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Grumman F-14 Tomcat: Bye - Bye, Baby...!: Images & Reminiscences from 35 Years of Active Service
For thirty-five years of active naval service, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat has served as the foremost air superiority fight of the cold war with continuing service as a fighter-bomber in the Gulf Wars. It is this service and the two hundred thousand sailors, both pilots and “ground€ crew, who served in F-14 squadrons with the Tomcat over the years. This book is a grand remembrance of this great aircraft by those flew it. Hundred of pilots have included their favorite stories of the missions and plane that brought them home. Two hundred exceptional color photographs show the F-14 on the deck, in the air and over the sea.
200 pages, Hardcover
First published May 31, 2006
11 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Dave Parsons
9 books11 followersAn avid reader, his private collection exceeds 2000 books, which are constantly being augmented with new additions.
Commissioned into USMC via PLC Program, but later transferred to Navy to fly F-14 Tomcat serving with VF-101, VF-102 and VF-32 and in the Office of Chief of Naval Operations as the Air-to-Air Missile Requirements Officer before retiring. Also served as Editor of Approach Magazine at the Naval Safety Center where he honed his writing, editing and photography skills.
He has written dozens of articles for numerous magazines from Air & Space and Flight Journal to Naval Aviation News and his images have appeared on the cover of Aviation Week, Proceedings, All Hands, Approach, Mech, Armed Forces Journal, Seapower, Wings of Gold and Airpower.
Commissioned into USMC via PLC Program, but later transferred to Navy to fly F-14 Tomcat serving with VF-101, VF-102 and VF-32 and in the Office of Chief of Naval Operations as the Air-to-Air Missile Requirements Officer before retiring. Also served as Editor of Approach Magazine at the Naval Safety Center where he honed his writing, editing and photography skills.
He has written dozens of articles for numerous magazines from Air & Space and Flight Journal to Naval Aviation News and his images have appeared on the cover of Aviation Week, Proceedings, All Hands, Approach, Mech, Armed Forces Journal, Seapower, Wings of Gold and Airpower.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 20, 2011
Okay, I'm not really "currently reading" this book right now, but it arrived in the mail today and I just HAD to add it to share my squee at having acquired it.
All those pretty pictures!
*is full of squee*
(and besides, looking at random pretty pictures of OMFG!All those F-14s! is almost like actually "currently reading", right?)
ETA (May 2011):
Some of you may have noticed (as if...) that this book has been on my "currently reading" shelf since February. I just wanted to let you know that this is in no way a sign of the book being boring. On the contrary, this book is still on my "currently reading" shelf because it is so very pretty. Yes, I still enjoy looking at the pretty pictures. No, I have not read any of the, assumingly informative, related texts. Who cares about information when there's PLANES to look at!
*is shallow*
I can also assure you that looking at the many many pretty pictures of F-14s provided in this book is immensely more satisfying than having to watch Top Gun. Ever. Again.
(it may not be quite as satisfying as getting to watch JAG again, but after having watched all ten seasons of JAG not once, but twice within one year (I have absolutely no excuse for this whatsoever), I'm somehow glad that I can get my F-14 fix by occasionally opening this book. As for my Harmon Raab fix....
*sigh*
Well, you can't have everything and still sleep, I guess.)
ETA November 2011
I finally "finished" this book, meaning I have not only looked at all the pretty pictures, I also read the accompanying texts. God, I'm so in love right now. This is without competition the best book I read this year.
Okay, technically it wasn't the reading part that made it so good, but who cares? It's plane-porn, simple as that, and it's beautiful plane-porn at that. Huge, brilliant color pics on every page. Readingwise, the pictures are accompanied by quotes of pilots, developers and other people who had to do with F-14s in their life. Some are informative, some are funny, some less, some more. A good mixture, and an excellent addition to the pretty pics.
I would highly recommend this book if you like to look at F-14s (and really, who doesn't?). If I had one complaint about the book, it would be that looking at it makes me want to watch JAG again, and there is just no way this is a good idea. I've watched JAG three times in my life, all ten seasons, and two times of those were within the last 18 months, and seriously, I'm pretty sure watching all ten seasons of JAG wasn't a good idea even the first time around. It's not even that good a show!
And yet, Harmon Rabb in a tomcat, being ridiculously heroic?
It's hard to beat.
But, I will not watch JAG again.
*resolve face*
I think I'll settle for watching some F-14s on youtube instead.
All those pretty pictures!
*is full of squee*
(and besides, looking at random pretty pictures of OMFG!All those F-14s! is almost like actually "currently reading", right?)
ETA (May 2011):
Some of you may have noticed (as if...) that this book has been on my "currently reading" shelf since February. I just wanted to let you know that this is in no way a sign of the book being boring. On the contrary, this book is still on my "currently reading" shelf because it is so very pretty. Yes, I still enjoy looking at the pretty pictures. No, I have not read any of the, assumingly informative, related texts. Who cares about information when there's PLANES to look at!
*is shallow*
I can also assure you that looking at the many many pretty pictures of F-14s provided in this book is immensely more satisfying than having to watch Top Gun. Ever. Again.
(it may not be quite as satisfying as getting to watch JAG again, but after having watched all ten seasons of JAG not once, but twice within one year (I have absolutely no excuse for this whatsoever), I'm somehow glad that I can get my F-14 fix by occasionally opening this book. As for my Harmon Raab fix....
*sigh*
Well, you can't have everything and still sleep, I guess.)
ETA November 2011
I finally "finished" this book, meaning I have not only looked at all the pretty pictures, I also read the accompanying texts. God, I'm so in love right now. This is without competition the best book I read this year.
Okay, technically it wasn't the reading part that made it so good, but who cares? It's plane-porn, simple as that, and it's beautiful plane-porn at that. Huge, brilliant color pics on every page. Readingwise, the pictures are accompanied by quotes of pilots, developers and other people who had to do with F-14s in their life. Some are informative, some are funny, some less, some more. A good mixture, and an excellent addition to the pretty pics.
I would highly recommend this book if you like to look at F-14s (and really, who doesn't?). If I had one complaint about the book, it would be that looking at it makes me want to watch JAG again, and there is just no way this is a good idea. I've watched JAG three times in my life, all ten seasons, and two times of those were within the last 18 months, and seriously, I'm pretty sure watching all ten seasons of JAG wasn't a good idea even the first time around. It's not even that good a show!
And yet, Harmon Rabb in a tomcat, being ridiculously heroic?
It's hard to beat.
But, I will not watch JAG again.
*resolve face*
I think I'll settle for watching some F-14s on youtube instead.
July 6, 2025
A great tribute to what will always be the sexiest fighter jet to ever defend this nation. With great stories from the men and women who flew, RIOed, and maintained them, this book is a must have for any F-14 fan.
March 3, 2015
Full of 'Tomcat Porn'. You get up close and personal with the F-14 Tomcat she quite literally looks at you from the pages. Text tells you her unvarnished story from the mouths of the pilots, RIO's and maintainers. This book does an outstanding job of preserving her story and the story of the men and woman that made this machine fly as it was. You get zero baloney here. I highly recommend it to any F-14 fan.
January 13, 2012
A great book for a great Grumman 'cat! I have been a fan of the F-14 since long before Tom Cruise saddled up and flew into the sunset. This book is full of great stories and wonderful anecdotes from the men - and women - who flew, fought, and maintained the "Turkey", Grummans' greatest 'cat!
June 28, 2011
This is mostly a coffee table book. But, if you're equally obsessed with naval aviation, and specifically the F-14, then you need this. The photos are incredible, and the few stories are worth reading.
July 27, 2011
Great pictures of the mighty F-14 and lots of cool commentary by former Tomcat drivers from the US and one from Iran. The authors could add more from the Iranian side too as there is more from Iran than the US Navy experience with this great aircraft. All in all, a great collection.
October 28, 2011
This book was amazing I loved the pictures the really showed what they do in the planes they had a picture of a plane breaking the sound barrier WOW thats all i can say !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews