ORAC]

Good call......

The Grauniad: F-14 tailfin at sea for four years

......Yesterday, the Irish government's air accident investigation unit said an F-14 tailfin washed up on a beach in West Cork would be returned to its rightful owners. The fin, which still has its rudder attached, is though to have fallen off a Tomcat that crashed in the Gulf of Mexico during a routine training flight in 2002. The two-man crew ejected safely but the tailfin was determined to carry on the journey. 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.

A spokesman for the Irish transport department said yesterday the fin would be taken to a hangar in Co Meath for a full investigation, but the Irish government said it had already received confirmation from the US navy that the tail was part of the Tomcat that crashed four years ago.....

[Speedpig]

So, the US Navy don't bother retrieving a/c that crash?

Sounds like a salvage opportunity.

[Iron City]

Don't bother salvaging....U.S .Navy (and Marine Corps) aircraft all belong to the Navy regardless of age, location or condition. The traditions or marine salvage (flotsam, jetsm and all that) do not apply.

Aside from that is the cartridge activated devices and othe nasty things that may be aboard.